Fortification of Bread Wheat Using Synthesized Zn-Glycine and Zn-Alanine Chelates in Comparison with ZnSO4 in a Calcareous Soil

ABSTRACT

Calcareous soils typically suffer from zinc deficiency and zinc sulfate is incorporated in many cultivated soils. Utilization of ZnSO₄ has some kinds of interaction with soil particles and organic matter. In this study, the efficacy of two znic(Zn)-amino acid chelates (Zn-ACs) i.e., Zn-alanine (Zn-Ala) and Zn-glycine (Zn-Gly) on wheat (Triticum aestivum, cv. N91-8) growth characteristics and zinc concentration in wheat was examined under greenhouse conditions and compared to the a commercial ZnSO₄. Results showed that Zn-Ala and Zn-Gly significantly increased the dry weight and shoot length of wheat in comparison to ZnSO₄ treatment. Soil application of Zn-Amino acid chelates proved to be the most influential source of zinc in increasing wheat growth and yield indices. Number of fertile spikelet and grain yield increased significantly respectively compared to ZnSO₄ treatment. Zn concentration and protein content of wheat grain in Zn-ACs treatment was significantly higher than the ZnSO₄ treatment. Soil application of Zn-ACs caused a significant decrease in the grain phytic acid (PA) concentration and also phytic acid to zinc molar ratio in comparison with ZnSO₄ treatment. According to the results, Zn-ACs could be utilized as a zinc fertilizer source for improving the zinc bioavailability in wheat.     

Genetic Relationship of Iranian Pear Genotypes with European and Asian Pears as Revealed by Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA Markers

Genetic variation within specific fruit tree germplasms is an important tool in fruit tree breeding programs. In the present work, the genetic relationship of 31 European and Iranian (Pyrus communis L.) and Asian (Pyrus serotina Rehd) genotypes of pear were studied using 19 randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) primers. Fifteen out of the 19 primers used in this study amplified 3373 clear and reproducible bands associated with 150 loci and many of them were polymorphic. The dendrogram resulting from the unweighted pair-group method of arithmetic cluster analysis separated the cultivars into eight groups. The correlation coefficient between the cophenetic matrix and the similarity matrix was 0.82 (r = 0.82). There was a significant difference between populations and most studied genotypes clustered closely together based on their geographic origin and Iranian pears placed between two groups of pears. Results showed the suitability of RAPD analysis in genetic diversity study of pear.     

Erratum to: Wild pistachio tree (Pistacia mutica) in the Qalajeh forest region of western Iran

<正>Erratum to:Journal of Forestry Reasearch,(2013)24(3):611-614DOI10.1007/s11676-013-0393-2The original version of this article unfortunately contained one mistake in author name in the footnote.The second author's name,"Mousa Rasouli",actually should be Hamid Soofi Mariv.The corrected version of the footnote should be as the following:     

Genetic polymorphism of the CAPN1 gene is associated with meat quality traits in Japanese quail

1. The objective of the study was to investigate the polymorphisms in two regions of the calpain 1 (CAPN1) gene and their association with breast and thigh meat quality in Japanese quail (ultimate pH (pHu), lightness, redness, yellowness, drip loss, thawing-cooking loss, water holding capacity and shear force, SF).

2. Blood samples were collected randomly from 100 birds and DNA was extracted using a commercial kit. Genotypes were determined by PCR amplification followed by single-strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) analysis. The effect of CAPN1 genotypes on meat quality traits were analysed using a general linear model (GLM) procedure.

3. Genotypes of the CAPN1 gene in the first region (217-bp) analysed were significantly associated with yellowness and SF. The TT genotype showed significantly higher yellowness and lower shear force (more tenderness) than CT and CC genotypes. Genotypes of the second region of the gene (intron 4, 800-bp) were significantly associated with pHu, redness and SF of the breast meat. The BB genotype showed significantly lower pHu and redness and higher SF (lower tenderness) than other genotypes.

4. Information on polymorphisms of the CAPN1 gene will eventually provide useful information for improving meat quality of Japanese quail through marker-assisted selection.     

Interactive effects of molasses by homofermentative and heterofermentative inoculants on fermentation quality,nitrogen fractionation,nutritive value and aerobic stability of wilted alfalfa (Medicago sativa L) silage

The effect of adding molasses (0, UM or 50 g/kg on DM basis, M) and two types of inoculant including homofermentative (HO) and a combination of homofermentative and propionate‐producing bacterial (HOPAB) inoculants on silage fermentation quality, nitrogen fractionation and aerobic stability of pre‐bloom, wilted alfalfa (AS) was determined in laboratory silos. The HOPAB inoculant was more effective than HO in reducing the alfalfa silage pH but increased propionate content in the absence of M (p < 0.05). Inoculation of HOPAB reduced (p < 0.01) acid detergent fibre (ADF) and increased (p < 0.01) lactate to acetate ratio compared with uninoculated AS. Acetate concentration was lower (p < 0.01) in HOPAB‐inoculated than other AS. This difference was more pronounced in M‐added AS (inoculants × M interaction, p = 0.01). Both inoculants reduced (p < 0.01) ammonia‐N content in AS added with M, whereas only HOPAB decreased (p < 0.01) ammonia‐N concentration in silage without M. Inoculants increased (p < 0.01) B₂ fraction in AS with M addition but had no effect on AS without M. Treating silages with HO‐UM increased (p < 0.05) C fraction (acid‐detergent insoluble‐N) but HOPAB decreased C fraction at two levels of M. Treating alfalfa crop with M and HOPAB improved aerobic stability by increasing the concentration of acetate and propionate of AS respectively. Adding M tended (p < 0.10) to increase short‐chain fatty acids (SCFA) and cumulative gas production (CGP). HOPAB alone increased DM disappearance at 24 h post‐incubation and effective degradability assuming outflow rate of 8%/h relative to untreated AS (p < 0.05). It was concluded that adding M had no pronounced effects on AS fermentation quality, but increased aerobic stability. HOPAB‐inoculated AS with no addition of M improved fermentation quality and increased DM degradability compared with HO.     

Large intestine in pheasant (phasianus colchicus) and see-see partridge (ammoperdix griseogularis). A comparative morphological and histological study

Anatomical and histological studies of the large intestine in birds are essential for necropsy and histopathological examinations. On the other hand, large intestine plays a critical role in the immune system and absorption. The present study's objective was to provide information about the morphological, morphometric and histological characteristics of the large intestine in see-see partridges (Ammoperdix griseogularis) and pheasants (Phasianus colchicus). These two members of the Galliformes order are found in large areas of Iran. In this study, ten male see-see partridges and ten male pheasants were randomly selected. Also, the histological studies were carried out on tissue specimens using haematoxylin for staining. In both species, the cecum was visible as two large tubes at the beginning of the rectum. The cecum and rectum's outer surfaces were flat and had no sacculation in both of the birds. Histologically, intestinal villi in all the large intestine parts and increase their height from the base to the apex is remarkable. The muscularis mucosae was distinct, and lymph nodes and Liberkuhn glands were found in all parts of the large intestine, approximately. It can be concluded that the morphology of the large intestine is very similar to the other avian species, but there are more differences in the histological features. These structural features are in full accordance with the bird's habits and diet.     

Determining and mapping some soil physico-chemical properties using geostatistical and GIS techniques in the Naqade region,Iran

The distribution variability of soil electrical conductivity (EC), pH, clay, sand, CaCO₃, organic carbon (OC) and available potassium (K) in the Naqade region was investigated using a geostatistical method and Geographical Information System (GIS) technique. Two hundred and eighty-two topsoil (0–30 cm) samples were randomly collected and analyzed. pH and clay followed a normal distribution, whereas sand EC, CaCO₃, OC and K were log-transformed. The highest variation was observed for soil EC, and the lowest for soil pH. In the variography analysis, spherical, exponential and gaussian models were best fit on experimental semivariograms. The minimum effective spatial autocorrelation was 1500 m for OC and the maximum effective spatial autocorrelation was 4000 m for sand and K. Strong spatial correlations were noted with sand and CaCO₃ (<25%), whereas values were moderate for clay, EC, OC and K (25–75%). Ordinary kriging was utilized for the interpolation of estimated variable determinations in unsampled sites. It was found that soil properties in this study area were strongly influenced by both environmental and natural factors. The results can be used as a source of information for the development and implementation of any further land management and soil and water conservation plans.     

Modeling the effects of saline water use in wheat-cultivated lands using the UNSATCHEM model

Waters of poor quality are often used to irrigate crops in arid and semiarid regions, including the Fars Province of southwest Iran. The UNSATCHEM model was first calibrated and validated using field data that were collected to evaluate the use of saline water for the wheat crop. The calibrated and validated model was then employed to study different aspects of the salinization process and the impact of rainfall. The effects of irrigation water quality on the salinization process were evaluated using model simulations, in which irrigation waters of different salinity were used. The salinization process under different practices of conjunctive water use was also studied using simulations. Different practices were evaluated and ranked on the basis of temporal changes in root-zone salinity, which were compared with respect to the sensitivity of wheat to salinity. This ranking was then verified using published field studies evaluating wheat yield data for different practices of conjunctive water use. Next, the effects of the water application rate on the soil salt balance were studied using the UNSATCHEM simulations. The salt balance was affected by the quantity of applied irrigation water and precipitation/dissolution reactions. The results suggested that the less irrigation water is used, the more salts (calcite and gypsum) precipitate from the soil solution. Finally, the model was used to evaluate how the electrical conductivity of irrigation water affects the wheat production while taking into account annual rainfall and its distribution throughout the year. The maximum salinity of the irrigation water supply, which can be safely used in the long term (33 years) without impairing the wheat production, was determined to be 6 dS m^?1. Rainfall distribution also plays a major role in determining seasonal soil salinity of the root zone. Winter-concentrated rainfall is more effective in reducing salinity than a similar amount of rainfall distributed throughout autumn, winter, and spring seasons.     

Evaluation of non-linear models for genetic parameters estimation of growth curve traits in Kermani sheep

Tropical Animal Health and Production - In the present study, 10,116 body weight-age records were measured on 2537 Kermani lambs. The records were collected from Kermani Sheep Breeding Station,...     

Substitution of corn silage with shredded beet pulp affects sorting behaviour and chewing activity of dairy cows

This study aims to evaluate the effects of substituting increasing concentrations of shredded beet pulp (SBP) for corn silage (CS) on nutrient intake, sorting index, intakes of particle size and nutrients, meal and rumination patterns, and chewing activity of dairy cows. Four multiparous (126 ± 13 day in milk) and 4 primiparous (121 ± 11 day in milk) Holstein cows were used in a 4 × 4 Latin square design experiment with 4 periods of 21 days. Dietary treatments were (DM basis): 16% of dietary DM as CS without SBP (0SBP); 8% CS and 8% SBP (8SBP); 4% CS and 12% SBP (12SBP); and 0% CS and 16% SBP (16SBP). We observed a reduction in the extent of sorting against long particles and medium particles but for fine particles with increasing SBP levels in the diets. The number of eating bouts per day was lesser (8.2%) in cows fed SBP diets compared with 0SBP cows and corresponded with a reduction in eating time per d across treatments. The number of ruminating bouts per day was similar across diets (16.8 bouts/day), but substituting SBP for CS in the diets tended to decrease linearly ruminating bout length (5 min/bout) and tended to increase ruminating bout interval (8 min/day). Eating, ruminating and total chewing time when expressed as minutes per kilogram of forage NDF intake and peNDF > 8 intake increased when SBP was substituted for CS in the diets. Primiparous cows had greater ruminating time (57 m/day) and total chewing time (73 min/day), eating rate (0.01 kg of DM/min) compared with multiparous cows. Also, increasing forage NDF and peNDF_>8, >8‐mm DM intakes are effective means of stimulating ruminating and chewing activities. This study showed that SBP could partially replace CS and not affect DM intake, but chewing activity may decrease slightly.