Land being a major constrain in metro cities like Chennai has contributed to the development of closely spaced high-rise apartment complexes which lead to poor indoor air quality. Native indoor plants serve as a natural medium in absorbing air pollution entering indoors mainly through balcony spaces and also enhance the aromatic and visual quality of indoor space. This research has been carried out as a pilot study with an aim to explore the effectiveness of a planting palette comprising native flowering, air-purifying medicinal and vertical wall plants in absorbing the air pollutants in the context of an urban apartment balcony space in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. The level of absorption of pollutants such as carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, total volatile organic compounds, benzene, and formaldehyde was monitored in two scenarios one planted and another non-planted balcony using Internet of Things sensors for a period of 1 month. The results observed on a Thursday for carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, and total volatile organic compounds for non-planted balcony are 984 ppm, 392 µg/m3, and 75 µg/m3 (highest due to STP activities) when compared to planted balcony with the values 919 ppm, 335 µg/m3, and 71 µg/m3. The selected plant palette has displayed minimal absorption of formaldehyde and benzene. But both the pollutants are found to reduce gradually within 2 h in the planted balcony and 3 h in the non-planted balcony after the floor mopping activity which contributes to formaldehyde and benzene. Hence, the study proves that plants as a natural medium are inexpensive and best in absorbing air pollutants thereby improving the quality of the indoor environment.
Management of late blight of potato incited by Phytophthora infestans remains a major challenge. Coevolution of pathogen with resistant strains and the rise of fungicide resistance have made it more challenging to prevent the spread of P. infestans. Here, the anti-oomycete potential of Bacillus velezensis VB7 against P. infestans through pan-genome analysis and molecular docking were explored. The Biocontrol potential of VB7 against P. infestans was assessed using a confrontational assay. The biomolecules from the inhibition zone were identified and subjected to in silico analysis against P. infestans target proteins. Nucleotide sequences for 54 B. velezensis strains from different geographical locations were used for pan-genome analysis. The confrontational assay revealed the anti-oomycetes potential of VB7 against P. infestans. Molecular docking confirmed that the penicillamine disulfide had the maximum binding energy with eight effector proteins of P. infestans. Besides, scanning electron microscopic observations of P. infestans interaction with VB7 revealed structural changes in hypha and sporangia. Pan-genome analysis between 54 strains of B. velezensis confirmed that the core genome had 2226 genes, and it has an open pan-genome. The present study confirmed the anti-oomycete potential of B. velezensis VB7 against P. infestans and paved the way to explore the genetic potential of VB7.