Cropping system effects on carbohydrate content and water-stable aggregates in a calcareous soil of Central Iran

The effect of humus, readily decomposable organic matter, and carbohydrates of a nonspecific nature on the formation of water-stable aggregates in field rotation members of a calcareous soil in central Iran, Isfahan (fine loamy mixed thermic typic haplargid) has been studied. The study was carried out at Lavark experimental farm in plots receiving 0 (T1), 25 (T2), 50 (T3) and 100 (T4) Mg/ha of manure for 5 years successively with a cropping rotation of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)–corn (Zea mays L.) every year and plots under similar chemical fertilizer management but with three different cropping rotations (T5, T6 and T7) that has been the prevalent cropping systems. Three replications of soil sample in each treatment and at the depths of 0–5 and 5–15 cm were used to measure organic carbon (OC), hot-water-soluble carbohydrate, dilute acid hydrolysable carbohydrate, cold-water-soluble carbohydrate and mean weight diameter of water stable aggregates. The highest amount of carbohydrate (700 mg/kg) and aggregate stability (0.8 mm) were obtained in plots with 100 Mg/ha manure (T4). The amount of carbohydrate extracted from soil samples decreased in the order of hot water, dilute acid and cold water extracts.Aggregate stability had a better correlation with hot water (r = 0.74**) and dilute acid-soluble carbohydrate (r = 0.73**) than organic carbon (r = 0.62**) content of soil. This indicates that the carbohydrate extracted by hot water and dilute acid may be a suitable indicator for showing soil quality, particularly in relation to soil aggregation.     

桤柏混交林林下植被结构及生物量动态

林下植被是森林生态系统的重要组成部分,在森林生态系统的物质循环、生物多样性以及演替、发展等方面具有重要的作用.选取具有代表性的10,15,20,25 a桤(Aluns cremastogyme)柏(Cupressus fu-nebris)混交林和由桤柏混交林演替而来的30 a纯柏林为研究对象,研究了川中丘陵区桤柏混交林的林下植被结构及生物量的动态变化.(1)灌丛和草本的物种丰富度在10～20 a间增加,20～30 a间,灌丛物种丰富度显著降低,草本层无明显变化.(2)灌丛和草本层的高度在10～15 a间显著增加,15～30 a间缓慢降低,灌丛高度具较大的空间异质性.(3)灌丛和草本层的盖度在15 a前后有显著的上升和下降,20～30a间无显著的变化;草本层的盖度高于灌丛,且空间异质性小于灌从.(4)灌丛生物量在15 a前后有显著增加和下降,20～30 a间相对稳定;草本层生物量在10～30 a间呈波动性变化,但总体上呈下降趋势.研究结果表明,在桤柏混交林的生长发育过程中,林下植被的结构和功能呈逐渐退化趋势.     

Land cover changes in a forested watershed,southern Zagros,Iran

This study aims to investigate the land cover changes in relation to traditional utilization and livestock grazing, socioeconomic development, and demographic changes during recent decades in a forested watershed in the southern Zagros, Iran. Data on land cover change were collected through stereo interpretation with digital photogrammetric techniques applied to sets of scanned aerial photographs from 1969 and 1993 with a systematic grid of sample plots provided by GIS techniques. Efforts were made to mitigate errors in the interpretation. Field data were gathered in 2003 from woodland inventory, biophysical, and demographic data and in 2006 from interviews. The results show stability in crown cover density (%) and in the number of large trees, and an increase in the woodland class. The results may be related to a change in woodland utilization. Socioeconomic development, decrease in human and livestock population, and a change in the type of livestock have influenced the traditional pattern. Steep slopes partially limit human accessibility to woodland resources. Around 54% of the oak trees are in coppice form and natural regeneration of the trees is rare. Overgrazing and seed gathering have a negative effect on regeneration and endanger the future survival of the woodland. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Seroepidemiological study on Coxiella burnetii and associated risk factors in ruminants at Kurdistan Province,west of Iran

Q fever is zoonotic disease caused by Coxiella burnetii. Ruminants are the main reservoir of this pathogen, which is often asymptomatic but lead to abortion. This study aims to survey the seroprevalence and risk factors of this zoonose among ruminants in Kurdistan province, the west of Iran. 480 blood samples were collected from ruminants including sheep, goats and cows, each 160 samples, in the age groups of <1, ≥1−3, >3−5 year with and without the history of abortion in two groups border and non-border cities in Kurdistan province. Serums were tested by use of indirect ELISA to determine specific antibodies against C. burnetii. The results indicate the seroprevalence of 46.6 % for Q fever. Seroprevalence in sheep, goats and cows were 28.58 % (n = 64), 45.53 % (n = 102) and 25.89 % (n = 58), respectively. Seroprevalence is significantly higher in animals with abortion than in those without such history (P < 0.05). The seroprevalence in the border cities has been significantly higher than other geographical areas (P < 0.05). Seroprevalence had no significant correlation with animal age (P> 0.05). This study is the first seroepidemiological study done on Q fever in ruminants of Kurdistan province, Iran. The results indicate the high seroprevalence of Coxiella burnetii in the area under the study. Therefore, doing an epidemiologically study aimed at isolating C. brunetii in the human population of Kurdistan province is recommended, so that the epidemiological aspect of this pathogen in the people of Kurdistan province be clarified and subsequently disease control and prevention programs be applied.     

播期对鄂中北地区不同类型粳稻产量、生育期及温光利用的影响

为了明确鄂中北地区稻麦周年轮作模式下,播期对不同类型粳稻生育期、产量及其构成因素、温光资源利用的影响,以常规早熟中粳、中熟中粳、迟熟中粳、籼粳杂交早熟中粳和籼粳杂交中熟中粳为材料,在湖北省襄阳市农业科学院团山试验基地进行试验。结果表明,随着播期推迟,各类型粳稻生育期均显著缩短,迟熟中粳缩短幅度最大,籼粳杂交早熟中粳缩短幅度最小。各类型粳稻营养生长阶段受温光影响较大,而生殖生长阶段相对稳定;随着播期推迟,各类型粳稻全生育期有效积温及其利用率显著降低,日照时数利用率呈减少趋势。同一播期内,籼粳杂交中粳热量利用率高于常规中粳;各类型粳稻产量均以第Ⅰ播期最高,第Ⅴ播期最低,产量下降的主要原因是每穗颖花数和结实率显著降低。鄂中北地区粳麦周年轮作模式下,粳稻应首选籼粳杂交中熟中粳和常规迟熟中粳,其次是籼粳杂交早熟中粳。籼粳杂交中熟中粳和常规迟熟中粳的最佳播期为5月9日-5月15日。     

根域限制栽培对主干形‘圆梦’桃生长和果实品质的影响

根域限制栽培具有控制树冠、促进果树成花的优点，适宜在主干形整枝的密植果园中应用，但不同品种桃表现不同。‘圆梦’桃是由‘湖景蜜露’和‘白丽’杂交而来的中晚熟新品种，为明确‘圆梦’用作南方密植品种的适用性，以浙江省桃主栽品种‘湖景蜜露’为对照品种，对其营养生长、成花量和果实品质进行了研究，结果表明根域限制栽培的‘圆梦’树体营养生长和枝条成花量与‘湖景蜜露’基本一致，且果型大小、糖度、色泽更优。     

狼毒根原料特点及其中柱制备糠醛研究

瑞香狼毒是我国北方草原上典型的多年生草本毒植物,资源化利用是新的治理思想和方式。以青海湖南岸的狼毒为研究对象,对其根部原料特征、化学成分和中柱部分制备糠醛进行了测定分析。结果表明:狼毒根皮层厚度与其最大直径呈直线关系;含水量为4.5%时,狼毒根中柱密度(0.72 g/cm~3)略高于皮层密度(0.69 g/cm~3);狼毒根中柱与皮层的化学成分有较大差异。由于狼毒根中柱部分聚戊糖含量较高,适合作为制备糠醛的原料,本研究中糠醛的得率为8.2%,与目前工业常用的原料蔗渣相仿。研究结果可为狼毒资源化提供参考依据。     

First molecular identification and subtype distribution of Blastocystis sp. isolated from hooded crows (Corvus cornix) and pigeons (Columba livia) in Tehran Province,Iran

Blastocystis is a common intestinal parasite among humans and animals such as non-human primates, pigs, cattle, birds, amphibians, and less frequently, rats, reptiles and insects. Since Blastocystis is a widely transmissible parasite between humans and mammals or birds, it is prominent to determine whether newly secluded non-human isolates are zoonotic. There are no comprehensive studies in Iran assessing the prevalence and molecular identification of Blastocystis infection in birds, especially in pigeons and crows. So, the aim of this study was to identify Blastocystis subtypes (STs) in crows and pigeons in Tehran province, Iran, using Nested PCR-RFLP and sequencing. Overall, 300 Blastocystis isolates from birds (156 pigeons and 144 crows) were subtyped by PCR, and the homology among isolates was then confirmed by RFLP analysis of the 18S rRNA gene. The prevalence of Blastocystis infection was detected 42.9% in pigeons and 44.4% in crows. All positive pigeons were owned by ST13 (100%). Among crows, 46 samples (71.8%) like pigeons were ST13, and 13 samples (20.3%) were ST14. Five samples (7.9%) remained unknown. This study was the first report of ST13 and ST14 of Blastocystis from birds. In the present study, our data revealed a high prevalence of Blastocystis sp. in pigeon’s and crow’s samples and the isolates from these birds were classified into two genetically distinct STs. Therefore, birds appear to be infected with various STs. It is important to determine the phylogenetic relationships between unknown STs from these birds and the multiple STs of Blastocystis.     

Simulating the Production of Rice Genotypes by Flood Management and End-Season Water Stress Conditions Using AquaCrop Model

ABSTRACT

The present study was conducted to assess the ability of AquaCrop model in predicting of grain and biological yield of rice genotypes in water management. A two-year field experiment was conducted at the experimental farm of the Iranian Rice Research Institute in Rasht, Iran from 2016 to 2017. The experiment was established in a split-plot design with two irrigation management (continuous submergence and end season water stress) as the main plot, fourth rice genotypes as the sub-plot and three replications. The goodness-of-fit between observed and simulated grain yield and final biomass was assessed by means of the coefficient of determination (R ²), the absolute and normalized root mean square errors (RMSE). The RMSE_n of predicting grain yield at calibration and evaluation stages was in the range of 6–12% and 6–8% for biological yield. The results indicated that AquaCrop model is suitable to predict grain yield and biological yield of rice genotypes in northern Iran. AquaCrop model can be used to determine optimization strategies to improve the water consumption of rice genotypes.     

The true nature of Ganoderma in Iran: Taxonomy based on ITS and mtSSU rDNA

The genus Ganoderma Karst. has broad‐spectrum usage in biotechnology, medicine and the food industry. The complexity of the morphology within species has led to uncertain identification in the past, but recent advancements in molecular identification methods have provided scientists with the opportunity to better understand the taxonomy of the species. The present study attempts for the first time to elucidate the distinctiveness of the Ganoderma species growing in Iran concerning those elsewhere in the world based on mitochondrial small subunit ribosomal DNA (mtSSU rDNA) and internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequence data. The results disclosed that the G. lucidum Karst. samples collected in Iran are more similar to the European Ganoderma species than to the Asian (Chinese) one used in this study.