Factors affecting volatile terpene and non-terpene biotransformation products in plant cell cultures.

Suspension cultures from Peganum harmala were shown to carry out biotransformations of a number of terpenes and non-terpenes. The rate of biotransformation was dependent upon substrate concentration, density of cell suspensions, and the structure and isomeric form of the substrates.     

Lateral and Vertical Variations of Soil Organic and Inorganic Carbon Content in Aridisols and Entisols of a Rangeland

Eurasian Soil Science - The influence of biological and physicochemical soil properties on the variations in soil organic and inorganic carbon (OC and IC) contents at the soil surface was studied....     

Survey of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Sarcocystis</Emphasis> infection in slaughtered cattle in Kerman,Iran

The parasite of genus Sarcocystis is one of the most commonly found parasite in domestic animals worldwide. Some species of Sarcocystis cause important economic loss when causing clinical and sub clinical disease. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of Sarcocystis in slaughtered Cattle in Kerman, Iran. The prevalence of Sarcocystis spp. infection was investigated in 480 cattle, slaughtered from May 2005 to February 2006 in the Kerman, Iran using naked eye examination for macroscopic Sarcocysts, and peptic digestion, muscle squash, squeezing methods for microscopic types. Muscles from heart, tongue, and esophagus, cervical and abdominal muscles of 480 slaughtered cattle were examined for Sarcocystis cysts. The prevalence of microscopic Sarcocystis cysts in cattle was detected in 100% and there was no macroscopic cyst in examined cattle.     

Pseudomonas putida improved soil enzyme activity and growth of kasumbha under low input of mineral fertilizers

Effective management of the nutrients and enzyme activity in the soil is necessary for maximum crop growth and productivity. However, the excessive use of chemical fertilizers (CFs) not only adversely affects the soil nutrient status and soil physicochemical properties but also aids pollution to the ecosystem. The objective of present study was to investigate the effect of single as well as combined applications of phosphate-solubilizing bacteria and agrochemicals on important soil enzyme activities and their impact on the growth of kasumbha (safflower). Pseudomonas putida (P. putida;10⁶ cells/mL) was applied as seed inoculation prior to sowing, and CFs were applied as full, half, and quarter doses during sowing to modulate the growth of kasumbha host plants. P. putida in combination with half dose of CFs (PH) increased the soil urease and phosphatase activities, while P. putida combined with quarter dose of CFs (PQ) augmented the soil invertase activities. Moreover, the PQ treatment exhibited the maximum colony-forming units of P. putida. Leaf chlorophyll, carotenoids, protein contents, and root lengths were increased by PH treatment. Whereas, shoot length and leaf area were improved by PH and PQ treatments, respectively. Leaf protease activity was enhanced by P. putida in combination with full dose of CFs and PQ treatments, while leaf phosphate contents were significantly improved by PQ treatment. It can be concluded that P. putida in combination with half as well as quarter doses of CFs is a promising approach for the improvement of soil enzyme activities and growth of kasumbha and replacing 50% of the use of CFs.     

Effects of plant residue management on soil properties,surface runoff,and soil loss under rainfall simulation in a semi-arid region in Iran

A 5-year field study was conducted on the effect of plant residue management on soil erosion, runoff, bulk density, penetration resistance, and organic carbon. There were three treatments: burning residues on field (BR), returning residues unto the soil surface after harvesting (TR), and removing residues from soil surface (RR) (control treatment). At the end of the 5-year treatment, a rainfall simulation at 90?mm?h^?1 was applied to each plot. After rainfall simulation started, the runoff volume and soil loss amount in samples were collected at four sampling times. The results showed that the runoff volume for BR (from 145.5?±?12.2 to 190.0?±?11.8?mL) differed significantly (p?≤?0.01) from that of RR (from 32.3?±?5.5 to 67.5?±?11.1?mL) and TR (from 10.0?±?0.7 to 16.7?±?3.3?mL). A significant difference (p?≤?0.01) was also observed between RR and TR regarding runoff volume and soil loss amount in different sampling times, except for the first sampling time (2–4?min). The runoff volume in BR and TR was 215% higher and 294% lower than that of the control (RR), respectively. As compared to the control (RR), soil loss decreased by 96.5% in TR but increased by 192% in BR. The BR increased soil bulk density and penetration resistance by 4.9% and 12.4%, whereas TR reduced them by 2.1% and 15.8%, respectively, as compared to the control (RR). The results indicated that the highest (0.35) and lowest (0.03) runoff coefficients were obtained for BR and TR treatments, respectively. It is concluded that returning plant residues to soil is the best residue management practice in decreasing soil runoff volume and controlling soil erosion in semi-arid regions.     

Expression of reproductive-related genes and changes in oocyte maturation of goldfish broodstock (Carassius auratus) following injection of different exogenous kisspeptins

Kisspeptin, upstream of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis, play an essential role in the reproductive process. In the present study, the effect of different types of kisspeptin, including goldfish (Carassius auratus) kiss1 kisspeptin (Kiss1), human kisspeptin (Hkiss) and their combination (Kiss1+H) on the reproductive-related genes (kiss1, Kissr and Cyp19) of adult female goldfish was investigated in comparison with Ovaprim (a synthetic GnRH hormone). Kiss1 and Hkiss were synthesized using a solid-phase synthesis approach. Peptides were injected at a dose of 100 μg/kg body weight. The brain and ovarian tissues of samples were separated for histological studies 24 hr post-injection. The expression of the kiss1, Kissr and Cyp19 genes was measured by RT-PCR. The results showed a significant increase in expression of the reproductive-related genes. Histological analysis revealed higher number of mature oocytes in kisspeptin treated groups compare to other ones. In conclusion, Hkiss and Kiss1+H are the most effective peptides in oocyte maturation and expression of reproductive-related genes. In addition, it seems that kisspeptins in other domestic animals can be used to stimulate the hypothalamus-pituitary-gonadal axis.     

Azospirillum strains isolated from roots and rhizosphere soil of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) grown under different soil moisture conditions

The present study deals with the isolation and characterization of Azospirillum strains isolated from roots and rhizosphere soil of wheat (at tillering and anthesis stages) plants grown under different moisture regimes in the field and in pots. The survival of Azospirillum isolates from plants of irrigated field and those from well-watered pots was higher than that of Azospirillum strains isolated from roots and rhizosphere soils of plants grown under arid and semiarid (14–8% soil moisture) field conditions and under water-stressed (8% soil moisture) conditions in pots. On the basis of carbon/nitrogen source utilization, the Azospirillum strains isolated from wheat under field and pot conditions were grouped in three groups. The unweighted pair group method with arithmetic means cluster analysis based on random amplification of polymorphic DNA showed that two groups of Azospirillum were similar. The strains isolated from plants (at tillering stage) grown under low moisture conditions either in pots or in field were genetically similar to strains isolated from plants grown under well-watered conditions in both pots and field. Inoculation of wheat with isolates from water-stressed plants induced tolerance to water stress in inoculated plants. Isolates from water-stressed conditions exhibited lower production of indole acetic acid, gibberellic acid, and trans zeatin riboside but a higher production of abscisic acid.     

The Influence of Different Dietary Carbohydrate to Lipid Ratios on Some Qualitative Characteristics of Fillets of Beluga (Huso huso) During Refrigeration

In this study, juvenile beluga (Huso huso) were fed diets containing different carbohydrate to lipid ratios for 5 months. At the end of the culture period, proximate compositions of the fish carcasses (moisture, protein, fat, and ash) were measured. Then, qualitative changes in the fishes were evaluated during 24-days refrigeration (4°C), along with changes in their total volatile bases nitrogen (TVN), thiobarbituric acid (TBA), free fatty acids (FFA), pH, and muscle texture profile analysis. The results of proximate analysis of the carcasses showed that moisture, protein, and ash of the carcasses increased significantly (p < 0.05) with higher carbohydrate to lipid ratio, but fat content of the carcasses decreased significantly (p < 0.05). Further, during refrigeration, TVN, TBA, and FFA increased significantly in all the samples (p < 0.05), but these changes did not follow the same pattern in all the treatments. Tissue hardness decreased during preservation. Although pH changes in the fillets were low, they were significant and without a clear-cut pattern. The results showed that use of different carbohydrate to lipid ratios in diet does not lead to clear-cut changes in qualitative characteristics of beluga fillets during refrigeration.