Improvement of Seed Quality of Wheat (Triticum aestivum) as Affected by Brassinolide under Different Irrigation Regimes

Journal of Crop Science and Biotechnology - Irrigation interruption owing to time of incidence is affecting the seed quality. The aim of this research was to determine whether the brassinolide and...     

Comparison of nuclear and capacitance‐based soil water measuring techniques in salt‐affected soils

A field calibration experiment was carried out on salt‐affected clayey soil in Syria, to compare the sensitivity to soil electrical conductivity (ECe), and bulk density (ρ_b) of two instruments for estimating soil moisture: the neutron probe (NP) and the Diviner 2000 capacitance probe (CP). The results showed that the values of the correlation coefficient of the calibration were decreased when the ECe and ρ_b values increased; this decrease was more pronounced for the Diviner 2000, indicating that it was more sensitive to ρ_b and ECe than the NP. When only scaled frequency was used in the fitted equation, the Diviner 2000 in wet soil underestimated soil water content significantly at all depths, but especially in the top layer, by up to 0.09 cm³/cm³ compared with gravimetric determinations. However, in dry soil, the Diviner 2000 overestimated the volumetric water content by up to 0.05 cm³/cm³ in the top 15 cm, and by 0.03 cm³/cm³ at 30‐45 cm depth. The performance of the neutron probe was better overall; using a factory calibration curve no significant differences were observed between NP estimates and the gravimetric values. Including both ρ_b and ECe in the calibration equations improved the fits, although the regression coefficient (R²) for the Diviner 2000 remained low.     

Oxidative Stability of Common Kilka (Clupeonella cultriventris caspia) Oil Supplemented with Microwave Extracted Ghure (Unripe Grape) Marc Extract

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of microwave extracted Ghure (unripe grape) marc extract on common kilka (Clupeonella cultriventris caspia) oil oxidation during accelerated storage. The antioxidant activity of Ghure marc extract was compared with those of α-tocopherol and BHT. The Ghure marc extract significantly reduced the peroxide and p-anisidine value of kilka oil. Even though the effect of Ghure marc extract on reducing the oxidation of kilka oil was similar to the effect of BHT, it was functionally more effective than α-tocopherol. Generally, Ghure marc extract could be considered as a potential source of natural antioxidants, with inexpensive costs, for improving the oxidative stability of kilka oil.

Abbreviations: AA, Antioxidant activity; AOP, Antioxidant power; AV, p-Anisidine value; CUPRAC, Cupric ion reducing antioxidant capacity; DHA, Docosahexaenoic acid; EPA, Eicosapentaenoic acid; FIC, Ferrous ion chelating; GME, Ghure marc extract; FRAP, Ferrous ion reducing antioxidant power; KO, Kilka oil; IP, Induction period; MAE, Microwave-assisted extraction; MUFA, Monounsaturated fatty acid; PUFA, Polyunsaturated fatty acid; PV, peroxide value; PF, Protection factor; RSA, Radical scavenging activity; SFA, Saturated fatty acids; TFC, Total flavonoid content; TPC, total phenolic content TV, totox value.     

Fate of Endosulfan in Cotton Soil under Sub-tropical Conditions of Northern India

Terrestrial field studies were conducted with endosulfan during the 1989–90 Kharif season in bare cotton soil, to investigate the fate of endosulfan and its downward movement under sub-tropical conditions of northern India. Field experiments consisted of spray application of endosulfan at 875 g ha^-1 42 and 63 days after the assumed date of sowing in two separate treatments. Soil samples drawn periodically from different depths were analysed by GC-ECD (Ni⁶³) for endosulfan and its breakdown products. Dissipation of the total endosulfan residues occurred to an extent of 92–97% in the first four-week period and by about 99% in 238 days in two distinct phases in first-order kinetics. Residue half life (T_1/2) varied from 39 to 42 days. The parent compound metabolized to endosulfan-diol and endosulfan sulfate. Endosulfan-diol remained confined in the upper 5-cm layer and dissipated completely in 28 days whereas endosulfan sulfate was first detectable seven days after treatment and persisted until the end of the experiment, remaining confined in the upper 0–10 cm soil layer. The β-isomer also did not leach down beyond 10 cm depth. © 1997 SCI.     

Effects of dietary myrcene administration on antioxidant gene responses in common carp (Cyprinus carpio), exposed to copper sulphate

In the present study, common carp (Cyprinus carpio) were fed with diet supplemented with 0% (M0) or 0.5% (M0.5) myrcene for 6 week and exposed to ambient copper (0.2 mg/L) for further 2 weeks. Gene expressions of superoxide dismutase (sod), catalase (cat), glutathione peroxidase (gpx), glutathione reductase (gr) and glutathione S‐transferase (gst) were assayed in the fish brain and kidney, and thiobarbituric reactive substance (TBARS) levels were determined in blood plasma. The results showed that there was no significant difference in TBARS levels between the M0 and M0.5 treatments, before the copper exposure; however, the M0 had significantly higher TBARS levels compared to the M0.5, after the copper exposure. The antioxidant genes showed different patterns in the fish brain and kidney. The genes were up‐regulated in the fish brain by dietary myrcene and copper exposure. However, in the fish kidney, the M0.5 treatment showed no change in sod, cat, gpx before and after the copper exposure. The results suggest that myrcene is capable to induce antioxidant enzymes that prepare the fish for a further oxidative condition (i.e. copper exposure). Dietary myrcene at 0.5% level is suggested for common carp before treatment with copper sulphate.     

Leaf epidermis characters of Iranian <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pyrus</Emphasis> L. (Rosaceae) and their taxonomic implications

Pyrus L. is a taxonomically difficult genus mainly because of interspecific and intergeneric hybridization. A majority of the wild species of Pyrus occurs in Iran, making this region very important for any study of the systematics of the genus. In this investigation, seven quantitative and seven qualitative characters of leaf epidermis, particularly epidermal cells shape, anticlinal walls patterns, type and size of stomata, and cuticular ornamentation of 22 taxa of Pyrus plus Malus orientalis are studied for assessment of their taxonomical value at different levels. Scanning electron microscopy and light microscopy were used for evaluation of epidermis features of these taxa. Some characters such as shape and anticlinal wall pattern of epidermal cells, presence of adaxial stomata, pattern of cuticular ornamentation and epicuticular wax types are useful in separation of some Pyrus taxa. Moreover, Malus orientalis is recognized easily from all Pyrus species via the density of stomata. According to ANOVA analysis, all quantitative variables show high level of between-group differentiation. Also, based on the hierarchical clustering results gained by multiple correspondence analysis and factor analysis of mixed data analyses of the current study, micromorphological characters of epidermal cells reflect the ecological conditions of pear taxa, so most of the mesophyte and xerophyte taxa can be separated from each other in accordance with epidermal cells characters, specially the anticlinal wall pattern. Totally, the application of some other biological markers, particularly suitable molecular data are needed to present well-resolved relationships among these taxa.     

Effects of conditioning time and sodium bentonite on pellet quality,growth performance,intestinal morphology and nutrient retention in finisher broilers

1. This study was carried out to evaluate the effect of steam-conditioning time and different levels of processed sodium bentonite (PSB) on pellet quality, growth performance, intestinal development and morphology, and nutrient digestibilities in broilers during finisher period (d 24–45).

2. A total of 810 male chicks were reared in commercial conditions on floor pens till d 24. Then, birds were weighed and used in a completely randomised design experiment with a 3 × 3 factorial arrangement, including three levels of conditioning times (0, 2 and 4 min) and three PSB levels (0, 7.5 and 15 g/kg diet). Each of the 9 diets fed to 6 replicates group of 15 birds each.

3. The results showed that 2-min steam conditioning and 15 g/kg PSB supplementation significantly increased pellet durability index (PDI) and hardness, and decreased electrical consumption of pelleting. Diets had no significant effects on body weight, feed intake and feed conversion ratio. Although dietary treatments did not influence relative weight and length of three segments of small intestine, 2-min steam conditioning significantly improved villus height (VH) and crypt depth. Steam conditioning of diet for 2 min significantly increased apparent metabolisable energy (AME), ether extract (EE), calcium (Ca) and dry matter (DM) retention in birds measured during 38–42 d of age.

4. It could be concluded that 2-min steam conditioning improved PDI and hardness, VH and nutrient retention (AME, EE, Ca and DM), but did not affect growth performance in broilers during finisher period.