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...     

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.     

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.     

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.     

Agrobacterium pusense,a new plant tumour‐inducing pathogen isolated from Lawson cypress

Lawson cypress (Chamaecyparis lawsoniana), an important landscape tree, is widely planted in gardens and parks throughout Iran. Crown gall disease on Lawson cypress trees was observed in Sari and Juybar Counties, Mazandaran province, northern Iran, in 2017. Isolation from galls on potato dextrose agar (PDA) containing CaCO₃ yielded bacterial colonies, the predominant types of which were purified and selected for characterization. The isolates were Gram‐negative, oxidase positive, able to grow in 2% NaCl and produced 3‐ketolactose. They hydrolysed esculin, casein and arbutin but not starch, gelatin or Tween 80. Two representative isolates were selected for PCR amplification and sequencing of DNA gyrase subunit B (gyrB) gene. In the phylogenetic tree based on the partial sequence of the gyrB gene, isolates KH1 and KH2 clustered with Agrobacterium pusense. The pathogenicity of all isolates was confirmed by inoculation on Jimsonweed (Datura stramonium) and carrot discs (Daucus carota). Confirmation of the presence of genes involved in pathogenicity was made by performing PCR with the virD2A/virD2C and VCF/VCR primer pairs which resulted in amplification of the expected 224 and 730 bp fragments in all studied isolates, respectively. A. pusense was therefore identified as the causal agent of crown and stem gall of Lawson cypress. This appears to be the first report on the natural occurrence of crown gall disease on Lawson cypress and the first record of a plant disease caused by A. pusense.     

Fruit quality and mineral nutrient from exposed verses internal canopy positions of four scitrus varieties

>Quality and mineral content of fruit from internal tree canopies were compared with those from external canopy positions in 4 citrus varities: ‘Kinnow’ mandarin; ‘Redblush’ grapefruit; ‘Valencia’ orange; and ‘Lisbon’ lemon. Fruit weight, total juice per fruit, peel fresh and dry weight, and rind thickness of fruit from internal canopies of all 4 varieties were significantly higher compared with external fruit. Mandarin, grapefruit, and orange fruit from external canopies had higher soluble solids and specific gravity. Fruit from internal canopies of all varieties had generally higher peel concentrations (% dry weight) of N, P and K due to a dilution effect, while the opposite condition existed in mandarin when these elements were expressed on a percent fresh weight basis. Peel Mg and S from external fruit were higher in all varieties, expressed as percentages of either dry weight or fresh weight. Nitrogen content of mandarin and orange juice and Ca content of grapefruit and lemon juice from external fruit were significantly higher compared to those from internal canopy fruit. Elimination of fruit quality and mineral variations as a result of canopy positions is recommended by the means of cultural practices.