In vitro maturation and fertilization of prepubertal and pubertal black Bengal goat oocytes

Oocytes retrieval, in vitro maturation (IVM) and fertilization (IVF) efficiency are inevitable steps towards in vitro production of embryos. In the present study, these parameters were investigated in the ovaries of prepubertal (n = 31) and pubertal (n = 61) black Bengal goats obtained from a slaughterhouse. Nuclear maturation was evaluated upon aspiration and following IVM in TCM-199 (Earle''s salt with L-glutamine and sodium bicarbonate) for 27 h at 39℃ under 5% CO₂ in humidified air. The oocytes retrieval and efficiency (mean ± SD) per prepubertal and pubertal goats were 5.2 ± 0.6 and 6.8 ± 0.6, and 77.3 ± 0.1% and 80.5 ± 0.6%, respectively. Anaphase I - telophase I stages differed significantly (7.3 ± 0.8 vs. 2.6 ± 0.2, p < 0.05) between the two groups of goats. After IVM, the percentages of metaphase II were significantly higher (66.3 vs. 60.3, p < 0.05) in pubertal goats than in their prepubertal counterparts. The percentages of normal in vitro fertilization (IVF) in Fert-Tyrode''s albumin lactate pyruvate of pubertal goat oocytes did not differ between Percoll and swim-up sperm separation methods (36.7 ± 0.9% vs. 32.7 ± 1.3%, p > 0.05). Furthermore, sperm capacitation by heparin alone or in combination with ionomycin did not lead to a significant increase in the normal fertilization rate (34.8 ± 1.7 vs. 32.2 ± 1.5%, respectively) in the oocytes of pubertal goats. In conclusion, the ovaries of pubertal black Bengal goats obtained from the slaughterhouse could be used for in vitro embryo production. However, further optimization of the IVM and IVF techniques are necessary for satisfactory in vitro embryo production.     

Hepatoprotective activity of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, captopril and enalapril, against paraquat toxicity

Paraquat is a highly toxic herbicide that is used in most countries without restriction. The cytotoxic action of paraquat is mediated by reactive radicals that are products of its metabolic reduction in cells. It has already been hypothesized that some angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (e.g., captopril and enalapril) could show antioxidant and radical scavenging activity through their structural thiol groups, increasing antioxidant enzymes production or nitric oxide synthesis. In this study the hepatoprotective effect of captopril and enalapril against paraquat induced oxidative stress cytotoxicity was evaluated in isolated rat hepatocyte. Subtoxic concentrations of captopril (0.2 mM) and enalapril (0.2 mM) significantly (p < 0.05) protected the hepatocytes against paraquat (2 mM) induced oxidative stress cytotoxicity markers including: cell lysis, reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, lipid peroxidation, glutathione depletion, mitochondrial membrane potential decrease, lysosomal membrane oxidative damage and cellular proteolysis. Moreover, we showed that non-thiol enalapril acts as well as thiol containing captopril at inhibiting oxidative stress cytotoxicity markers. Finally, our results support the hypothesis that it is the increase in nitric oxide synthesis and not the presence of the thiol group that accounts for the antioxidant activity of ACE inhibitors.     

Increasing Farm Productivity and Soil Fertility on Sustainable Basis Through “Summer Gap” Utilization with Biochar and Legumes

To reduce reliance on scientific fertilizer due to rapid increase of fertilizer prices and environmental constraint, it necessary to improve crop productivity and soil fertility on sustainable basses. Utilization of “summer gap” through biochar and legumes have pleasant effects on improving crop productivity and soil fertility on long term basses. Two years’ field experiments were conducted on wheat and maize crops with “summer gap” utilization with legumes and biochar at research farm of agronomy, the University of Agriculture Peshawar during 2011–2013. Wheat-maize-wheat cropping system was followed with the adjustment of legumes in “summer gap” (land available after wheat harvest till maize sowing). Legumes i.?e. mung bean, cowpea and Sesbania with a fallow were adjusted in the “summer gap” with and without biochar application. Biochar was included at the rate of 0 and 50?t?ha^-1 with four N levels of 0, 90, 120, 150 and 0, 60, 90, 120?kg?ha^-1 to subsequent maize and wheat crops, respectively. In legumes’ experiment, biochar increased fresh and dry fodder yield in cowpea and Sesbania, grain and biological yields in mung bean. In maize experiments, biochar improved grain yield. Nitrogen application increased grain and biological yields. In wheat experiments with increasing nitrogen level enhanced biological and grain yields. It is concluded that use of biochar and legumes in “summer gap” improve overall farm productivity and soil fertility on sustainable basses.     

Stimulation in the movement and uptake of phosphorus in response to magnetic P solution and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in Ocimum basilicum

A greenhouse experiment was conducted to assess the effects of magnetic field, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), and phosphorus (P) concentration in the nutrient solution (0, 5, 10, 20, or 40 mg L^?1) on the mobility and accumulation of P in soil and plant tissues of basil (Ocimum basilicum L.). The experiment was designed as a factorial combination and treatments were arranged in a completely randomized design with four replicates. Magnetic field increased water-soluble P in the soil and P concentration in plant shoot by 30.0% and 13.0%, respectively, in comparison to the control. The application of magnetic field and inoculation of AMF at 10 mg P L^?1 increased the P translocation efficiency by 23.3% and 17.8%, respectively. Overall, our results demonstrated that the use of magnetic field and AMF could be an effective tool for enhancing of uptake and movement efficiency of P even at low concentrations.     

A Search for Hepatoprotective Activity of Fruit Extract of Mangifera indica L. Against Oxidative Stress Cytotoxicity

Mango (Mangifera indica L.) and their components are commonly used in folk medicine for many curative effects. The protective effects of different concentrations of aqueous extract of Mangifera indica L. fruit (Mango Extract) (20, 50 and 100 μg/ml) and also gallic acid (100 μM) as a pure compound in the extract were examined against oxidative stress toxicity induced by cumene hydroperoxide (CHP) in isolated rat hepatocytes. The extracts and gallic acid (100 μM) protected the hepatocyte against all oxidative stress markers including cell lysis, ROS generation, lipid peroxidation, glutathione depletion, mitochondrial membrane potential decrease, lysosomal membrane oxidative damage and cellular proteolysis. Mango Extracts (20, 50 and 100 μg/ml) were more effective than gallic acid (100 μM) in protecting hepatocytes against CHP induced lipid peroxidation. On the other hand gallic acid (100 μM) acted more effective than Mango Extracts (20, 50 and 100 μg/ml) at preventing lysosomal membrane damage. In addition H₂O₂ scavenging effect of all extracts were determined in hepatocytes and compared with gallic acid (100 μM). There were no significance differences (P<0.05) between all plant extracts and gallic acid (100 μM) in H₂O₂ scavenging activity. These results suggest a hepatoprotective role for Mango Extract against liver injury associated with oxidative stress.     

Integration of cultural and mechanical practices for management of the mango mealybug <Emphasis Type="Italic">Drosicha mangiferae</Emphasis>

Mango (Mangifera indica L.) is one of the most economically important trees which has been cultivated for several centuries. The tree is susceptible to insect damage and is attacked by leaf eaters, termites, root grubs, sapsuckers, gall formers, stem borers, pod borers and fruit borers. The mango mealybug Drosicha mangiferae Green (Hemiptera: Monophlebidae) is one of the most destructive pests in the Indo-Pak subcontinent, sometimes causing premature fruit drop. A combination of several management strategies such as use of entomopathogens, chemical insecticides and burning of adult females has been used to control D. mangiferae. Overreliance on insecticides has eliminated natural enemies, and we were therefore interested in investigating the impact of alternative insect pest management strategies such as cultural and mechanical techniques on D. mangiferae. The results of our studies suggested that different bands significantly stopped the upward movement of overwintering and surviving populations of D. mangiferae. To augment the bands’ results, mounding the tree with debris on a plastic sheet once a year was the most effective technique and resulted in maximum reduction of the nymphal population of D. mangiferae. The newly developed Haider band—designed in our laboratory in the present studies—was very successful in the field in controlling the upward movement of newly hatched nymphs on trees: only 0.8% of the nymphs crossed the band. Only 7% to 10% of the nymphs crossed plastic sheets, polyethylene sheets and funnel bands. The cotton and gunny bag (jute) bands were the least effective: 42% of the nymphs managed to cross them. The results suggested that employing cultural practices and bands together could reduce the need for insecticide treatments and offer a sustainable method for D. mangiferae control.     

Genetic resistance to bacterial blight disease in Persian walnut

Bacterial blight disease of Persian walnut (Juglans regia, L.), caused by Xanthomonas arboricola pv. juglandis (Xaj), leads to significant nut losses in northern, central and western areas of Iran. To identify the natural sources of resistance to disease in the endemic walnut genotypes of Iran, sixteen walnut genotypes, collected from different areas of Hamedan province, were inoculated with Xaj in a randomized complete block design with five replicates for each genotype. Two-year old genotypes were gently sprayed with a suspension of bacteria adjusted to approximately 2 × 10⁹ cfu ml⁻¹ of distilled water in May. Infected leaves were rated for disease 28 and 42 days after inoculation, using a 0 to 5 severity scale, based on the number, size and distribution of lesions on the leaves. Data analyses showed that there were variations among genotypes in response to pathogen. Upon inoculation by bacterial suspension genotype 94 showed the highest resistance to both disease incidence and its progress after 4–6 weeks of infection. Genotype 65 showed high susceptibility to disease and genotype 69 showed high susceptibilities both to disease incidence and its progress after 4–6 weeks of infection.     

Intraplant instability in smooth bromegrass (Bromus inermis leyss)

Intraplant variation in smooth bromegrass was examined by determining pollen stainability and size in 6 moderately self-compatible S-2, and 12 self-incompatible OP-3 plants. Statistically significant differences in pollen stainability occurred between panicles within plants, between plants, and between plants x within plant interactions. Pollen diameter distributions for OP-3 plants tended to be trimodal, and bimodal distributions occurred in S-2 plants. In trimodal distributions, peaks occurred at known diploid and tetraploid chromosome levels, and it is presumed that the peak between these represented the triploid gametic number.Results of cooperative investigations of the Crops Research Division, ARS, USDA, and the Wisconsin Agricultural Experiment Station, Madison. The statistical analyses were made by the Numerical Analysis Laboratory, University of Wisconsin.     

Favism-inducing toxins in broad beans (Vicia faba) biological activities of broad beans extracts in favism — Sensitive subjects

Ingestion of broad bean seeds will precipitate an acute haemolytic anaemia (favism) in certain sensitive subjects. Aqueous extracts from both fresh and dried mature broad bean seeds, obtained from a favism-endemic area in Iran, were incubated with blood from favism-sensitive and control subjects. Changes in the reduced glutathione content of red blood cells were determined as an index of toxicity. The results showed that:

1. The toxic principles in broad beans were at least partially water soluble.
2. The seed coats of dry mature seeds and the flesh from fresh seeds had low toxicity.
3. The immature whole seeds and the seed coats of fresh mature seeds were toxic.

     

Ascorbic Acid Enhances Growth and Yield of Sweet Peppers (Capsicum annum) by Mitigating Salinity Stress

Salinity is a crucial problem which has affected crop productivity globally. Ascorbic acid is considered helpful against abiotic stresses due to its powerful antioxidant potential. In the pot experiment, salinity stress (0, 35, 70, and 105?mM) was applied to sweet peppers in split doses after 20 days of transplantation. To mitigate the adverse effects of salinity, ascorbic acid (0, 0.40, 0.80, and 1.20?mM) was applied as foliar spray after a 6-day interval during vegetative growth. Sweet pepper plants sprayed with distilled water (control) recorded maximum plant height (cm), leaf area (cm²), number of branches, stem diameter (mm), number of fruit plant^?1, fruit diameter (cm), yield plant^?1 (g), and chlorophyll content (mg 100?g^?1), while the maximum polyphenol oxidase (PPO) activity (unit mg protein^?1 min^?1) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) activity (unit mg protein^?1 min^?1) were recorded in plants treated with 70?mM NaCl application. Salinity stress beyond 70?mM significantly reduced all the studied parameters. An ascorbic acid concentration of 1.20?mM significantly mitigated the negative effects of salt stress and recorded maximum plant height (cm), number of leaves plant^?1, leaf area (cm²), number of branches plant^?1, stem diameter (mm), number of fruit plant^?1, fruit diameter (cm), yield plant^?1 (g), chlorophyll content (mg 100?g^?1), PPO activity (unit mg protein^?1 min^?1), and APX activity (unit mg protein^?1 min^?1). Hence, a 1.20?mM concentration of foliar ascorbic acid could be used in saline conditions up to 70?mM of sodium chloride (NaCl) for better growth, productivity, and enzymatic activity of sweet peppers.