Effect of synbiotic supplementation and dietary fat sources on broiler performance,serum lipids,muscle fatty acid profile and meat quality

1. A 42-d trial was conducted to investigate the effect of adding a synbiotic supplement to diets containing two different types of fat on performance, blood lipids and fatty acid (FA) composition and oxidative stability of breast and thigh meat in broilers.

2. A total of 800 one-d-old male broiler chickens were randomly assigned into 1 of 8 treatments with 4 replicates of 25 birds per treatment. The experiment consisted of a 4 × 2 factorial arrangement of treatments including 4 concentrations of synbiotic (0, 0.5, 1 or 1.5 g/kg diet) and 2 types of fat [sunflower oil (SO) or canola oil (CO)] at an inclusion rate of 50 g/kg diet.

3. Dietary fat type did not affect body weight gain (BWG) or feed conversion ratio (FCR) during the overall experimental period (0–42 d). However, fat type modified serum lipid profile and FA composition and 2-thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) content in breast and thigh meat.

4. The addition of synbiotic to the diet linearly improved overall BWG and FCR and also decreased serum cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations. The TBARS value in thigh meat after 30 d of storage at 4°C was linearly decreased as the synbiotic inclusion concentrations in the diets increased. Dietary synbiotic also decreased the proportion of monounsaturated fatty acids and increased n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) concentration in thigh meat, whereas the FA profile of breast meat was not affected by synbiotic supplementation. Moreover, the PUFA/SFA ratio in the breast meat was linearly increased when synbiotic was included in the CO-containing diets.

5. In conclusion, the addition of synbiotic to broiler diets had a positive effect on growth performance, blood lipid profile and meat quality. The results also support the use of synbiotic to increase the capacity of canola oil for enhancing PUFA/SFA ratio of breast meat in broilers.

     

Bioethanol production from sweet sorghum bagasse by Mucor hiemalis

The present work deals with production of ethanol from sweet sorghum bagasse by a zygomycetes fungus Mucor hiemalis. The bagasse was treated with phosphoric acid and sodium hydroxide, with or without ultrasonication, prior to enzymatic hydrolysis by commercial cellulase and β-glucosidase enzymes. The phosphoric acid pretreatment was performed at 50 °C for 30 min, while the alkali treatment performed with 12% NaOH at 0 °C for 3 h. The pretreatments resulted in improving the subsequent enzymatic hydrolysis to 79-92% of the theoretical yield. The best hydrolysis performance was obtained after pretreatment by NaOH assisted with ultrasonication. The fungus showed promising results in fermentation of the hydrolyzates. In the best case, the hydrolyzate of NaOH-ultrasound pretreated bagasse followed by 24 h fermentation resulted in about 81% of the corresponding theoretical ethanol yield. Furthermore, the highest volumetric ethanol productivity was observed in the hydrolyzates of NaOH pretreated bagasse, especially after ultrasonication in pretreatment stage.     

Evaluation of Physico-Chemical Properties and Bioactive Compounds of Some Iranian Pomegranate Cultivars

Persia is one of the main origin centers of pomegranate; hence, a diverse germplasm has evolved in the area over the past centuries. This study was conducted to evaluate the physico-chemical properties of fruits of ten Persian pomegranate cultivars. The plants used for this experiment had been collected from different parts of Iran and were established in a repository. Wide variations in the main properties of the ripe fruits of the cultivars were observed. The size, weight, skin thickness and weight, and juice content of the fruits were within the range of 55.14–71.76 mm, 98.55–199.40 g, 1.07–3.93 mm, 28.96–66.95 g, and 2.00–89.33 ml, respectively. Seed weight, Aril numbers, fresh and dry weight of 100 arils were 33.80–72.90 g, 170.70–570.30, 23.16–42.82 g, and 17.22–33.87%, respectively. The levels of total anthocyanin, total soluble solids (TSS), titrable acidity (TA), ascorbic acid, total phenolics, electrical conductivity, and TSS/TA ratio were ranged between 5.91–180.70 mg/100 g, 9.35–13.93 °Brix, 0.16–2.28%, 7.15–1061 mg/100 ml, 3578–5108 mg/100 g, 2.51–4.93 dS/m, and 4.09–80.34, respectively. The results emphasized on the role of plant genotype on fruit taste parameters, bioactive compounds, and yield. The variations in the fruits indicated differences in nutritive quality, which may satisfy diverse consumer acceptance in different areas. Moreover, it provides great opportunities for improving crop yield and quality.     

Zinc influence and salt stress on photosynthesis,water relations,and carbonic anhydrase activity in pistachio

A greenhouse study was conducted to evaluate the ameliorative effects of zinc (0, 5, 10 and 20 mg Zn kg⁻¹ soil) under saline (800, 1600, 2400 and 3200 mg NaCl kg⁻¹ soil) conditions on pistachio (Pistacia vera L. cv. Badami) seedlings’ photosynthetic parameters, carbonic anhydrase activity, protein and chlorophyll contents, and water relations. Zn deficiency resulted in a reduction of net photosynthetic rate and stomatal conductance. The quantum yield of photosystem II was reduced at zinc deficiency and salt stress. Zinc improved plant growth under salt-affected soil conditions. Increasing salinity in soil under Zn-deficient conditions, generally decreased carbonic anhydrase activity, protein, chlorophyll a and b contents. However, these adverse effects of salinity alleviated by increasing Zn levels up to 10 mg kg⁻¹ soil. Under increasing salinity, chlorophyll a/b ratio significantly increased. Zinc treatment influenced the relationship between relative water content and stomatal conductance, and between leaf water potential and stomatal conductance. It concluded that Zn may act as a scavenger of ROS for mitigating the injury on biomembranes under salt stress. Adequate Zn also prevents uptake and accumulation of Na in shoot, by increasing membrane integrity of root cells.     

The potential of glauconitic sandstone as a potassium fertilizer for olive plants

This study evaluated the potential of glauconitic sandstone as a fertilizer for supplying potassium to plants. The glauconite sandstone (Maraveh, Iran), as analyzed by X-ray fluorescence, was composed of 2.24% potassium oxide plus high contents of silicon, aluminum and ferric oxide. One-year old olive trees, Olea europaea L., were grown in sand or hydroponic culture in a greenhouse under three potassium treatments. Modified Hoagland nutrient solutions based on potassium treatments including 0.5 mM K⁺, 5 mM K⁺ and 400 g glauconitic sandstone powders (per 10 L in hydroponics and per 2.5 L in sand instead of K⁺ supply) were used in both cultures. Plants grown under the three different potassium treatments did not show any potassium deficiency symptoms. In the sand culture, growth and potassium content were higher in plants fed with 5 mM potassium than with the other two potassium treatments. Growth retardation and decreased potassium content in plants fed with 0.5 mM potassium were more severe in the hydroponic culture than in the sand culture. However, plants fed with 400 g glauconitic sandstone showed higher growth in the hydroponic culture than the sand culture. Thus, glauconitic sandstone has the ability to release potassium and can be utilized in combination with other potassium fertilizers.     

Predicted Distribution of Visceral Leishmaniasis Vectors (Diptera: Psychodidae; Phlebotominae) in Iran: A Niche Model Study

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is an important vector‐borne disease in Iran. Till now, Leishmania infantum has been detected from five species of sand flies in the country including Phlebotomus kandelakii, Phlebotomus major s.l., Phlebotomus perfiliewi, Phlebotomus alexandri and Phlebotomus tobbi. Also, Phlebotomus keshishiani was found to be infected with Leishmania parasites. This study aimed at predicting the probable niches and distribution of vectors of visceral leishmaniasis in Iran. Data on spatial distribution studies of sand flies were obtained from Iranian database on sand flies. Sample points were included in data from faunistic studies on sand flies conducted during 1995–2013. MaxEnt software was used to predict the appropriate ecological niches for given species, using climatic and topographical data. Distribution maps were prepared and classified in ArcGIS to find main ecological niches of the vectors and hot spots for VL transmission in Iran. Phlebotomus kandelakii, Ph. major s.l. and Ph. alexandri seem to have played a more important role in VL transmission in Iran, so this study focuses on them. Representations of MaxEnt model for probability of distribution of the studied sand flies showed high contribution of climatological and topographical variables to predict the potential distribution of three vector species. Isothermality was found to be an environmental variable with the highest gain when used in isolation for Ph. kandelakii and Ph. major s.l., while for Ph. alexandri, the most effective variable was precipitation of the coldest quarter. The results of this study present the first prediction on distribution of sand fly vectors of VL in Iran. The predicted distributions were matched with the disease‐endemic areas in the country, while it was found that there were some unaffected areas with the potential transmission. More comprehensive studies are recommended on the ecology and vector competence of VL vectors in the country.     

The response of different almond genotypes to moderate and severe water stress in order to screen for drought tolerance

In order to screen almond genotypes for drought tolerance, three different irrigation levels including moderate and severe stress (Ψs = −1.2 and −1.8 MPa respectively) and a control treatment (Ψs = −0.33 MPa) were applied for five weeks to six different cultivated almond seedlings. A factorial experiment was conducted with a RCBD which included 3 irrigations factors, 6 genotype factors and 3 replications. Seeds were prepared from controlled pollination of the bagged trees (after emasculation and flower isolation using isolator packets in the previous year). Genotypes included: homozygote sweet (Butte), heterozygote sweet (SH12, SH18, SH21 and White) and homozygote Bitter (Bitter Genotype). Leaf and root morphological and physiological traits including; midday relative water content, midday leaf (xylem) water potential, shoot dry weight and growth, total leaf area, leaf size, total leaf dry weight, specific leaf area, leaf greenness (SPAD), stomatal size and density, root and leaf nitrogen content and chlorophyll fluorescence were measured throughout the study. Results showed the six genotypes had different reactions to water stress but all genotypes showed an ability to tolerate the moderate and severe stresses and they showed different degrees of response time to drought stress. Almond seedling leaves could tolerate Ψ_w between −3 and −4 MPa in short periods. Water availability did not significantly affect stomatal density and size of young almond plants. The analysis of leaf anatomical traits and water relations showed the different strategies for almond genotypes under water stress conditions. Although almond seedlings even in severe stress kept their leaves, they showed a reduction in size to compensate for the stress effects. All genotypes managed to recover from moderate stress so Ψ_w = −1.2 could be tolerated well by almond seedlings but Ψ_w = −1.8 limited young plant growth. Leaf greenness, leaf size, shoot growth, shoot DW, TLDW and stomatal density were not good markers for drought resistance in almond seedlings. Root DW/LA, lower stomatal size and lower SLA might be related to drought resistance in cultivated almonds. Butte had the least resistance and White showed better performance during water stress while other genotypes were intermediate. Bitter seedlings showed no superiority in comparison with other genotypes under water stress conditions except for better germination and greater root DW which might make them suitable as rootstocks under irrigation conditions.     

Anti-mycotoxigenic properties of probiotic Bacillus spp. in Japanese quails

Tropical Animal Health and Production - The current study was conducted to evaluate the anti-mycotoxigenic effects of previously isolated Bacillus spp. in Japanese quails. A total of 240-day-old...     

The necessity of antioxidant inclusion in caprine and ovine semen extenders: A systematic review complemented with computational insight

The inclusion of antioxidants (AOXs) has been proposed in various protocols to conserve the normal physiology of spermatozoa during (cryo) preservation. The main aim of this review was to understand the necessity of AOXs inclusion in semen extenders of caprine and ovine semen samples and to decipher physico-chemical space of AOXs used in semen extenders till now. A total 27 full-text relevant articles were finally discussed here. This systematic review showed that the inclusion of AOXs may improve the success of semen cryopreservation although at least three studies could not support this finding. AOXs have been not added after assaying total antioxidant capacity of the sample of interest, and this is principal measurement bias of all papers. Furthermore, no rational dose–response curve and precise posology have been considered in comparable studies. Furthermore, new methodologies are requested to detect the oxidative status of semen specimens before AXOs fortification and new methodologies like imaging are also needed to detect various injuries of sperms during semen (cryo)preservation. Defining computational chemical and physical spaces of AOXs which used in semen (cryo)preservation would be an interdisciplinary effort to hasten deciphering epoch-making compounds. In conclusion, more in-depth analytical, toxicological and pharmacological methodologies should be pursued in supplementation or addition of AOXs during caprine and ovine semen (cryo)preservation after determining the oxidative status of semen samples.