Physiological traits related to drought tolerance in tall fescue

The physiological basis of genetic variation in drought response and its association with yield and related indices is not clear in tall fescue. In this study thirty genotypes of tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) were sampled from a polycross population and evaluated under two levels of irrigation in 2010 (normal and intense stress) and 2011 (normal and mild stress). Physiological traits including relative water content (RWC), total chlorophyll (TChl), chlorophyll a (Chla), chlorophyll b (Chlb), Chla/Chlb, carotenoids (Car), TChl/Car and proline content along with forage yield, agro-morpholgical traits and selection indices (stress tolerance index, STI and drought susceptibility index, DSI) were studied. Large variation and moderate to high heritability was estimated for most of the studied traits. Intense drought condition decreased chlorophyll content while mild stress significantly increased it. In the other hand intense drought stress increased Chla/b while mild stress didn’t change it. Under mild drought stress condition STI was positively correlated with RWC while under intense drought stress condition STI was positively correlated with chlorophyll content. Although proline content was significantly increased in both intense and mild drought stress conditions, no relationship was found between proline accumulation with forage yield and STI. Applications of principle component analysis for screening suitable genotypes are also discussed.     

CD226 rs763361 (Gly307Ser) Polymorphism Is Associated with Susceptibility to Rheumatoid Arthritis in Zahedan,Southeast Iran

Background: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory disease with many genetic factors predisposing to disease susceptibility. The aim of the present study was to investigate the impact of CD226 rs727088 and rs763361 polymorphisms and susceptibility to RA in a sample of the Iranian population. Methods: This case-control study was carried out on 100 patients with RA and 104 healthy subjects. The polymorphisms were determined using tetra amplification refractory mutation system-polymerase chain reaction assay. Results: The rs763361 (Gly307Ser) polymorphism increased the risk of RA in codominant, dominant and recessive-tested inheritance models (odds ratio [OR] = 3.18, 95% confidence intervals [95% CI] = 1.44-7.02, P = 0.004, CC vs. TT, and OR = 1.98, 95% CI = 1.10-3.57, P = 0.023, CC vs. CT-TT, and OR = 2.61, 95% CI = 1.26-5.37, P = 0.010, CC + CT vs. TT, respectively). In addition, the rs763361 T allele increased the risk of RA (OR = 2.06, 95% CI = 1.38-3.08, P<0.001). However, no significant difference was observed among the groups regarding CD226 rs727088 polymorphism (χ2 = 3.20, P = 0.202). Conclusions: Our finding showed that CD226 rs763361, but not rs727088, gene polymorphism increased the risk of RA in a sample of the Iranian population.Key Words: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA), CD226, Polymorphism     

Combining abilities of sugar beet genotypes for root- and sugar-related traits under multi-environment trials

The improvement of sugar-related factors is associated with root traits in sugar beet. The objectives of the present study were to assess variations of sugar- and root yield (RY)-related traits and to estimate general (GCA) and specific (SCA) combining abilities of several lines, testers and hybrids under various environmental conditions. A line × tester mating design was used to develop 28 hybrids from seven lines × four testers. Presently, root- and sugar-related traits were recorded in parental lines, hybrids and five local ('Pars', 'Torbat' and 'Ekbatan') and international ('Kermit' and 'Tous') check varieties in the eight combinations of location and growing season. Mean RY and sugar yield (SY) were 44.81 t/ha and 7.57 t/ha, respectively. Genotypes tested had 16.91% sugar content (SC) and 13.64% white sugar content (WSC) across trials. No one genotype was found to have high levels for all traits, but several had above mean sugar-related or RY traits. L7T2 as the best hybrid for RY and SY yielded 37.0% and 34.4% more than the checks’ mean, whereas ratios for the best hybrid (L7T4) for SC and WSC were 8.2% and 4.3%, respectively. Additive variance was significant for all traits, whereas dominance component was only significant for RY. Several parental lines had stable GCA effects with respect to direction and magnitude for WSC, RY and SC in environments. L7 and T2 for RY and SY and L3 and T4 for SC and WSC were identified as the best combiners with high GCA effects, and their use might increase favourable alleles in further breeding programmes for traits tested. Estimated heritability for the combined environments was lower for sugar-related traits (54.01%–59.39%) compared with those for RY traits (73.68%–74.21%). Overall, given heritability and additive variances estimated the identification of environmentally stable GCA and SCA effects and might help to increase efficiency of selection of superior cultivars with respect to sugar traits.     

Impregnation of ethylcellulose microcapsules containing jojoba oil onto compressive knits developed for high burns

The medical uses of textile fibers and fabric forms keep on growing. Today, the knits can be used in the medical field. The aim of this present work was to prepare compressive knits, impregnated by ethylcellulose (EC) microcapsules, for the burnt skin. Ethylcellulose microcapsules containing jojoba oil were prepared via the phase separation method. Jojoba oil was chosen because it plays an essential role in skin hydration and avoids the sebum accumulation. Ethylcellulose microcapsules obtained were grafted on two different compressive knit surfaces by impregnation, using the Acrylic Resin (AR) as binder. The prepared microcapsules were analyzed by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). The stability of the microcapsules, the efficiency of the microencapsulation method and the jojoba oil content determination were also investigated. This method of application improved the fabric surface and permitted in maximum the preserving of initial characteristics of knit, such as touch, flexibility and lightness.     

The effects of synthetic pigments on pigmentation of Pethia conchonius (Hamilton, 1822)

This study evaluated the effects of diets containing 20, 40, 60, 80 and 100 mg kg^?1 diet astaxanthin or canthaxanthin on Pethia conchonius (Hamilton, 1822) pigmentation. A completely randomized experimental design was developed with ten treatments and three replicates. Three hundred rosy barb with a mean weight of 0.92 ± 0.06 g were assigned to thirty aquaria for period of eight weeks. Carotenoid contents of fish fed canthaxanthin were always lower than those fed astaxanthin. Yellowness (b*) was not affected by pigments. While Luminosity (L*) decreased in fish fed astaxanthin diets, this parameter increased by feeding on canthaxanthin. The most pronounced effect was higher a* values in fish fed astaxanthin. Astaxanthin retention rate was higher than that of canthaxanthin. The present results demonstrate that canthaxanthin cannot be considered as a proper replacement with astaxanthin. Inclusion of 80 and 100 mg astaxanthin kg^?1 diet can be suitable dietary levels to ensure pigmentation and this condition may improve market value of rosy barb.     

Application of half-sib mating for genetic analysis of forage yield and related traits in Bromus inermis

Despite efforts made, forage yield of smooth bromegrass has increased slowly over the last 50 years of breeding. It therefore seems necessary to investigate more on the genetic basis of agro-morphological traits in this cool-season, highly drought resistant grass. The present study was aimed at estimation of total genetic variance, narrow-sense heritability, general combining ability, phenotypic and genotypic correlation among different quantitative traits in half-sib (HS) families derived from polycross of 25 smooth bromegrass genotypes that were mainly originated from Iran. Families differed significantly for all of the agro-morphological and quality traits measured. Narrow sense heritability ( ${\text{h}}_{\text{n}}^{2}$ ) ranged from about 0.2 (plant height) to 0.7 (day to inflorescence emergence and day to anthesis). Moderate to high heritability for forage dry matter yield (0.42) indicates that phenotypic selection for this trait can be successful. A wide range of general combining ability was observed for most of the studied traits, especially those related to forage yield. Relatively low genetic variation and heritability for crude protein and also negative correlation of this trait with forage yield, indicates a low probability of improving forage yield and quality simultaneously.     

Transcripts of genes encoding reproductive neuroendocrine hormones and androgen receptor in the brain and testis of goldfish exposed to vinclozolin,flutamide, testosterone,and their combinations

Vinclozolin (VZ) is a pesticide that acts as an anti-androgen to impair reproduction in mammals. However, VZ-induced disruption of reproduction is largely unknown in fish. In the present study, we have established a combination exposure in which adult goldfish were exposed to VZ (30 and 100 μg/L), anti-androgen flutamide (Flu, 300 μg/L), and androgen testosterone (T, 1 μg/L) to better understand effects of VZ on reproductive endocrine system. mRNA levels of kisspeptin (kiss-1 and kiss-2) and its receptor (gpr54), salmon gonadotropin-releasing hormone (gnrh3) and androgen receptor (ar) in the mid-brain, and luteinizing hormone receptor (lhr) in the testis were analyzed and compared with those of control following 10 days of exposure. kiss-1 mRNA level was increased in goldfish exposed to 100 µg/L VZ and to Flu, while kiss-2 mRNA level was increased following exposure to Flu and to combinations of 30 µg/L VZ with Flu, 100 µg/L VZ with T, and Flu with T. gpr54 mRNA level was increased in goldfish exposed to Flu and to combination of 30 µg/L VZ with Flu and 100 µg/L VZ with T. gnrh3 mRNA level was increased in goldfish exposed to 100 µg/L VZ, to Flu, and to combinations of 30 µg/L VZ with Flu, 100 µg/L VZ with T, and Flu with T. The mid-brain ar mRNA level was increased in goldfish exposed to Flu and to combinations of 30 µg/L VZ with Flu, 100 µg/L VZ with T, and Flu with T. Testicular lhr mRNA level was increased in goldfish exposed to Flu and to combination of 30 µg/L VZ with Flu. These results suggest that VZ and Flu are capable of interfering with kisspeptin and GnRH systems to alter pituitary and testicular horonal functions in adult goldfish and the brain ar mediates VZ-induced disruption of androgen production.