Physiological and anatomical responses of calendula (Calendula officinalis L.) cultivars to heat-stress duration

It is necessary to identify the heat-tolerant cultivars of bedding plants in order to cope with the challenges of the global warming. The physiological and anatomical responses of four calendula cultivars (Candyman’, ‘Zen’, ‘Indian Prince’, and ‘Pacific Beauty’) to four duration levels (0, 7, 14 and 21 days) of heat stress (in a mean range of 35–42°C), were investigated after their establishment under greenhouse conditions. The results indicated that calendula cultivars displayed different responses to various heat duration levels in most parameters. Although the gas exchange of ‘Candyman’ was the highest in control treatment, it showed a considerable reduction in all levels of stress durations. In contrast, ‘Indian Prince’ maintained gas exchange and chlorophyll content and exhibited the most resistance to heat stress among others, especially for longer duration exposure, which might be resulted from the greater soluble sugar content, higher stomatal density, and thicker leaves. Experiment to assess cell membrane thermostability showed heat stress resulted in significant increase in electrolyte leakage percentage as the incubation temperature of all cultivars was increased. However, the least membrane stability was observed in ‘Zen’, indicating the higher sensitivity of this cultivar to heat-stress conditions in comparison to three other cultivars.     

Comparison of anti-oxidant activities and fruit quality attributes in four sweet bell pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) cultivars grown in two soilless media

This work was carried out to study the effects of two soilless media consisting of 80:20 [volume/volume (v/v)] mixtures of mosspeat and perlite, or cocopeat and perlite, on fruit quality and anti-oxidant activities in four cultivars of bell pepper (Capsicum annuum L.): ‘Traviata’ (green), ‘Inspratian’ (red), ‘Aracia’ (orange), and ‘Taranto’ (yellow). The results showed that the composition of the medium had a significant effect on the anti-oxidant composition and activities of the bell pepper fruit. Plants grown on 80:20 (v/v) mosspeat and perlite had significantly higher pericarp firmness, titratable acidity, total phenolic compound concentrations, 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging ability, and the hydroxy free-radical (?OH) scavenging ability. Fruit on plants grown on 80:20 (v/v) cocopeat and perlite had significantly higher vitamin C concentrations. Among the four cultivars tested, ‘Inspratian’ (red) was superior in more factors including pericarp thickness, dry matter content, titratable acidity, total soluble solids content, total phenolic concentration, DPPH scavenging ability, and vitamin C concentration. There was a significant interaction between cultivar and soilless medium composition, indicating that the response of bell pepper cultivars varied in the different media. The results of the present study highlight the importance of comparing soilless media in terms of their effect on fruit crop quality and anti-oxidant activity.     

The study of seed yield and seed yield components of lentil (Lens culinaris Medik) under normal and drought stress conditions

In this study yield and seed yield components of twenty lentil (Lens culinaris Medik) genotypes were compared in a split plot RCBD based design with 3 replications at the Zanjan University Research Farmland in 2004. The main plots were lentil planted under drought stress and non stress (irrigation) condition and subplots were twenty of genotype lentil. There were significant differences between traits in lentil genotypes. The seed yield per plant was sensitive to drought stress but 100 seed weight was more tolerance and stable trait in drought condition. As correlation analysis of traits in various stress condition, the harvest index, seed yield per plant, pods per plant and biological yield were correlated with grain yield. In addition harvest index, seed yield per plant, pods/plant and biological yield were the most important traits that have a relationship with grain yield.     

Dietary patterns among pregnant women in the west-north of Iran

This study was conducted to assess the food consumption pattern and nutrient intakes of pregnant women residing in Maku-the west north of Iran. In this cross-sectional study, 284 pregnant women (142 from urban area and 142 from rural areas) participated. Subjects were interviewed privately, face-to-face. Dietary intake data was collected using two 24 h recalls and a food frequency questionnaire for 3 months. Mean consumption of grains and dairies was higher in rural women compared to their counterparts in urban areas. Women in urban areas consumed 140 g fruits compared to 248 g consumed by rural women. There were no significant differences regarding consumption of vegetables, pulses, fat and oils between these two groups. All women consumed adequate amount of energy, protein, thiamin and niacin (> 75% RDA). Intake of vitamin B6, folate, vitamins A and D, iron, phosphorus, calcium, magnesium and zinc was not sufficient in these women. Inadequate intake of vitamin C and riboflavin was also reported in urban women. Percentage of energy from carbohydrate, fat and protein was 66, 23 and 11% for urban women, respectively and 68, 20 and 12% for rural women, respectively. Iron intake was lower in urban women compared to rural women. The findings indicated that rural women have better nutritional status than urban women. Future studies should determine factors associated with food consumption pattern in these women.     

Metallothionein biosynthesis as a detoxification mechanism in mercury exposure in fish,spotted scat (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Scatophagus argus</Emphasis>)

It is of crucial importance to study on the biomarkers types to assess the specification of the pollutants and health status of marine ecosystems in environmental evaluation projects. In this respect, total metallothionein biosynthesis and mercury bioaccumulation in the liver and gills under acute mercury exposure were investigated in fish, Scat (Scatophagus argus). Spotted scat was exposed to different mercury concentrations (0, 10, 20, 30) for 24, 48, 72 h. Total MT levels were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method. Mercury contents were determined through cold vapor atomic absorption spectrometry (CVAAS). Induction of MT during exposure was tissue specific, displaying different response pattern in gills and liver. Mercury accumulated in liver much higher than in gills and the latter also showed lower MT level (P < 0.05). MT biosynthesis in liver showed a significant (P < 0.05) increase after exposure to different mercury concentration with increase in exposure time, whereas total MT content did not significantly (P > 0.05) change in gills except for 72 h exposure at 30 μg l⁻¹. Nonetheless, the relationship between MT biosynthesis and Mercury bioaccumulation in both tissues was significant (P < 0.05). The results suggest that this form of MT in S. argus was Hg inducible and could be extended as a biomarker of mercury pollution in marine ecosystems.     

Effects of rice bran protein concentrate on the growth performance and digestive enzyme activities of jundiá (Rhamdia quelen) (Quoy and Gaimard, 1824)

The aim of this study was to assess the effect of increasing inclusion levels (100, 150, 200 and 300 g/kg) of rice bran protein concentrate (RBPC) in jundiá (Rhamdia quelen) diets using growth, body composition, somatic indices and digestive enzyme activity as parameters. Five isoproteic (370.08 ± 0.04 g/kg) and isocaloric (13.38 ± 0.04 MJ/kg) diets were formulated with four replicates per treatment. After acclimation, 500 jundiá juveniles (initial mean weight of 6.28 ± 0.12 g) were distributed into 20 round polyethylene tanks (280 L) (25 fish per tank) coupled to a thermoregulated water recirculating system. The fish were fed experimental diets three times daily (at 9:00, 13:00 and 17:00 hr) to apparent satiation. At the end of the trial (45 days), no significant differences were found in the body chemical composition, somatic indices, and trypsin and chymotrypsin enzymes of the fish fed experimental diets. A lower final weight and a lower condition factor were found in fish fed diets RBPC10 (100 g/kg of RBPC) and RBPC15 (150 g/kg of RBPC). Based on the results of this study, it is clear that the use of RBPC (at high dietary inclusion levels of 200 and 300 g kg^?1) is an effective alternative protein source to fishmeal.     

Quantitative Assessment of Proliferative Effects of Oral Vanadium on Pancreatic Islet Volumes and Beta?Cell Numbers of Diabetic Rats

Background:

Oral vanadyl sulfate (vanadium) induces normoglycemia, proliferates beta cells and prevents pancreatic islet atrophy in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Soteriological method is used to quantitate the proliferative effects of vanadium on beta-cell numbers and islet volumes of normal and diabetic rats.

Methods:

Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were made diabetic with intravenous streptozotocin injection (40 mg/kg). Normal and diabetic rats were divided into four groups. While control normal and diabetic (CD) groups used water, vanadium-treated normal (VTN) and diabetic (VTD) groups used solutions containing vanadyl sulfate (0.5-1 mg/mL, VOSO₄+5H₂O). Tail blood samples were used to measure blood glucose (BG) and plasma insulin. Two months after treatment, rats were sacrificed, pancreata prepared, and stereology method was used to quantitatively evaluate total beta cell numbers (TBCN) and total islet volumes (TISVOL).

Results:

Normoglycemia persisted in VTN with significantly decreased plasma insulin (0.190.08 vs. 0.970.27 ng/dL, P<0.002). The respective high BG (53249 vs. 14446 mg/dL, P<0.0001) and reduced plasma insulin (0.260.15 vs. 0.540.19 ng/dL, P<0.002) seen in CD were reversed in VTD during vanadium treatment or withdrawal. While the induction of diabetes, compared to their control, significantly decreased TISVOL (1.90.2 vs. 3.030.6 mm³, P<0.003) and TBCN (0.990.1 vs. 3.20.2 x 10⁶, P<0.003), vanadium treatment significantly increased TISVOL (2.90.8 and 4.071.0 mm³, P<0.003) and TBCN (1.50.3 and 3.80.6 x 10⁶, P<0.03).

Conclusion:

Two-month oral vanadium therapy in STZ-diabetic rats ameliorated hyperglycemia by partially restoring plasma insulin. This action was through proliferative actions of vanadium in preventing islet atrophy by increasing beta-cell numbers.Key Words: Vanadium, Pancreas, Islet volumes, Rats