Contribution to the knowledge of the genetic diversity and taxonomy of some Iranian Trifolium species

Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution - Trifolium (Fabaceae) is widely distributed with more than 255 species. The current study contributed to the knowledge of the diversity and genetic population...     

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.     

Copper and zinc uptake by celery plants grown on acidic soil amended with biosolids

For trace elements, such as copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn), the bioavailability of these elements, Cu and Zn, in biosolids is important because both are essential elements and both are potential contaminants when biosolids are land applied. A greenhouse study was conducted in factorial experiment based on a completely randomized design (CRD) with four replications on a soil treated with four rates of Cu (0, 50, 100, and 150 mg/kg) and four rates of Zn (0, 150, 300, and 450 mg/kg) on celery plants to investigate the distribution and mobility of these elements as well as growth and antioxidant changes of celery. The results of antioxidant changes were inconclusive due to irregular changes with Zn and Cu applications. However, generally the results show that Cu did not affect superoxide dismutase (SOD) or peroxidase (POD) activities in most of the treatments. On the other hand, Zn stimulated SOD and POD activities in most of the treatments. The photosynthesis rate decreased with the applications of Cu and Zn at the rates above 100 and 300 mg/kg and increased in low Cu concentration (50 mg/kg) compared to S (soil without biosolid).     

Monitoring the photosystem II behavior of wild and cultivated barley in response to progressive water stress and rehydration using OJIP chlorophyll a fluorescence transient

To study the effects of progressive drought stress on photosystem II behavior of wild type (Spantaneum) and cultivated barley (Morocco), different levels of soil water availability, including control, moderate, mild, and severe water stress (70%, 50%, 30%, and 10% water holding capacity of soil, respectively) and rehydration were used. Polyphasic OJIP fluorescence transient of Morocco plants exhibited a considerable increase in fluorescence intensity at O, J, and I steps under mild and severe stress relative to slight increase in wild barley. Values of fluorescence parameters and quantum efficiencies, including minimal fluorescence, relative variable fluorescence at phase J and I, maximal quantum yield of photosystem II (PSII), performance index, electron transport yield, and excitation transfer efficiency were influenced by water stress in both genotypes. These parameters were significantly less affected in wild type barley by progressive drought stress compared to Morocco. After re-watering, both genotypes were able to restore from severe drought in most of the traits. Based on our findings, highly correlated values of relative water content (RWC) and independent JIP-test parameters (P < 0.01) indicate that the chlorophyll a fluorescence induction technique is sensitive to plant water status and performance index represent an accurate and reliable indicator for early stress detection and also explore plant vitality under water stress.     

INFLUENCE OF SALINITY AND AMMONIUM: NITRATE RATIO ON GROWTH,PHOTOSYNTHESIS, FATTY ACID AND THE ACTIVITY OF ANTIOXIDATIVE ENZYMES IN CANOLA

The effects of sodium chloride (NaCl) salinity (0 and 200 mM) and ammonium (NH₄):nitrate (NO₃) ratios (100:0, 25:75, 50:50, and 75:25) on growth, photosynthesis, fatty acids and the activity of antioxidative enzymes were investigated in canola plants. Leaf area and fresh and dry weights of leaves were significantly reduced by the salinity. The reduction in vegetative characteristics varied in both salinized and unsalinized plants according to the NH₄:NO₃ ratios so that the lowest reduction was observed with the 50:50 (NH₄:NO₃) ratio. Increased NH₄ up to 50 percent (50:50) of total N, promotes the yield at both salinized and unsalinized plants. In both salinized and unsalinized plants, the increased NH₄ and NO₃ ratio in the nutrient solution reduced the photosynthetic (Pn) rate and stomatal conductance; however, the reduction in Pn rate was severely impaired at a higher ratio of NH₄ in the nutrient solution. In both salinized and unsalinized plants, the 75:25 ratio had the lowest potassium (K) and sodium (Na) content; however, the K/Na ratio was the highest in 50:50 ratio. An increase of NH₄ in the solution led to a significant increase in NH₄ content in both salinized and unsalinized plants. Salinity increased NH₄ content so that the salinized plant had nearly twice as high NH₄ content in the leaves. The activity of nitrate reductase was increased by increasing NH₄ from 0 to 50% and then reduced at a higher ratio of NH₄ in the solution. The activities of antioxidative enzymes increased in salinized plants regardless of the NH₄:NO₃ ratios. In salinized plants, the activities of superoxide dismutase and catalase enzymes were increased by 44.4 % and 97.5%, respectively. Within salinized and unsalinized treatments, the highest activities of all antioxidant were observed in 75:25 ratio, while they remained unchanged for all NH₄:NO₃ ratios. The increased NH₄ content in the solution increased the oil content and the maximum oil content in both salinized and unsalinized plant was obtained in both 50:50 and 75:25 ratios. The percentage of oleic acid was affected by both salinity and NH₄:NO₃ ratios. The ratios of NH₄:NO₃ had no effect on the protein content; however, salinity reduced the protein content by 20%.     

Modeling the functional compression properties of hand-knotted carpets using factorial design and response surface methodology

The most performance quality of cut-pile carpets is related to mechanical behavior of surface piles under compression loading in use. In this study, main purpose was to achieve the predictive models of the functional compression properties of carpet including work of compression (WC), compressional resilience (RC), linearity of compression-thickness curve (LC), and thickness loss (TL) after recovery on hand-knotted carpets with symmetric (Turkish) knot. Eighteen hand-knotted carpet samples with different structural specifications were produced. Meanwhile, compression properties were investigated in new and worn out carpet samples by a Hexapod tumbler tester in 4000 and 12000 revolutions. Factorial experimental design and response surface method were applied for modeling of each compression properties. To optimize the initial models the Box-Cox transformation was used. In the final models, contribution of different variables was also determined. The models showed a desirable fit and high adjusted R² values were observed. The ANOVA test showed that the obtained models are valid at 5 % level significant.     

Physiological responses of great sturgeon (Huso huso) to different concentrations of 2-phenoxyethanol as an anesthetic

The objective of the study was to evaluate the efficacy of 2-phenoxyethanol (2-PE) as an anesthetic in great sturgeon under two experiments. First, fish were exposed to 0.1, 0.3, 0.5, 0.7 and 0.9?mL/L 2-PE, and time to induction (deep anesthesia) and recovery from anesthesia were measured. At concentration of 0.1?mL/L, 2-PE failed to induce deep anesthesia in fish, whereas at concentrations of 0.7 and 0.9?mL/L, all the fish were anaesthetized within 3?min of exposure. For assessing the impact of effective concentrations of 2-PE on physiological responses of great sturgeon, hematological indices, plasma metabolites, electrolytes, enzymes and cortisol levels were measured. The use of 2-PE induces a significant increase in RBC values at 0.3?mL/L concentration and a parallel increase in hemoglobin and hematocrit values. 2-PE anesthesia had no effect on WBC, MCV, MCH and MCHC levels when compared to control group. Serum glucose, cholesterol and cortisol levels were significantly high in 0.3 and 0.5?mL/L 2-PE. Moreover, AST levels were increased in fish exposed to the 0.3?mL/L 2-PE comparing with the control group (P?<?0.05). There were no significant differences in serum levels of total protein, triglycerides, ALP, ALT, Cl^?, Na⁺, K⁺, Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺. In this study, alteration in hematological and serum biochemical indices was time-dependent. This study demonstrates that rapid induction of deep anesthesia with a relatively high concentration of 2-PE (0.7 and 0.9?mL/L) was associated with the lowest effects on the hematological and serum biochemical indices in great sturgeon and therefore would be recommended as eligible doses for hematological studies in this species.     

Pre-treatment effect of different doses of soy isoflavones on spatial learning and memory in an ovariectomized animal model of Alzheimer's disease

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of different doses of dietary soy meals (with or without isoflavone) on dementia in ovariectomized (OVX) animal model of Alzheimer's disease. Female Wistar's rats with the exception of intact group were ovariectomized at the first line of study. Animals were divided into 2 main groups: control (c) and pre-treatment groups. Animals in pre-treatment groups received one of five types of diet during four weeks prior Nucleus Basalis Magnocellularis (NBM) electrical lesion normal diet (0), 10 g soy with isoflavone (10), 20 g soy with isoflavone (20), 10 g soy without isoflavone (-10) and 20 g soy without isoflavone (-20) in 30 g daily diet. The spatial learning and memory were tested using Morris water maze after electrical lesion. Rats were trained in water maze to find a hidden escape Platform. Rats received 6 blocks that each block consisted of 3 trials. Following acquisition trials, one probe trial was conducted in which the platform was removed. Soy meal diet (with or without isoflavone) in ovariectomized rats with Alzheimer's disease caused improvement of performance across 18 trials of Acquisition. Our results suggest that soy meal is a potential alternative to estrogen in the prevention and treatment of Alzheimer's disease.     

Investigating the reduction of sodium adsorption ratio from agricultural waste by rice husk in batch scale and physical model of drain envelop

Sodium adsorption ratio (SAR) is one of the water quality indexes that whose is important due to reuse or depletion to environment. Solutes in drain water can be controlled by adsorption, chemical or biological reaction, organic envelope of drainage. Rice husk is the common option of drainage envelops in paddy fields. In this study, the ability of reduction of SAR by rice husk was evaluated in batch scale and physical model of drain envelops. In the batch experiments, the adsorption of SAR parameters was investigated by adding 2 g of rice husk into a 100 ml of sodium chloride solution. The results indicated that rice husk absorbed calcium, magnesium and sodium, respectively. By increasing the temperature, contact time and pH, adsorption of calcium, magnesium and sodium was increased; however, the higher concentration of sodium in soil solution reduced the percentage of adsorption. In a more realistic state, physical models of subsurface drainage in the paddy fields were made. Drainage envelope treatments included of rice husk (H), combination of 20 and 60 % of husk with gravel (H₂₀G₈₀ and H₆₀G₄₀) and a pipe without envelope (NE). Due to higher drain discharge and more sodium removal (lower SAR in drain water), treatment H with the discharge of 16.2 ml/min and SAR of 1.27 (meq/l)^0.5 was better in comparison with other treatments.     

Improvement of Antioxidant System and Decrease of Lignin by Nickel Treatment in Tea Plant

The effect of nickel (Ni) on the activities of antioxidant enzymes was evaluated in suspension-cultured cells of tea (Camellia sinensis L. cv. ‘Yabukita’) and two-year-old rooted cuttings of tea (Camellia sinensis L. assamica × sinensis). Suspension-cultured cells were grown in B5 medium and treated with 40 μM of Ni for 24 h. Tea plants were grown in a modified Hoagland solution and treated for one week with 40 μM of Ni. The activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, ascorbate peroxidase, and ionically wall-bound peroxidase of both Ni-treated tea cells and Ni-treated tea plants increased compared with those of control groups. The activities of soluble peroxidase and covalently wall-bound peroxidase, as well as the lignin content of both tea cells and tea plants, decreased under Ni treatment. Thus it seems that Ni may have beneficial effects on tea plants via elevation of antioxidant activity and decrease of lignification of the walls.