Alkaline sulfite–anthraquinone (AS/AQ) pulping of wheat straw and totally chlorine free (TCF) bleaching of pulps

Alkaline sulfite–anthraquinone (AS/AQ) pulping of wheat straw and totally chlorine free (TCF) bleaching of resulting pulps was investigated. Wheat straw was supplied by the Ferdosii University Experimental Station in Northeastern Iran, cleaned and chopped into about 3–5 cm long pieces. In the AS/AQ pulping experiments, the active alkali charge on oven dry wheat straw, heating time to maximum cooking temperature, AQ dose and liquor to straw ratio were kept constant at 16%, 60 min, 0.1% and 4/1, respectively. The alkali ratio, Na₂SO₃/NaOH, calculated as NaOH, was varied from 20/80 to 80/20. Cooking time at maximum temperature was varied from 30 to 90 min and maximum cooking temperature was adjusted between 152 and 160 °C. Reference soda and soda/AQ pulps were produced.AS/AQ and soda/AQ pulps with kappa numbers below 15 were produced easily. Cooking of corresponding soda pulps under comparable conditions stopped at a kappa number of 25. The characteristics of unbleached AS/AQ, soda/AQ and soda pulps were compared. AS/AQ and soda/AQ pulps had similar tensile strength but tear was in favor to AS/AQ. The latter had much higher yield and brightness.TCF bleaching of AS/AQ pulp was performed in O Q (OP) or O Q (OP) P sequences. Oxygen delignification (O) resulted in a delignification degree of approximately one third. Followed by a chelating treatment (Q) and a subsequent (OP) stage under drastic conditions a brightness of 82.7% ISO was achieved in an O Q (OP) sequence. The sequence O Q (OP) P, with 2% H₂O₂ in the final P stage, improved brightness from 77.2% ISO after the OP stage to 83.6% ISO. Bleaching led to only small losses in tensile and burst strength but enhanced tear strength. Short beating in a Jokro mill was sufficient to attain good pulp strength. The results of this study indicate that AS/AQ pulping and TCF bleaching is a convincing alternative to produce high-quality pulp from wheat straw for writing and printing paper.     

Über das Artenspektrum Manna erzeugender Aphiden

Identification of Manna excreting Aphids Up to now the origin of Manna in northern Iraq has not been known distinctly. As producers of the sweet excretions called Manna on oak trees were identified the following species of Aphididae:Aphis fabae Scop.,A. gossypii Glov.,Chromaphis juglandicola Kalt.,Myzocallis castanicola Bak.,Tuberculatus annulata Htg.,T. moerickei Hrl. andThelaxes sp.     

Alkaloids of Zanthoxylum budrunga

Pseudophrynamine, lunacridine and the new compound 2-(2',4',6'-trimethyl-heptenyl)-4-quinozolone were isolated from the leaves of Zanthoxylum budrunga.     

Antinociceptive diterpene from Euphorbia decipiens

One myrsinol-type diterpene ester (1) isolated from Euphorbia decipiens was evaluated for analgesic activity in the acetic acid induced writhing test in mice. Different dose (5-20 mg/kg i.p.) of the compound showed significant antinociceptive activity, which was comparable to standard analgesic drugs, aspirin and ibuprofen (100 mg/kg i.p.).     

Coumarins from the aerial part of Halocnemum strobilaceum

Four known coumarins, coumarin (1), 7-hydroxy-3-methylcoumarin (2), oreoselone (3) and heraclenin (4), were isolated from aerial part of Halocnemum strobilaceum. Their structures were determined by 1 and 2-D NMR techniques.     

Effect of different levels of dietary sweet orange (Citrus sinensis) peel extract on humoral immune system responses in broiler chickens

This experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of different levels of sweet orange (Citrus sinensis) peel extract (SOPE) on humoral immune system responses in broiler chickens. Three hundred 1‐day broilers (Ross‐308) were randomly allocated to treatments varying in supplemental SOPE added in the drinking water. The experimental groups consisted of three treatments fed for 42 days as follows: a control treatment without feed extract, a treatment containing 1000 ppm of SOPE and a treatment containing 1250 ppm of SOPE. All treatments were isocaloric and isonitrogenous. Broilers were vaccinated with Newcastle disease virus (NDV), avian influenza (AI), infectious bursal disease (IBD) and infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) vaccines. Antibody titer response to sheep red blood cells (SRBC) was higher in the group fed 1250 ppm of SOPE (P < 0.05) as well as for immunoglobulin G (IgG) and IgM. Similarly, antibody titer responses to all vaccines were constantly elevated (P < 0.05) by SOPE enrichment in a dose‐dependent manner. Relative weights of spleen and bursa of Fabricius were unaffected by treatments. Dietary SOPE supplementation may improve the immune response and diseases resistance, indicating that it can constitute a useful additive in broiler feeding. Thus, supplying SOPE in rations may help to improve relative immune response in broiler chickens.     

Genetics and mechanism of resistance to deltamethrin in a field population of Spodoptera litura (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

BACKGROUND: Spodoptera litura (F.) causes enormous losses in many economically important crops. The genetics of insecticide resistance has been extensively studied in several insect pests, but there is a lack of information on S. litura. Therefore, the genetics and mechanisms of the resistance of S. litura to deltamethrin were investigated. RESULTS: Bioassays at generation G1 gave resistance ratios of 9, 5, 41, 52 and 49 for deltamethrin, cypermethrin, profenofos, chlorpyrifos and triazofos respectively, when compared with the susceptible Lab-PK strain. Bioassays at G4 with a deltamethrin-selected population (Delta-SEL) showed that selection gave resistance ratios of 63 and 7 for deltamethrin when compared with the Lab-PK and UNSEL strains respectively. Cross-resistance to other insecticides tested was observed in the selected population. A notable feature of the Delta-SEL strain was that resistance to deltamethrin, cypermethrin, profenofos and chlorpyrifos did not decline over the course of five generations. Synergism tests with microsomal oxidase (MO) and esterase-specific inhibitors indicated that the deltamethrin resistance was associated with MO and, possibly, esterase activity. Reciprocal crosses between the Delta-SEL and Lab-PK strains indicated that resistance was autosomal and incompletely dominant. A direct test of monogenic inheritance suggested that resistance to deltamethrin was controlled by more than one locus. CONCLUSION: Stability and dominance of resistance and cross-resistance suggest that insecticides with different modes of action should be recommended to reduce pyrethroid selection pressure.     

Expression profiling of transgenes (Cry1Ac and Cry2A) in cotton genotypes under different genetic backgrounds

Transgenic cotton carrying the Cry1Ac gene has revolutionized insect pest control since its adoption, although the development of resistance in insect pests has reduced its efficacy.  After 10 years of cultivating Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) cotton with a single Cry1Ac gene, growers are on the verge of adopting Bt cotton that carries the double gene (Cry1Ac+Cry2A) due to its better effectiveness against insect pests.  Thus, the current study was designed to evaluate the role of each gene in the effectiveness of Bt cotton carrying the double gene.  The expression levels of the Cry1Ac and Cry2A genes were evaluated in the leaves of 10 genotypes (2 parents and 8 F₁ hybrids) at 30 days after sowing (DAS), while samples of leaves, bolls and flowers were taken from the upper and lower canopies at 70 and 110 DAS.  The F₁ hybrids were developed through reciprocal crosses between two Bt (CKC-1, CKC-2) and two non-Bt (MNH-786, FH-942) parents.  The differential expression of transgenes was evaluated through Enzyme Linked Immuno-Sorbent Assay (ELISA).  The results showed that the MNH786×CKC-1 hybrid had the highest concentrations of Cry1Ac gene at 30 DAS (3.08 µg g^–1) and 110 DAS (1.01 µg g^–1) in leaves.  In contrast, the CKC-2×MNH-786 hybrid showed the lowest concentrations of Cry1Ac gene at 30 DAS (2.30 µg g^–1) and 110 DAS (0.86 µg g^–1).  The F₁ hybrid FH-942×CKC-2 showed the highest concentrations of Cry2A gene at 30 DAS (8.39 µg g^–1) and 110 DAS (7.74 µg g^–1) in leaves, while the CKC-1×MNH-786 hybrid expressed the lowest concentrations of Cry2A gene at 30 DAS (7.10 µg g^–1) and 110 DAS (8.31 µg g^–1).  A comparison between the two stages of plant growth showed that leaves had the highest concentrations at 30 DAS, whereas the lowest concentrations were observed at 110 DAS for both genes in leaves.  When the expression pattern was compared between various plant parts in genotype CKC-2, it was found that leaves had higher concentrations of Cry1Ac (3.12 µg g^–1) and Cry2A (8.31 µg g^–1) at 70 DAS, followed by bolls (Cry1Ac (1.66 µg g^–1) and Cry2A (8.15 µg g^–1)) and flowers (Cry1Ac (1.07 µg g^–1) and Cry2A (7.99 µg g^–1)).  The genotype CKC-2 had higher concentrations of Cry1Ac (3.12 µg g^–1) and Cry2A (8.31 µg g^–1) in the upper canopy but less accumulation (2.66 µg g^–1 of Cry1Ac, 8.09 µg g^–1 of Cry2A) in the lower canopy at 70 DAS.  Similarly, at 110 DAS, the expression levels of Cry1Ac and Cry2A in upper and lower canopy leaves were 1.52 and 7.92 µg g^–1, and 0.99 and 7.54 µg g^–1, respectively.  Hence, the current study demonstrates that different genotypes showed variable expression for both of the Cry1Ac and Cry2A genes during plant growth due to different genetic backgrounds.  The Cry2A gene had three-fold higher expression than Cry1Ac with significant differences in expression in different plant parts.  The findings of this study will be helpful for breeding insect-resistant double-gene genotypes with better gene expression levels of Cry1Ac and Cry2A for sustainable cotton production worldwide.     

Dynamics of organic carbon and nitrogen in deep soil profile and crop yields under long-term fertilization in wheat-maize cropping system

Soil organic carbon (SOC) and nitrogen (N) are two of the most important indicators for agricultural productivity. The primary objective of this study was to investigate the changes in SOC and N in the deep soil profile (up to 100 cm) and their relationships with crop productivity under the influence of long-term (since 1990) fertilization in the wheat-maize cropping system. Treatments included CK (control), NP (inorganic N and phosphorus (P) fertilizers), NPK (inorganic N, P and potassium fertilizers), NPKM (NPK plus manure), and M (manure). Crop yield and the properties of topsoil were measured yearly from 2001 to 2009. C and N contents were measured at five different depths in 2001 and 2009. The results showed that wheat and maize yields decreased between 2001 and 2009 under the inorganic fertilizer (NP and NPK) treatments. The average yield between 2001 and 2009 under the NP, NPK, NPKM, and M treatments (compared with the CK treatment) increased by 38, 115, 383, and 381%, respectively, for wheat and 348, 891, 2 738, and 1 845%, respectively, for maize. Different long-term fertilization treatments significantly changed coarse free particulate (cfPOC), fine free particulate (ffPOC), intramicroaggregate particulate (iPOC), and mineral-associated (mSOC) organic carbon fractions. In the experimental years of 2001 and 2009, soil fractions occurred in the following order for all treatments: mSOC>cfPOC>iPOC>ffPOC. All fractions were higher under the manure application treatments than under the inorganic fertilization treatments. Compared to the inorganic fertilization treatments, manure input enhanced the stocks of SOC and total N in the surface layer (0–20 cm) but decreased SOC and N in the deep soil layer (80–100 cm). This reveals the efficiency of manure in increasing yield productivity and decreasing risk of vertical loss of nutrients, especially N, compared to inorganic fertilization treatments. The findings provide opportunities for understanding deep soil C and N dynamics, which could help mitigate climate change impact on agricultural production and maintain soil health.     

Effects of the addition of Calanopia elliptica,Artemia franciscana,and Brachionus rotundiformis in a nursery biofloc system on water quality,growth, gut morphology,health indices,and transcriptional response of immune and antioxidant-related genes in Penaeus vannamei

Aquaculture International - A 56-day study was carried out to examine the addition of live foods a biofloc technology (BFT) system on Penaeus vannamei postlarvae performance (PL25, initial weight:...