Post-transcriptional gene silencing (PTGS) is an important mechanism for regulation of plant gene expression and virus-plant interactions. To better understand this process, the heavy metal cadmium was identified as a specific inhibitor in two different PTGS systems, constitutive and inducible. The pattern of cadmium-induced inhibition of PTGS allowed several insights into PTGS development. Fir...

Stressful growing conditions often result in high concentrations of nitrates in plant tissue. When feeding animal forages containing toxic levels of nitrates, poor productivity or death may occur. This publication summarizes the effect that high nitrates have on the animal, presents the conditions to expect in toxic concentrations of nitrates, and outlines strategies that could prevent or reduc...

Fusarium fungi are common plant pathogens causing several plant diseases. The presence of these molds in plants exposes crops to toxic secondary metabolites called Fusarium mycotoxins. The most studied Fusarium mycotoxins include fumonisins, zearalenone, and trichothecenes. Studies have highlighted the economic impact of mycotoxins produced by Fusarium. These arrays of toxins have been implicat...

Beginning in 1998, coal-fired and oil-fired power plants will be required to estimate and report their annual mass emissions to the national Toxic Release Inventory (TRI). The TRI is a publicly reported inventory of emissions to air, water and land of approximately 600 chemicals designated as “toxic” by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). This paper reviews the current status of TRI...

In contrast to animals, plants do not have a circulatory system as well as mobile immune cells that allow them to protect themselves against pathogens. Instead, plants exclusively depend on the innate immune system to defend against pathogens. As typically observed in the animal innate immunity, plant immune responses are composed of pathogen detection, defense signaling which includes transcri...

The aim of this study was conducted to subchronic toxic effects separate and combined using of maleic hydrazide and ethephon in female mice. Treatment group divided into 9 groups according to chemicals’ doses and compared with controls. Three separate maleic hydrazide doses (100-200-400 mg/kg/day, in feed) and ethephon (50-100-150 mg/kg/day, in water) were given alone and in combination during ...

Contamination of agriculturally arable land with industry derived pollutants including heavy metals such as chromium has affected soil fertility as well plant, animal and human health by indirectly entering the food chain. Hexavalent chromium is a byproduct of tanning, electroplating, wood, dye, paper, glass, ceramic etc. industries and is usually discharged as industrial effluent. Cr (VI) is a...

A number of toxic synthetic organic compounds can contaminate environmental soil through either local (e.g., industrial) or diffuse (e.g., agricultural) contamination. Increased levels of these toxic organic compounds in the environment have been associated with human health risks including cancer. Plant-associated bacteria, such as endophytic bacteria (non-pathogenic bacteria that occur natura...

Aphanamixis polystachya is a traditional medicinal plant of the Meliaceae family in India. A crude ethanolic extract of the leaf of this plant shows a beneficial effect on toxic liver injury. Its antihepatotoxic activity was evaluated on carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced liver injury in a rat model. The assessment of hepatoprotective activity was evaluated by measuring the activities of aspar...

Plant-associated microbial diversity encompasses symbionts, protecting their host against various aggressions. Mycorrhizal and rhizospheric microorganisms buffer effects of soil toxic compounds and soil-borne pathogens. Endophytic bacteria and fungi, some of which are vertically inherited through seeds, take part in plant protection by acting directly on aggressive factors (mainly pathogens and...