Seed yield and water use efficiency of canola (Brassica napus L.) as affected by high temperature stress and supplemental irrigation

The effects of high temperature stress and supplemental irrigation on seed yield and water use efficiency (WUE) of canola (Brassica napus L.) were studied in a field experiment conducted for 2 years. The experiment was a randomized complete block design arranged in split plot, conducted at Agricultural Research Station of Gonbad, Iran. It was arranged in two conditions, i.e. supplemental irrigation and rainfed. Two cultivars of canola (Hyola401 and RGS003) as subplots were grown at five sowing dates as main plots. The sowing dates were 9 November, 6 December, 5 January, 4 February and 6 March in 2005-2006 and 6 November, 6 December, 5 January, 4 February and 6 March in 2006-2007, to have a wide range of environmental conditions around flowering and seed filling periods, and to coincide reproductive stages of the crop with high temperature stress. Seed yield was improved due to field management practices, such as supplemental irrigation and optimum sowing date. Supplemental irrigation was an efficient practice to mitigate water stress, and to increase aboveground dry matter and seed yield. There was a strongly negative relationship between seed yield and air temperature during reproductive stages. Delay in sowing led to more rapid developmental of canola, decreased aboveground dry matter, leaf area index (LAI), harvest index (HI), WUE, and seed yield. Achieving a high aboveground dry matter was an essential prerequisite for high reproductive growth and a high seed yield. Greater seed yield and WUE at first sowing date were associated with greater LAI and aboveground dry matter, and lower temperatures during reproductive stages. The results support the view that WUE can be used as an indirect selection criterion for seed yield in genotypic selection.     

Yield Components and Fatty Acids Variation of Canola Cultivars Under Different Irrigation Regimes and Planting Dates

To investigate the effect of different planting dates and irrigation regimes on six canola cultivars, a 2-year (2014–2016) experiment was conducted at the Seed and Plant Improvement Institute of Karaj. The experiments were conducted as the factorial split-plot in a randomized complete block design including six canola cultivars (Gabriella, Brutus, Triangle, Marathon, Danube, and Natali), two irrigation regimes (fully irrigated and irrigation termination at the flowering stage) and two planting dates (October 1 and November 1). The results showed that irrigation termination from the flowering stage prevented the supply of required material for filling the seeds and the metabolism of the seed compounds and reduced the growth period of the seed. Therefore, a reduction was observed in the content of oleic and linoleic acids and proline. Also, water deficit stress caused an increase in the glucosinolate content of the seed. The response of canola cultivars was different in terms of fatty acids, so that the Natali cultivar had higher palmitic, oleic acids, and proline content compared to the other cultivars at both planting dates. Fully irrigated treatment and planting date of October 1 produced the highest amount of seed and oil yield (4659 and 2073?kg ha^?1), palmitic acid (5.5%), and proline (22.7?μmol/g) content, and the lowest glucosinolate content (13.2?mg/g). Generally, the Natali cultivar and planting date of October 1 and the fully irrigated regime are highly recommended in the studied area regarding qualitative traits and yield of canola.

     

The evaluation of lycopene and cysteamine supplementation effects on sperm and oxidative stress parameters during chilled storage of canine semen

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of different concentrations of lycopene and cysteamine on characteristics of sperm, liquid peroxidation and enzymatic activities in seminal plasma of canine semen preserved at 5°C for 72 hr. The semen samples were divided into eight aliquots: control, control sham (dimethyl sulfoxide 5%), lycopene groups (250, 500 and 750 µg/ml) and cysteamine groups (2.5, 5 and 10 mM). Motility, viability, membrane integrity, DNA integrity, total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were evaluated. Progressive motility and total motility were higher with the 500 and 750 µg/ml lycopene concentrations, respectively, compared to the control group and the cysteamine groups following 72 hr of storage in the liquid storage. Motility characteristics, viability and hypo-osmotic swelling test (HOST) percentages were significantly improved in 500 µg/ml lycopene compared to other groups. The 500 and 750 µg/ml lycopene concentrations, respectively, showed significantly reduced percentages of spermatozoa with DNA integrity compared to the control group. The 500 and 750 µg/ml lycopene concentrations, respectively, led to the significant decrease of MDA levels. The 500 µg/ml lycopene enhanced TAC levels after 48 and 72 hr that was not observed in other groups. In conclusion, the findings of this study showed that lycopene supplementation in canine semen extenders improved canine semen parameters and TAC levels and decreased MDA levels in the chilling process.     

Identifying Soil and Plant Nutrition Factors Affecting Yield in Irrigated Mature Pistachio Orchards

The main objective of this study was to evaluate the potential use of a hybrid Genetic Algorithm-Artificial Neural Network (GA–ANN) method for predicting pistachio yield and for identifying the determinant factors affecting pistachio yield in Rafsanjan region, Iran. A total of 142 pistachio orchards were selected randomly and soil samples were taken at three depths. Besides, water samples and leaves from branches without fruit were taken in each sampling point. Management information and pistachio yields were achieved by completing a questionnaire. Primarily, 58 variables affecting pistachio yield were measured, and then 26 out of them were selected by minimizing mean square error (MSE) using a feature selection (FS) method. The results showed that the accuracy of the method was acceptable. Furthermore, the sensitivity analysis showed that the main determinant features affecting the pistachio yield were the irrigation water amount, leaf phosphorus, soil soluble magnesium, electrical conductivity (EC), and leaf nitrogen.     

Evaluation of Intelligence Models to Estimate the Least Limiting Water Range Using Conveniently Measurable Soil Properties

Eurasian Soil Science - Direct measurement of the least limiting water range (LLWR) is costly and time-consuming. In this study, genetic algorithm-based neural network (ANN-GA), artificial neural...     

Retention of essential amino acids during extrusion of protein and reducing sugars

This research investigates the retention of essential amino acid profiles of products during the extrusion of proteins and reducing sugars. Animal proteins (egg and milk protein at 10 and 30% levels) and reducing sugars (fructose and galactose at 0, 2, and 8% levels), with pregelatinized wheat flour, were extruded at 110 and 125 degrees C product temperatures and feed moistures of 19 and 23.5% for egg protein and 13.75 and 16% for milk protein. The nutritional property analyzed was essential amino acid retention, and sugar retention was also considered to understand the relationship of sugars with retention of amino acids. Lysine showed the lowest retention (up to 40%) of all the essential amino acids. Retention of other essential amino acids varied from 80 to 100% in most situations. Apart from lysine, tryptophan, threonine, and methionine were found to be significantly changed ( P < 0.05) with processing conditions. Increased protein and sugar levels resulted in a significant degradation of lysine. Greater lysine retention was found at a lower temperature and higher feed moisture. Results of sugar retention also showed similar patterns. The products made from fructose had greater lysine retention than products made from galactose with any type of protein. The outcomes of this research suggested that the combination of milk protein and fructose at a lower temperature and higher feed moisture is most favorable for developing high-protein extruded products.     

Phosphate enema toxicosis in a pygmy goat wether

Phosphate enema toxicity was diagnosed in a 7-month-old, castrated male, pygmy goat. On presentation, clinical findings included mild depression, tachycardia, tachypnea, rumen stasis, muscle tremors, hypocalcemia, hypokalemia, hypochloremia, hyperphosphatemia, azotemia, and metabolic acidosis. Fluid diuresis and parenteral antimicrobial therapy resulted in recovery after 3 d of treatment.