Subsequent crops are often sensitive to acetolactate synthase (ALS)-inhibiting herbicide residues, particularly in alkaline soils. The main objective of this study was to compare the impact of different ALS-inhibiting residual herbicides on growth of oil-seed rape (Brassica napus L. subsp. napus) and sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.) in alkaline soil. In this regard, three experiments were conducted in Prague, Czech Republic, during 2021-2023. In spring, six herbicides (amidosulfuron, chlorsulfuron, imazamox, propoxycarbazone, pyroxsulam, sulfosulfuron) were applied at three application rates (1N - full, 0.5N - half, and 0.05N - 5 % of full). One and four months after application, half of each plot was sown with oilseed rape, and the other half was sown with sugar beet. Herbicide phytotoxicity and aboveground biomass were assessed four weeks after crop emergence. Weather conditions during experimental years, herbicides used, herbicide application rates and the period between herbicide application and crop sowing affected herbicide phytotoxicity and aboveground biomass of both crops. The most damaging effects were recorded with the application of chlorsulfuron for oilseed rape (phytotoxicity was 96-98 % at one month after 1N application) and sulfosulfuron and chlorsulfuron for sugar beet (phytotoxicity was 97-100 % and 90-100 %, respectively). Pyroxsulam caused the least damage to both the crops (average phytotoxicity was 18 %). Herbicide phytotoxicity was 3-times higher, and crop biomass was almost half as much as at the first assessment compared to the second assessment. Sugar beet was more sensitive than oilseed rape to chlorsulfuron and sulfosulfuron, especially in dry conditions, where 0.05 N rates caused biomass reduction of 20-60 % in sugar beet. Most of the tested herbicides could have residual effect that likely damages crops in rotation, particularly if a dry period occurs after the application of herbicides and/or sowing of crops.

Intercropping in tea plantations offers multiple ecological and agronomic benefits, directly impacting tea yield and profitability. While most studies on intercropping focus on summer and autumn seasons, the ecological impacts of intercropping during spring remain underexplored. Building on initial findings that tea-rapeseed (Brassica napus L.) intercropping reduced pest damage in spring, this study explored its broader ecological effects on tea plantations and tea plant development. Results indicated that tea-rapeseed intercropping reduced young shoot damage byApolygus lucorum by 44.04 %, facilitated by enhanced soil-microbe interactions, modified spectral ecology, and activated defense pathways in tea plants during the profuse flowering period of rapeseed. Specifically, intercropping increased C and N availability in tea rhizosphere soil, boosting organic matter and nitrogen content in the shared ecological zone. This improvement was accompanied by a significant increase in the abundance of nitrogen- and phosphorus-cycling microbial taxa, such as Methylomirabilota, Armatimonadota, and Entotheonellaeota. Moreover, rapeseed intercropping altered canopy reflectance, increasing red-edge and near-infrared spectraand boosting NDVI by 5.97 %. GC-MS analysis revealed upregulated flavonoid biosynthesis and ABC transporters, leading to higher levels of antioxidants and defense compounds in tea shoots. Concurrently, predator populations (spiders, ladybirds, and hoverflies), increased by 5-7 times from rapeseed flowering to pod stages. These findings highlight the ecological and agronomic benefits of tea-rapeseed intercropping in spring, providing a foundation for sustainable tea plantation management and pest control strategies.

Cadmium (Cd) contamination greatly hinders plant productivity. Nanotechnology offers a promising solution for Cd phytotoxicity. The novelty of this study lies in the limited research on the effects of nanoiron (Fe3O4NPs) in regulating Cd toxicity in oilseed crops. This study examined how Fe3O4NPs regulated the Cd-exposure in B. napus. Foliar spray of 10 mg L- 1 Fe3O4NPs was applied to 50 mu M Cd-stressed B. napus seedlings via leaf exposure in hydroponic system. Under Cd stress, Fe3O4NPs decreased the Cd-accumulation (25-37%) due to adsorption followed by more root Cd-immobilization, and increased the plant height (23-31%) and biomass (17-24%). These findings were directly correlated with better photosynthetic activity (chlorophylls, gas exchanges and photosynthetic efficiency), leaf stomata opening and nutrients accumulation (20-29%). Subcellular localization revealed that Fe3O4NPs enhanced the binding capacity of cell wall for Cd to hinder its entry into cell organalles and facilitated vacoular sequestration. Additionally, Fe3O4NPs decreased the oxidative stress (21-33%) and peroxidation of lipids (24-31%) by regulating the genes-associated to superoxide dismutase, peroxidase, catalase, ascorbate peroxidase, glutathione reductase, reduced glutathione, phytochelation, chlorophyll synthesis and Cd-transporters. Fe3O4NPs protected plant roots from Cd-induced cell structural damages and cell death. Among studied parameters, ZD 635 exhibited greater tolerance to Cd stress when compared to ZD 622 cultivar. Findings revealed that Fe3O4NPs effectively mitigate Cd toxicity by improving the photosynthesis, antioxidant defense mechanisms, cellular protection, nutrients accumulation and limiting Cd accumulation. This research offers a benchmark for the practical applicability of Fe3O4NPs to enhance the quality of canola production in Cdcontaminated soils.

Soil pollution with heavy metals has grown to be a big hassle, leading to the loss in farming production particularly in developing countries like Pakistan, where no proper channel is present for irrigation and extraction of these toxic heavy metals. The present study aims to ameliorate the damages caused by heavy metal ions (Hg-Mercury) on rapeseed (Brassica napus L.) via a growth regulator (alpha-tocopherol 150 mg/L) and thermopriming technique at 4 degrees C and 50 degrees C to maintain plant agronomical and physiological characteristics. In pot experiments, we designed total of 11 treatments viz.( T0 (control), T1 (Hg4ppm), T2 (Hg8ppm), T3 (Hg4ppm + 4 degrees C), T4 (Hg4ppm + 4 degrees C + tocopherol (150 m/L)), T5 (Hg4ppm + 50 degrees C), T6 (Hg4ppm + 50 degrees C + tocopherol (150 mg/L)), T7 (Hg8ppm + 4 degrees C), T8 (Hg8ppm + 4 degrees C + tocopherol (150 mg/L)), T9 (Hg8ppm + 50 degrees C), T10 (Hg8ppm + 50 degrees C + tocopherol (150 mg/L) the results revealed that chlorophyll content at p 0.05) 50 degrees C thermopriming under 8 ppm high mercuric chloride stress (T9 = Hg8ppm + 50 degrees C) representing the tolerance of selected specie by synthesizing osmolytes to resist oxidation mechanism. Furthermore, reduction in % MC (moisture content) is easily improved with foliar application of alpha-tocopherol and 50 degrees C thermopriming and 4 ppm heavy metal stress at T6 = Hg4ppm + 50 degrees C + alpha-tocopherol (150 mg/L), with a remarkable increase in plant vigor and germination energy. It has resulted that the inhibitory effect of only lower concentration (4 ppm) of heavy metal stress was ameliorated by exogenous application of alpha-tocopherol and thermopriming technique by synthesizing high levels of proline and antioxidant activities in maintaining seedling growth and development on heavy metal contaminated soil.