Effect of Zataria multiflora essential oil on Alternaria alternata in vitro and in an assay on tomato fruits

Journal of Plant Diseases and Protection - The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of Zataria multiflora essential oil at different concentrations (0, 100, 200, 300 and 500 ppm) on the...     

Attribute selection and model evaluation for the maternal and paternal imprinted genes in bovine (Bos Taurus) using supervised machine learning algorithms

Imprinted genes display biased expression of paternal and maternal alleles in mammals. They are marked through epigenetic process during gametogenesis. Characterization of imprinted genes has expanded our understanding of the regulation and function of genes. In the current study, 22 experimentally validated imprinted genes in bovine (Bos Taurus) were analysed. Several supervised machine learning algorithms and attribute weighting methods were used to find characteristics of different types of imprinted genes and suggest a classification method for finding maternally and paternally expressed genes in bovine. For assessing the best model and comparing attributes in other organisms, we have also conducted a comparative analysis for human and sheep imprinted genes. According to the results of the present study, GC contents 10 and 100 kb upstream, Gly and Gln amino acids, Ile/ATC codon usage, LINE and SINE in 100kbup and length of first intron were significantly different between the maternal and paternal genes in cattle. Considering all species together, we found that GC content 100 kb up, LINE 100 kb up and the frequency of amino acids like Gly, Gln and Met were the most important attributes for identifying the paternal and maternal imprinted genes. These findings could imply conservation pattern in the attributes among these species.     

Mucoadhesive Chitosan Electrospun Nanofibers Containing Tetracycline and Triamcinolone as a Drug Delivery System

The mucoadhesive Chitosan (CS) nanofibers as a drug delivery system were developed. Chitosan was modified via the immobilization of thiol groups from L-cysteine as a mucoadhesive reagent. The mucoadhesive properties of the chitosan nanofibers were evaluated by tensiometer set and via tensile studies. Drug and mucoadhesive agent loading lead to decrease diameters and increased porous of nanofibers. The release of Tetracycline (Tet) and Triamcinolone (Tri) were increased with increasing immersion time and it became constant at long immersion times. Mucoadhesion studies were done at pH 2–7 and in pH 6 maximum mucoadhesive properties observed. Release studies demonstrated a sustained release of both drug continued up to 48 hours. Microbial studies were performed on the nanofibers. The drug delivery system represented a novel tool for improve the therapeutic efficacy of various drugs that are poorly absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract. Also it is an efficient system for treatment of oral ulceration.     

Inoculation of ‘Golden Delicious’ Apple Trees on M9 Rootstock with Azotobacter Improves Nutrient Uptake and Growth Indices

ABSTRACT

Roots of young ‘Golden Delicious’ apple on M9 rootstock were inoculated with four strains of Azotobacter chroococcum, which were isolated from various soils. Effects of these strains in combination with different levels of nitrogen (N) fertilizer and compost on plant growth and nutrient uptake were studied over two seasons. Therefore, a factorial arrangement included four strains of A. chroococcum, two levels of N-fertilizer (0 and 35 mg N kg^?1soil of ammonium nitrate) and two levels of compost (0 and 12 g kg^?1 soil of air-dried vermicompost). Among the four strains, AFA₁₄₆ was the most beneficial strain, as it increased leaf area, leaf potassium (K), magnesium (Mg), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), zinc (Zn), and boron (B) uptake and root N, phosphorus (P), potassium (K), Mn, and Zn. The combination of AFA₁₄₆ strain, compost and N fertilizer increased leaf uptake of Ca, Mg, Fe, Mn, Zn, and B, and root uptake of P, K, Ca, Mg, Mn, and copper (Cu), and root dry weight.     

Inflorescence architecture of olive

The influence of flower position on the inflorescence on opening day, gender, and petal persistence was studied in three olive cultivars: Manzanillo, Mission, and Frantoio. In each cultivar, 45 inflorescences were checked every morning from flower opening to petal fall. Perfect flowers opened mainly in the beginning of the flower opening period, and staminate flowers opened later. Flower position on the inflorescence had a highly significant effect on the opening day in all cultivars. Terminal flowers and the flowers located on the primary branches opened earlier than the flowers located on the secondary branches. Flower position had also a highly significant effect on gender in Manzanillo and Mission. In Manzanillo, the secondary branches had fewer perfect flowers than the primary branches. In Mission, the secondary branches had no perfect flowers at all. Among the primary branches, the branch arising immediately next to the terminal flower had the latest flowers to open and the lowest percent of perfect flowers. In Manzanillo, perfect flowers had significantly longer petal persistence than staminate flowers. To study flower competition within the inflorescence, the distal half of 120 inflorescences, on which the flowers tend to be perfect, in three trees of Manzanillo were removed about 1 month before full bloom. There was a highly significant effect on the percent of perfect flowers that opened on the proximal half. Flower competition may be a reason for pistil abortion in flowers located on secondary branches.     

Comparison of Growth and Fatty Acids Composition of Freshwater Rotifer, Brachionus calyciflorus Pallas, Fed with Two Types of Microalgae at Different Concentrations

As algae and their concentrations are important factors for mass culture of rotifer, two experiments were conducted to find the effects of two types of algae, Chlorella sp. and Scenedesmus obliquus, and three concentration of chosen algae (0.1 × 10⁶, 1 × 10⁶, and 10 × 10⁶ cells/mL) on growth and fatty acid composition of freshwater rotifer, Brachionus calyciflorus. The result of the first experiment showed that the maximum density of rotifer was significantly higher when fed with Chlorella sp. (478 individuals/mL) than fed with S. obliquus (328 individuals/mL). Mean population growth rate (r) was 0.61 and 0.44 for rotifer fed with Chlorella sp. and S. obliquus, respectively. The amount of highly unsaturated fatty acid (HUFA) in rotifer fed with Chlorella sp. (3.32%) was relatively more than those fed with S. obliquus (2.65%). Then, Chlorella sp. was selected based on better performance. In the second experiment, the maximum rotifer density of 108 ± 8, 489 ± 47, and 493 ± 51 individuals/mL was reached after 5 d for the respective Chlorella sp. concentrations; at concentration of 10 × 10⁶ cells/mL, the maximum density of 1820 ± 47 individuals/mL was obtained. Mean growth rate at mentioned concentrations was 0.18, 0.42, and 0.51/d, respectively. Increase in algal concentration was associated with a relative increase in HUFA and decrease in monounsaturated fatty acid.     

Calcium and Potassium Foliar Sprays Affect Fruit Skin Color,Quality Attributes,and Mineral Nutrient Concentrations of ‘Red Delicious’ Apples

This study was conducted to evaluate the influences of foliar spray of potassium (K), calcium (Ca), and their combination on the fruit red skin color and quality attributes of ‘Red Delicious’ apple under conditions of south central Iran with warm and dry summer, where low and high temperature differences are low. The trees were sprayed five times using 5 g L^–1 calcium chloride (CaCl₂) at 3-week intervals starting from 3 weeks after full bloom and three times (at 9, 12, and 15 weeks after full bloom) using 2.5 g L^–1 K sources [potassium chloride (KCl), potassium sulfate (K₂SO₄), and potassium nitrate (KNO₃)] during two growing seasons in 2013 and 2014. Anthocyanin, some physicochemical attributes, and fruit mineral concentrations were measured at harvest. Results showed that spraying with K, CaCl₂, and their combinations significantly increased fruit weight, sugar and anthocyanin concentrations, firmness, and K uptake. A combined foliar application of CaCl₂ and each of the K sources was more effective on the improvement of fruit color, firmness, fruit K and Ca uptake, and K/Ca ratio as compared to the case when either K or Ca was applied alone.     

Study of interleukin-10 and interleukin-12 productions in response to lipopolysaccharides extracted from two different Brucella strains

The aim of the present study is to investigate the cytokines induction by smooth lipopolysaccharides (S-LPS) extracted from Brucella melitensis (Rev1 vaccine strain) and Brucella abortus (a field isolate). These lipopolysaccharides were used to induce inflammatory cytokines production in peripheral blood cell culture of healthy individuals. Secretion of IL-10 and IL-12 (p70) were measured by means of specific Elisa. In addition, intracellular expression of IL-12 was assessed in CD14+ cells by flow cytometry. It was shown that Brucella LPS is a potent inducer of IL-10. However interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) priming was able to significantly decrease the production of IL-10. Flow cytometry studies showed that LPS alone was not able to induce intracellular IL-12 expression in CD14+ cells. Nevertheless, IFN-gamma priming significantly increased the percentage of CD14+ IL-12+ cells. In conclusion, it was demonstrated that the Brucella LPS could be a potent inducer of IL-10 and induction of IL-12 production needs the most favorable conditions.     

Cluster Management to Improve Berry Quality in Young ‘Alborz’ Table Grape in the Intermountain West Region,USA

Cluster management in table grapes is an essential cultural practice for production of high quality table grapes. This issue has not been studied in the Intermountain West region in the United States. Thus, the objective of this project was to study the effects of cluster removal, cluster shortening, and vine girdling on yield and quality attributes of ‘Alborz’ table grape during 2012–14 growing seasons. Vines that did not receive cluster removal and cluster cutting (NoClRemNoClCut) tended to have a higher yield but smaller berry weight than those with other cluster managements every year. Vines receiving cluster removal, cluster shortening, and a trunk girdling (ClRemShort&Gird) regime tended to have larger berries and cluster weight than those with other treatments. However, girdled vines were more susceptible to cold damage. Vines receiving cluster removal and cluster shortening had slightly larger berries, better appearance, and marketability than those without cluster removal and without cluster shortening.