Synergistic approaches in halophyte-microbe interactions: mitigating soil salinity and industrial contaminants for sustainable agriculture Deepak B. Shelke, Mahadev R. Chambhare, Hiralal B. Sonawane, N. F. Islam, Rupshikha Patowary, Milu Rani Das, Yugal Kishore Mohanta, Kaustuvmani Patowary, Sanket J. Joshi, Mahesh Narayan, Bibhu Prasad Panda, Hemen Sarma Discover Life, 2025 Soil salinity is a significant environmental stress that limits plant growth and reduces crop productivity. This problem diminishes the quantity of cultivable land and has a detrimental impact on productivity. Salinity and toxic contaminants, such as heavy metals originating from industrial effluents, are widespread in agricultural lands located in arid and semiarid regions, resulting in low crop productivity. Nevertheless, due to the increasing worldwide population, it is imperative to exploit salt-affected regions for farming to satisfy the demand for food. Certain plants or cultivars have distinct adaptive characteristics that enable them to overcome the adverse effects of elevated salinity and industrial effluents. Phytoremediation is an environmentally friendly and cost-effective approach for restoring heavy metal-contaminated and saline soils. This method utilizes plants to remove or neutralize salts and pollutants, contributing to soil desalination and purification. Enhancing the efficiency of phytoremediation requires a deeper understanding of the mechanisms behind heavy metal accumulation and plant tolerance. Halophytes, which thrive in high-salinity environments, are particularly well-suited for this purpose. Their associated microbes play a crucial role in enhancing salt tolerance and stabilizing toxic substances. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the ability of halophytes to survive in saline conditions and their interactions with soil microorganisms in mitigating soil salinity and industrial pollutants. Addressing these challenges is essential for promoting sustainable agriculture and global food security.
Biodegradation of nitro-PAHs by multi-trait PGPR strains isolated directly from rhizosphere soil Bhoirob Gogoi, Nazim Forid Islam, Hemen Sarma Microbe Netherlands, 2025 Nitrated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (nitro-PAHs) are hazardous, persistent organic pollutants widely distributed globally. They significantly threaten environmental health by degrading soil, water, and air quality. Prolonged exposure to nitro-PAHs increases risks for both humans and wildlife, leading to cancer, genetic mutations, endocrine disruption, neurodegenerative disorders, and oxidative stress. This study explored the degradation of nitro-PAHs using two plant growth-promoting rhizobacterial (PGPR) strains, Bacillus cereus BG034 and Bacillus altitudinis BG05, isolated from the rhizosphere of native plants ( Cyperus rotundus, Cyperus esculentus, Imperata cylindrica, and Axonopus compressus ). A co-inoculum (BGC01) formed from these bacterial strains of Bacillus cereus BG034 and Bacillus altitudinis BG05, demonstrated significant capabilities for degrading nitro-PAHs. After a 72-hour incubation period, BGC01 effectively removed 76.0 % of 1-nitropyrene and 87.2 % of 2-nitrofluorene. Individually, Bacillus cereus BG034 removed 47.8 % of 1-nitropyrene and 59.9 % of 2-nitrofluorene, while Bacillus altitudinis BG05 achieved the removal abilities of 49.0 % and 59.8 %. In addition to their degradation capacity, these bacteria exhibited traits that promote plant growth. These results emphasize the potential of these bacterial strains, particularly in co-inoculum form, as effective agents for nitro-PAH degradation. This study offers an environmentally friendly and cost-effective solution for environmental remediation and highlights the potential use of these bacteria as biofertilizers for sustainable agriculture. • Bacillus cereus BG034 and Bacillus altitudinis BG05 are identified as biofertilizers. • The compatible co-inoculum (BGC01) degrades 92.64 % of 1-nitropyrene in 72 hours. • BGC01 degrades 85.27 % of 2-nitrofluorene in 72 hours, showing potential for bioremediation. • BGC01 enhances plant shoot and root growth more than the individual strains.
Encouraging circular economy and sustainable environmental practices by addressing waste management and biomass energy production Nazim Forid Islam, Bhoirob Gogoi, Rimon Saikia, Balal Yousaf, Mahesh Narayan, Hemen Sarma Regional Sustainability, 2024 The current linear economy assumes abundant, easily accessible, and cost-effective natural resources. However, this assumption is unsustainable, especially considering the world’s current trajectory exceeding the Earth’s ecological limits. In contrast, circular economy (CE) reduces wastes and improves resource efficiency, making them a more sustainable alternative to the dominant linear model. Biomass energy generated from agricultural leftovers, forestry wastes, and municipal trash provides a renewable substitute for fossil fuels. This reduces greenhouse gas emissions and improves energy security. Proper waste management, including trash reduction, recycling, and innovative waste-to-energy technology, reduces the burden on landfills and incineration and creates renewable energy from materials that would otherwise go to waste. Although integrating these techniques is consistent with the CE’s resource efficiency and waste minimization principles, it requires addressing environmental, technical, and socioeconomic challenges. Given the pressing global issues, transitioning to a CE and implementing sustainable environmental practices are crucial to mitigate the current waste management crisis. The aim of this study is to emphasize the viability of biomass as a source of sustainable energy, the necessity of comprehensive strategies that prioritize ecological sustainability, community involvement, and innovation to achieve a circular principle based future, and the potential obstacles to the implementation of sustainable environmental practices. This study will aid in implementing CE practices to accomplish the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and landfill loads. Beyond environmental benefits, it can also bring economic, social, and health improvements. Furthermore, this study will assist societies in addressing global issues, such as resource scarcity, pollution, and climate change, as well as transitioning to a more sustainable and resilient future.
Converting food waste to biofuel: A sustainable energy solution for Sub-Saharan Africa Ramadhani Bakari, Ripanda Asha, Miraji Hossein, Xiao Huang, N.F. Islam, Rock Keey Liew, Mahesh Narayan, Su Shiung Lam, Hemen Sarma Sustainable Chemistry for the Environment, 2024 Natural gas, coal, and oil account for over 84 % of the world’s energy demand. Greenhouse gases, including carbon dioxide, methane, and oxides of nitrogen and sulphur, are released during the combustion of fossil fuels, leading to substantial climate changes and environmental damage. Therefore, harnessing energy from alternative sustainable resources without the emission of harmful waste products is vital for the ecosystem’s health. By 2050, global food waste production will reach 3.4 billion metric tons. Although widely recognized as a substantial energy resource, its value is underutilized throughout sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Therefore, understanding and exploiting the potential value of food waste as a biofuel can result in net-zero emissions, reducing significant environmental pollution while conserving natural resources. Furthermore, this paper reviews how effective management of food waste will have the potential to contribute to the development of waste-to-energy resources in SSA countries, as well as help improve global ecosystems.
Acceptorless Dehydrogenation of Primary and Secondary Alcohols Catalysed by Phosphine-free C, C Chelated Ir (III) NHC Complexes Dhrubajit Borah, Pranaba Nanda Bhattacharyya, Nazim Forid Islam Chemistryselect, 2024 Herein, an efficient, atom‐economic, environmentally benign catalytic protocol has been developed for synthesising ketones and aldehydes by acceptorless dehydrogenation of alcohols. The protocol employs C, C chelated Ir (III) NHC complexes to promote acceptorless dehydrogenation of both secondary and primary alcohols. Notably, oxidation of primary alcohol selectively yields the corresponding aldehyde where forming ester byproducts is possible. Using C, C chelated Ir (III) NHC complexes (0.1 mol%), and a catalytic amount of base tBuONa (5 mol%), several aliphatic and aromatic aldehydes and ketones including more challenging carbonyl compounds bearing heterocyclic rings were obtained in moderate to high yields. Moreover, the protocol is also efficient for synthesising industrially important molecules like heliotropin and 3,4,5‐trimethoxy acetophenone in moderate yields. Remarkably, the catalytic system allows the straightforward synthesis of the potentially bio‐active compound cholest‐4‐en‐3‐one through acceptorless dehydrogenation followed by double bond isomerisation under the reaction conditions. Low catalyst loading, mild reaction conditions, high selectivity, short reaction time, and broad‐substrate scopes are a few interesting characteristics of the catalytic protocol described herein.
Enhancing secondary metabolites and alleviating environmental stress in crops with mycogenic nanoparticles: A comprehensive review Deepak B. Shelke, Nazim F. Islam, Mahadev R. Chambhare, Hiralal B. Sonawane, Rupshikha Patowary, Ram Prasad, Hemen Sarma Biocatalysis and Agricultural Biotechnology, 2023 Nanomaterials have emerged as a promising strategy for enhancing secondary metabolites and improving plants to tolerate abiotic stress . Environmental stressors like extreme temperatures, drought, salinity, and soil nutrient deficiency can severely affect crop yields and quality. In recent years, nanomaterials have shown a promising role in mitigating these stressors' effects and enhancing plant growth and productivity. Nanoparticles have distinct physical and chemical properties that can elicit plant responses to environmental stressors. For instance, nanoparticles can act as carriers for nutrients and plant growth regulators , facilitating their uptake and transport to target tissues. They scavenge reactive oxygen species , reduce oxidative stress , and can serve as potent antioxidants. Nanomaterials stimulate plants to produce specialized metabolites, contain essential compounds protecting the plants from environmental stressors, and offer various human health benefits. Research revealed that nanoparticles stimulate plants for phenolic, flavonoid , and terpenoid production, which are associated with enhanced antioxidant activity and nutritional quality. Though nanoparticles have numerous favorable properties for enhancing crop production and productivity, some chemically derived nanoparticles have many toxic effects, as revealed in recent years, urging to switch to biogenic nanoparticles. This review provides a concise overview of the cost-effective and environment-friendly mycogenic metal nanoparticle synthesis and its applications in enhancing plants' resistance to abiotic stress and secondary metabolites production.
