Given the widespread use of mercuric oxide NPs (HgO-NPs), they have become increasingly prevalent in the soil ecosystem. Consequently, it is important to promptly evaluate their phytotoxic impacts. To this end, we have investigated the effects of HgO-NPs (0-200 mg/L) on germination and early growth of maize. Moreover, we have evaluated the interactive influences of HgO-NPs toxicity on the elongation and anatomical structures of primary roots. Relative to control, HgO-NPs decreased the germination percentage, speed and rate, but increased the mean germination time, mean daily germination time and time to 50% germination. The length and biomass of root and shoot and seedling vigour indices have significantly deteriorated. The inhibitory impacts of HgO-NPs on growth parameters were more pronounced in root than in shoot. The response of root was concomitant with dose and time-dependent inhibitions in root elongation and significant drops in root diameter, stele size, cortex size, and cortical cells count. The consequences of HgO-NPs were dose-dependent. For instance, the decrease of maize germination, growth, root elongation, and anatomy were more evident at 200 mg/L HgO-NPs compared to other doses and control. Overall, this study suggests that the presence of HgO-NPs leads to phytotoxic effects on germination and growth of young seedlings, highlighting a noteworthy challenge and environmental concern.

The performance of every plant in an environment is an indicator of how the plant can withstand the various environmental conditions. This study investigated the toxicity of crude oil on the growth performance, chlorophyll contents, enzymatic activities and oxidative stress biomarkers of eight accessions of Zea mays. The growth enzyme (amylase and invertase) activities, as well as oxidative stress biomarkers (malondialdehyde, peroxidase, superoxide dismutase and catalase) in Z. mays were assayed using spectrophotometric method. The maize accessions were grown in the experimental pots containing crude oil treatments (2%, 4%, 6%, 8% and 10%) and harvested after 14 days of seedling emergence. The results showed that the percentage seedling emergence, leaf area, root length, stem girth and shoot length of each accession were significantly reduced (p

The presence of synthetic dyes in textile wastewater is a problematic issue for environmentalist. Nowadays, dye removal is practiced via different methods. Among all these methods, biodecolorization is an ideal technique. The present research apples vermicompost microflora to remove reactive black- C, pH = 7, and under anaerobic condition. At 36h, removal efficiencies of 94.79%, 94.06%, and 93.6% are obtained for concentrations of 800, 850, and 950 mg/ L, respectively. It has also been observed that when the initial concentration rises to 1400 mg/ L, the efficiency drops to 51.57% at 36h. Also, methyl red, methyl orange, eriochrome black-t, and acid blue-113 could be decolorized by the isolated bacterial strain with an efficiency of 94.29%, 92.10%, 90.83%, and 88.95%, respectively. Phytotoxicity Test shows that the parent form of reactive black-5 has not been toxic for the seeds (100% germination for Triticum aestivum and 90% for Maize). When reactive black-5 is treated with isolated bacterial strain under anaerobic condition, none of the seeds remain germinated which might be due to the possible formation of toxic aromatic amines intermediates. Therefore, ultraviolet C + 100 mM H2O2 has been used as the post-treatment process for detoxifying of by-products. After the integrated treatment of synthetic wastewater, containing RB-5, complete germination (100%) of Triticum aestivum and Maize is observed. In the post-treatment process, due to the generation and activation of hydroxyl radicals, the toxic aromatic amines compounds convert to the less toxic compounds.