Water relations and microbial proliferation in vase solutions of Narcissus tazetta L. cv. ‘Shahla-e-Shiraz’ as affected by biocide compounds

Summary

Disruption of cut flower water relations due to the growth and proliferation of microorganisms in the vase solution is one of the most important factors causing reduced vase-life and deterioration in cut flowers. These experiments were conducted to study the effects of some biocides in controlling microbial proliferation in vase solutions and on water relations in cut Narcissus tazetta L. cv. ‘Shahla-e-Shiraz’, a native bulbous cut flower of Iran. The stems of ‘Shahla-e-Shiraz’ Narcissus cut flowers were exposed to 17 treatments: aluminium sulphate (at 100, 200 or 300 mg l^–1), citric acid (at 150, 300 or 450 mg l^–1), 8-hydroxyquinoline citrate (at 200, 300 or 400 mg l^–1), sodium hypochlorite (at 400, 600 or 800 mg l^–1), calcium hypochlorite (at 400, 600 or 800 mg l^–1), sterilised distilled water, or tap water (control). Generally, the least effective compounds in controlling microbial proliferation were low concentrations of aluminium sulphate or citric acid. 8-Hydroxyquinoline citrate treatments were most effective, and the vase solution did not contain any microbes until day-6. Vase solution contaminants were yeasts, Bacillus ssp., Staphylococcus ssp., Actinomycetes and Aspergillus ssp. Yeasts and bacilli were the most common microorganisms. Severe symptoms of phytotoxicity such as bud abortion and yellowing in aluminium sulphate-treated flowers, stem proximal-end browning and shrinking in 8-hydroxyquinoline citrate-treated flowers, and bleaching of soaked parts in sodium hypochlorite treatments, were seen. Most solution was taken up in 150 mg l^–1 citric acid, while the reduction in fresh weight was least in 200 mg l^–1 8-hydroxyquinoline citrate. The correlation between microbial counts and growth rate with solution uptake was slightly negative, but their correlation with fresh weight loss was slightly positive.     

The Effect of Coenzyme Q10 and α-Tocopherol in Skim Milk–Based Extender for Preservation of Caspian Stallion Semen in Cool Condition

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of different concentrations of coenzyme Q₁₀ (CoQ₁₀) and α-tocopherol (T) along with their interaction effects on the quality of preserved stallion semen at 5°C for a period of 48 hours. Semen was collected and diluted with skim milk–based extender that was supplemented with different antioxidants: no antioxidant (negative control [NC]), 0.9% (vol/vol) dimethyl sulfoxide (positive control [PC]), α-tocopherol (5 [T5] or 10 [T10] mM), CoQ₁₀ (1 [C1] or 2 [C2] μM), 1 μM CoQ₁₀ + 5 mM α-tocopherol (C1T5), 1 μM CoQ₁₀ + 10 mM α-tocopherol (C1T10), 2 μM CoQ₁₀ + 5 mM α-tocopherol (C2T5), and 2 μM CoQ₁₀ + 10 mM α-tocopherol (C2T10), then kept at 5°C. The results showed that C1 extender resulted in higher total motility (62.44 ± 3.82) and plasma membrane integrity (65.16 ± 3.63%) compared with NC after 48 hours of storage (P < .05). Different concentrations of α-tocopherol had no significant effects on sperm quality, with the exception of plasma membrane integrity, compared with NC and PC extenders (P > .05). Also, C1T5 extender improved total and progressive motility, plasma membrane integrity and functionality, and decreased lipid peroxidation compared with NC and C2T10 extenders over 48 hours of storage at 5°C (P < .05). The C1T5 extender was similar to C1 and T5 extenders in all semen parameters evaluated during storage time. In conclusion, between previously mentioned extenders, C1T5 could improve stallion sperm quality during 48 hours of storage. In the present study, none of extenders had effect on sperm quality until 24-hour storage.     

Effects of long-term silymarin oral supplementation on the blood biochemical profile of rainbow trout (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Oncorhynchus mykiss</Emphasis>)

Silymarin, an extract from “milk thistle” (Silybum marianum) plant is traditionally used as herbal medicine. The present study was conducted to investigate the clinical effects and possible side effects of silymarin on biochemical blood parameters of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). Fishes were treated with 0 (control), 100, 400, and 800 mg of silymarin per kg of food during 4 weeks. Plasma alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), creatine kinase (CK), glucose, total protein, creatinine, triglyceride, cholesterol, urea, uric acid and liver cellular total antioxidant, and protein content were measured after 7, 14, and 28 days of silymarin treatment. The results showed that oral administration of silymarin in fish significantly reduced plasma glucose and cholesterol levels and relatively increased plasma total protein and globulin concentrations (P < 0.05). Increasing plasma albumin levels indicate the important role of albumin in drug transportation in circulatory system of fish. Silymarin also stabilized cellular membrane structure and regulated the levels of AST, ALT, ALP, CK, and LDH activity. In conclusion, on the basis of these results, oral administration of silymarin up to 400 mg per 1 kg of food has no side effect on blood biochemical and clinical parameters of fishes. However, oral administration of 800 mg/kg- of silymarin caused cytotoxicity and modifications in blood biochemical parameters of fish.     

Electrospun poly(ɛ-caprolactone)/nanoclay nanofibrous mats for tissue engineering

Nanofibrous mats of poly (?-caprolactone)/nanoclay nanocomposites were fabricated using electrospinning method. Effects of nanoclay content of the nanocomposite on final nanofiber structures were investigated and characterized by scanning electron microscope (SEM) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analysis. The results showed that the presence of the nanoclay promoted the creation of fibrous structure in comparison with solely poly (?-caprolactone). Furthermore, increase in nanoclay content led to the formation of more uniform nanofiber structures and caused a decrease in the mean nanofiber diameter. DSC results showed that the addition of nanoclay reduced the crystallinity of the nanocomposite in compared with pristine PCL. Studies of the mechanical properties, wettability and degradability showed that the presence of nanoclay improved tensile modulus, tensile strength, wettability and biodegradability of the nanocomposites. To evaluate the effect of nanoclay on the cell adhesion and bioactivity of the poly (?-caprolactone)/nanoclay nanocomposites, fibroblasts cells were seeded on the mats. The results showed that the prepared nanocomposite could be a potential candidate for tissue engineering.     

Antimicrobial susceptibility of Escherichia coli isolates from dairy farms using organic versus conventional production methods

OBJECTIVE: To compare antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of Escherichia coli isolates cultured from fecal samples from cows and calves on dairy farms that used organic (ie, no or severely limited antimicrobial use) versus conventional production methods. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SAMPLE POPULATION: Fecal samples from 10 cows and 10 calves on each of 30 organic dairy farms and 30 neighboring conventional dairy farms in Wisconsin. PROCEDURE: E. coli isolates obtained from the fecal samples were tested for susceptibility to 17 antimicrobials by means of a microbroth dilution test. Prevalence of antimicrobial resistance was compared between organic and conventional dairy farms. RESULTS: E. coli was isolated from 1,121 (94%) fecal samples. Farm type (organic vs conventional) and animal age (cow vs calf) were significantly associated with odds that E. coli isolates would be resistant to various antimicrobials. After controlling for age, logistic regression analyses indicated that isolates from conventional dairy farms had significantly higher rates of resistance to ampicillin, streptomycin, kanamycin, gentamicin, chloramphenicol, tetracycline, and sulfamethoxazole than did isolates from organic dairy farms. However, no significant differences were detected for the 10 other antimicrobials that were tested. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results indicated that compared with isolates from conventional dairy farms, E. coli isolates from organic dairy herds have significantly lower prevalences of resistance to 7 antimicrobials; however, prevalence of resistance was not significantly different for 10 other antimicrobials. Resistance was more common for isolates from calves than for isolates from adult dairy cows.     

The problem of breeding for spots in rabbits. 2. Further results on the variation of characteristics in fattening and breeding animals]

The mode of inheritance of spotting in both breeds (ES and DRS) is compatible with incompletely dominant resp. intermediate segregation, though a broad variability of spotted areas exists, indicating the influence of minor genes or other ontogenetic factors. Additional findings support the conclusion, that there is a very distinct predisposition of homozygous KK animals to develop megacolon with growing age. This also has consequences for the relative organ weight of the heart and of the adrenals in this genotype. Sporadically encountered accessory adrenal cortical tissue however did not exhibit genotypic preferences.     

Tracking the Transport of Silver Nanoparticles in Soil: a Saturated Column Experiment

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) can enter the environment when released from products containing them. As AgNPs enter soil, they are often retained in the soil profile and/or leached to the groundwater. This research assessed the transport of AgNPs in their “particle form” through the soil profile using a series of columns. Three soil types were put into soil columns: LSH (loam with high organic matter (OM)), LSL (loam with low OM), and Sand (no OM). The results showed that AgNP transport and retention in soil as well as particle size changes are affected by soil organic matter (OM) and the cation exchange capacity (CEC) of soil. OM affected the transport and retention of AgNPs. This was evident in the LSH columns where the OM concentration was the highest and the AgNP content the lowest in the soil layers and in the effluent water. The highest transported AgNP content was detected in the Sand columns where OM was the lowest. CEC had an impact on the particle size of the AgNPs that were retained in the soil layers. This was clear in columns packed with high CEC-containing soils (LSL and LSH) where AgNP particle size decreased more substantially than in the columns packed with sand. However, the decrease in AgNP sizes in the effluent water was less than the decrease in particle size of AgNPs transported through but retained in the soil. This means that the AgNPs that reached the effluent were transported directly from the first layer through the soil macropores. This work highlights the ability to track AgNPs at low concentrations (50 μg kg^?1) and monitor the changes in particle size potential as the particles leach through soil all of which increases our knowledge about AgNP transport mechanisms in porous media.     

Effects of host plant morphological features on the functional response of Adalia bipunctata (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) to Myzus persicae (Hemiptera: Aphididae)

The effect of three selected plants on the functional response of Adalia bipunctata to different densities of Myzus persicae was examined in Petri-dish arenas. Logistic regression indicated a type II functional response on all plants. The maximum number of prey killed per day by females was 65.4 at a density of 130 preys on sweet pepper. On the other hand, handling time was significantly longer on tomato than on eggplant or sweet pepper (0.35 h vs. 0.24 h and 0.21 h, respectively). This laboratory study suggests that plant characteristics influence the ability of A. bipunctata to respond to changes in prey density.     

Seasonal,tissue and age influences on frequency and biodiversity of endophytic fungi of Citrus sinensis in Iran

A total of 4,009 endophytic fungal isolates were recovered from healthy leaves, bark and xylem of Citrus sinensis in different seasons and age‐classes. Corresponding to those factors, the majorities of fungal isolates were recovered from leaves, 2‐yr‐old trees and winter, respectively. Fungal isolates were initially categorized based on cultural and morphological characters, and representatives of each morphotype were subjected to molecular identifications based on ITS‐rDNA and β‐tubulin sequences. All isolates obtained in this study belonged to the phyla Ascomycota and Basidiomycota assigned to 30 fungal taxa. The most abundant fungal species were Alternaria spp. Species diversity indices of Margalef richness and Shannon–Wiener revealed a high diversity of fungal taxa recovered from leaf and during winter. Frequency (%) of fungal endophytes was highest in winter followed by summer, autumn, and spring significantly, whereas the corresponding sequence was winter, autumn, summer and spring for the diversity of endophytic fungi. Overall, the results of this study based on the community and diversity of endophytic fungal species in C. sinensis showed that the type of plant tissue, season of sampling and age of tree play a driving role on their abundance while their diversity was mainly dependent on the type of plant tissue, season of sampling than on the age of tree.     

The effect of salicylic and jasmonic acids on tomato physiology and tolerance to <Emphasis Type="Italic">Cucumber mosaic virus</Emphasis> (CMV)

Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) is one of the most important plant viruses responsible for sharp reductions in the production of many cultivated plants. Activities of antioxidant enzymes, photosynthetic capacity, proline and total soluble carbohydrates (TSC) content were measured in the leaves of tomato (Solanum lycopercicum cv. Falat) plants treated with phytohormones (salicylic and jasmonic acids and their combination) and inoculated with CMV at 0, 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, and 15 days after the treatments. Based on the results, catalase (CAT) activity decreased in the healthy and infected plants, but peroxidase (POD) activity increased in the CMV-infected plants signifying that POD is more active in H₂O₂ scavenging in tomato. Because the hormone treatments inhibited the reduction in the enzyme activity, it may be considered as a controlling method against CMV. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity was lower in the control until 6 days post inoculation (dpi), but increased after 8 dpi. The infected plants and the hormone-treated plants showed an increased SOD activity from 0 to 15 dpi. Phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL) activity also increased in all the treatments over the time period (0-15 dpi). Net photosynthesis (NP) rate and chlorophyll content decreased under the virus infection and hormone treatment, whereas control plants had the highest NP and chlorophyll content. Proline accumulation occurred in the infected and hormone- treated plants, but TSC content decreased in comparison to the control. Reduction of TSC content was not significant in the hormone and virus- treated plants. Expression of CMV coat protein gene (CMV-CP) was decreased by approximately 34% in SA+JA+CMV treatment in comparison to the CMV-infected plants. In conclusion, CMV had harmful effect on physiological traits of tomato plants, but hormone application induced resistance. This resistance may be accomplished through the combination of both hormone-related signaling pathways which likely established a strong resistance network together.