The Promotive Effects of Nephthyl Acetic Acid on Maize Cultivars Grown Under Saline Conditions

Soil salinity is becoming a major problem due to a variety of natural and man-caused factors particularly in arid areas. The present study documented on the effect of nephthyl acetic acid (NAA) foliar spray on physiological attributes of maize including growth responses, osmolites, and antioxidant enzymatic activities of the selected maize varieties PSEV3-2(ES) and Sarhad yellow at vegetative stage exposed to different sodium chloride (NaCl) concentrations of 20mM to 100mM, through pot experiments. Osmolites and antioxidant enzymes serve as physiological markers for selected maize varieties under saline conditions. The maximum increase in osmolites and protein contents, Peroxidases (EC 1.11.1.x), Superoxide dismutase (EC 1.15.1.1), Catalse (EC 1.11.1.6) and Ascorbate peroxidase (EC 1.11.1.11) activities in Sarhad yellow indicating the tolerance level of this variety as compare to PSEV3-2(ES). It has been concluded that the reduction in growth responses due to salinity has been improved by the exogenous application of nephthyl acetic acid.     

Towards the conservation of crop wild relative diversity in North Africa: checklist,prioritisation and inventory

Crop wild relatives (CWR) are wild species that are more or less genetically related to crops that can be used to introgress useful genes for improvement of productivity, resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses and quality of cultivated crops. They are important in crop improvement to achieve food security for an increasing population and to overcome the challenges caused by climate change and the new virulence of major diseases and pests. These genetic resources are increasingly threatened in their natural habitats through over-exploitation and land reclamation and degradation. Therefore, their efficient and effective conservation would be taxonomically and genetically valuable and will contribute to maintaining and promoting the sustainability of crop diversity, facilitating agricultural production and supporting the increasing demand for food, feed and natural resources. A checklist of 5780 Crop Wild Relatives (CWR) taxa from North Africa was obtained using the CWR Catalogue for Europe and the Mediterranean (PGR Forum). Of which consists 76% of the flora of North Africa. The checklist contains 5588 (~97%) native taxa and 192 introduced. Families with higher taxa richness are Fabaceae, Asteraceae, and Poaceae. These three families constitute more than 33% of the total taxa included in the checklist. About 9% (502) CWR taxa identified as a priority for conservation in North Africa using four criteria, the economic value of the crop, the relatedness degree of wild relatives to their crop, threat status using IUCN red list assessment, and finally the centre of origin and/or diversity of the crop. Of these, 112 taxa were assigned high, 268 medium and 122 low priorities for effective conservation. Those assessed as threatened using IUCN Red list and national assessment represent approximately 2% (119 taxa) of the CWR in the region. However, 21 taxa are assessed as critically endangered (CR), 53 as endangered (EN), and 45 as vulnerable (VU). Wild relatives of some globally important crops are present, with those related to wheat (Triticum aestivum L. and T. durum L.) and barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) among the highest priority crops for the North Africa region. Amongst CWR assessed as threatened, only 8 (6.7%) CWR are related to food crops, Avena agadiriana B.R. Baum. et G. Fedak (VU), A. atlantica B.R. Baum et G. Fedak (VU), A. murphyi Ladiz. (EN), Beta macrocarpa Guss. (EN), Olea europaea subsp. maroccana Guss. (VU), Rorippa hayanica Maire (VU) and Aegilops bicornis (Forssk.) Jaub. et Spach (VU). The wild relative of Safflower Carthamus glaucus M. Bieb is restricted to Egypt and Libya and assessed as rare in Egypt. The information available about the conservation and threat status of CWR in North Africa still lags behind, and more investigations are required.     

Lipid-lowering and antioxidant effects of hydroxytyrosol and its triacetylated derivative recovered from olive tree leaves in cholesterol-fed rats

This study was designed to test the lipid-lowering and antioxidative activities of triacetylated hydroxytyrosol compared with its native compound, hydroxytyrosol, purified from olive tree leaves. Wistar rats fed a standard laboratory diet or a cholesterol-rich diet for 16 weeks were used. The serum lipid levels, the thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) level, as an indicator of lipid peroxidation, and the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) as well as that of catalase (CAT) were examined. The cholesterol-rich diet induced hypercholesterolemia that was manifested in the elevation of total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C). Administration of hydroxytyrosol and triacetylated hydroxytyrosol (3 mg/kg of body weight) decreased the serum levels of TC, TG, and LDL-C significantly and increased the serum level of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C). Furthermore, the content of TBARS in liver, heart, kidney, and aorta decreased significantly when hydroxytyrosol and its triacetylated derivatives were orally administered to rats compared with those fed a cholesterol-rich diet. In addition, triacetylated hydroxytyrosol and hydroxytyrosol increased CAT and SOD activities in the liver. These results suggested that the hypolipidemic effect of triacetylated hydroxytyrosol and hydroxytyrosol might be due to their abilities to lower serum TC, TG, and LDL-C levels as well as to their antioxidant activities preventing the lipid peroxidation process.     

Synthesis and Insecticidal Activity of Some New 3-[4(3H)-Quinazolinone-2-(yl)thiomethyl]-1,2,4- triazole-5-thiols

A series of 14 new 3-[4(3H)-quinazolinone-2-(yl)thiomethyl]-1,2,4-triazoles were prepared and characterized by elemental analyses, IR, [¹H] NMR and mass spectral data. Four of the compounds showed insecticidal activity equivalent to that of malathion against the adult stage of the blow fly (Chrysomyia albiceps). However, their activity against the larval stages of this insect species was considerably weaker.     

Humarain: A new dimeric gallic acid glycoside from Punica granatum L. bark

A new dimeric gallic acid glycoside named Humarain (1) was isolated from stem bark of Punica granatum. The structure of the compound was determined by spectroscopic data including 1D and 2D NMR spectral analysis.     

Analysis of Colletotrichum musae populations from Brazil reveals the presence of isolates with high competitive ability and reduced sensitivity to postharvest fungicides

In this study, the sensitivity of 218 isolates of Colletotrichum musae to imazalil and thiabendazole was evaluated, as well the fitness and competitive ability of less sensitive isolates. There was a positive correlation between the sensitivity to the two fungicides, but the isolates were more sensitive to imazalil. The estimated effective concentration of the fungicide able to inhibit mycelial growth by 50% (EC₅₀) was used to select four isolates with the lowest and the highest values for both fungicides, which were considered as sensitive (S) and less sensitive (LS), respectively. The level of sensitivity was maintained after 10 successive transfers on fungicide-free medium. Both fungicides were effective in controlling the disease caused by S isolates of C. musae in detached banana fruit when recommended doses were used. However, only imazalil was able to control the disease caused by LS isolates. For both fungicides, analysis of fitness-related variables (mycelial growth, sporulation, germination, and virulence) showed no difference between the groups of S and LS isolates, but a large variation was observed within the group. The LS isolates to thiabendazole that showed a mutation (F200Y) in the β-tubulin gene did not have fitness penalties. Our results allow a better understanding of the sensitivity and fitness of isolates of C. musae from Brazil, and demonstrate the importance of periodic monitoring to determine the frequency of LS isolates in populations, aiming at more effective management of anthracnose in banana orchards in Brazil.     

Production of high hydroxytyrosol yields via tyrosol conversion by Pseudomonas aeruginosa immobilized resting cells

An immobilized whole cell system was successfully performed to produce the most powerful antioxidant, hydroxytyrosol. Bioconversion of tyrosol into hydroxytyrosol was achieved via the immobilization of Pseudomonas aeruginosa resting cells in calcium alginate beads. Immobilization was advantageous as it allows immobilized cells to tolerate a greater tyrosol concentration than free cells. The bioconversion yield reached 86% in the presence of 5 g L-1 of tyrosol when cells immobilized in alginate beads were carried out in single batches. Evaluation of kinetic parameters showed the maintenance of the same catalytic efficiency expressed as Kcat/Km for both free and immobilized cells. The use of immobilized cells in repeated batches demonstrated a notable activity stabilization since the biocatalyst reusability was extended for at least four batches with a molar yield greater than 85%.     

Improving Water Use Efficiency in Semi-Arid Regions through Integrated Aquaculture/Agriculture

Two experiments were performed in the Bekaa plain in Lebanon to evaluate the feasibility of integrating aquaculture with established agriculture production in order to increase water productivity. Both experiments consisted of four plant management treatments: 1) Aquaculture effluent irrigation and no fertilizer; 2) aquaculture effluent irrigation and inorganic fertilizer; 3) well water irrigation and no fertilization; and 4) well water irrigation with inorganic fertilizer. In the first experiment, tilapia growth and radish production using aquaculture effluent were evaluated. All fish survived and grew, and radish production was improved by irrigating with aquaculture effluent. In the second experiment, maize (Zea mays) in large plots was irrigated with aquaculture effluent. Irrigation with effluent water improved maize production and improved soil nitrogen availability. In both experiments, fish production improved water value index and water use efficiency. Results suggest that aquaculture effluent can supplant inorganic fertilizers and could actually yield better crop production.     

Keys for and morphological character variation in some Egyptian cultivars of Cucurbitaceae

The cultivated varieties and landraces of Cucurbitaceae growing in Egypt are presented, 27 taxa, belonging to three genera, six species, and five subspecies. These characters are arranged according to their usefulness for identifications as follow: fruit characters, seed characters and trichome type. Fruit characters are a good taxonomic tool at varietal level when combined with the other vegetative characters. Two keys to 27 cultivated varieties of Cucurbitaceae (Cucumis, Cucurbita and Luffa) were constructed using the DELTA software system. One key is used for identification, and then the other is used as a confirmatory key. Those keys were built using 36 morphological characters include vegetative, floral, fruit and seed characters. There is a significant correlation between seed size and growth parameters. The growth parameters of the studied taxa included leaf length/size, petiole length and corolla length. There is a highly positive, significant correlation between seed volume and leaf size (r = 0.81831, P ≤ 0.001), seed volume and petiole length (r = 0.79112, P ≤ 0.001), seed volume and leaf length (r = 0.83566, P ≤ 0.001), and seed volume and corolla length (r = 0.59108, P ≤ 0.001).