Evaluation of Tephrosia purpurea and Eucalyptus spp. Leaf Extracts for Eco-Friendly Weed Management in Maize and Brinjal

Thu, 09 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Weed infestation is a major constraint to crop productivity, particularly in organic and low-input systems where reliance on synthetic herbicides is restricted. This study evaluated the weed-suppressive potential of botanical extracts in maize and brinjal under field conditions. The experiment was conducted during 2024–2025 at Kumaraguru Institute of Agriculture using a Randomised Block Design. Treatments included combinations of kolunji extract, Eucalyptus extract, cow urine and neem oil, along with an untreated control and a weed-free treatment maintained by hand weeding. Weed population, weed dry weight, weed control efficiency, weed index, leaf area index and economic returns were assessed. Among the botanical treatments, T4, comprising kolunji extract 10% + Eucalyptus extract 10% + neem oil 10%, consistently recorded better weed suppression than the other botanical combinations. In maize, T4 recorded the lowest weed population and dry weed weight among botanical treatments at both 30 and 50 DAS, with weed control efficiency of 20.00% and 38.33%, respectively. In brinjal, T4 also showed comparatively better suppression, with 20.69% weed control efficiency at 40 DAS. The weed-free treatment recorded the highest LAI and yield, but T4 produced the highest benefit–cost ratio (1.18). The findings indicate that the kolunji + Eucalyptus + neem oil combination may serve as an eco-friendly component of integrated weed management, although it should be supplemented with other weed-control practices.

Influence of Salinity on Heavy Metal Toxicity: Insights from Euryhaline Fishes

Foram Modi, Khushi Patel, S. R. Kaid Johar — Tue, 07 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Heavy metal pollution in aquatic environments remains a persistent concern because metals accumulate in fish tissues and interfere with essential physiological functions. In euryhaline fishes, metal toxicity is closely linked to salinity, which influences metal uptake, speciation, bioavailability, ion competition, membrane permeability and the energetic cost of osmoregulation. Under low-salinity conditions, fish generally absorb higher metal loads through the gills, digestive tract and, in early life stages, the skin. In contrast, higher salinity often reduces the activity of free metal ions through chloride binding and competition with other ions. However, these effects vary according to metal type, fish species, life stage, exposure duration and water chemistry. The gills, liver and kidneys are the main organs involved in metal uptake, detoxification, ion regulation and excretion, making them particularly vulnerable to toxic injury. At the cellular level, heavy metals can induce oxidative stress, lipid and DNA damage, mitochondrial dysfunction, altered gene expression and cell death. Salinity may intensify or reduce these effects by changing metal absorption and the energetic demands of salt balance. Fish respond through antioxidant enzymes, metallothioneins, ion transporters, heat-shock proteins and mitochondrial regulation. This review synthesises current evidence on salinity-modulated heavy metal toxicity in euryhaline fishes at physiological, cellular and molecular levels, identifies key knowledge gaps and outlines future research needs for ecological risk assessment, environmental monitoring and fish health.

Annual Research & Review in Biology

Evaluation of Tephrosia purpurea and Eucalyptus spp. Leaf Extracts for Eco-Friendly Weed Management in Maize and Brinjal

Influence of Salinity on Heavy Metal Toxicity: Insights from Euryhaline Fishes