Molecular and morphological characterization of Golestan (Iran) olive ecotypes provides evidence for the presence of promising genotypes

Unidentified olive plants naturally grow in the Golestan province of Iran, on different soils and under climates spanning from sub-temperate to desert conditions, represented by single trees or groups of few trees. We collected samples from representative sites and analyzed them by simple sequence repeat markers in order to determine their identity and their relationships to prominent Iranian and Mediterranean reference cultivars. Population structure analysis separated these ecotypes from Mediterranean and, surprisingly, from all Iranian cultivars, the parentage test excluded their direct contribution as candidate parents or offspring of cultivars, and they also showed a high level of admixture. Their differentiation from cultivated olives may be attributed to different factors: they could represent wild plants or could derive from natural dissemination of ancestral cultivated trees. Their survival up to now may be due to the fact that most of them are grown on sacred sites such as necropolis. Anyhow, the adaptation to strong environmental stresses, and their fruit size and oil content make the olive Golestan ecotypes a valuable source of genetic variation previously uncharacterized and currently threatened with extinction.     

Molecular and morphological investigation in Hymenocrater: species delimitation,relationship, divergence time and DNA barcoding

Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution - Hymenocrater comprises of 11 species throught the world. The genus is an Irano-Turanian elements, which has several usages in traditional medicine. Northeast...     

Inhibitory effects of Sage extract on the growth of enteric bacteria

Antibacterial activity of Sage extract at concentrations of 0.1, 0.05, 0.025, 0.0125, 0.00625, 0.003125, 0.00156, 0.0005 and 0.00025 g dL(-1) against Salmonella typhi, Shigella sonnei, S. flexneri, Proteus vulgaris, Staphylococcus aureus, ETEC Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa was evaluated. Susceptibility testing of bacterial strains against 18 antibiotics was also performed for comparison. The results showed that P. aeruginosa and ETEC E. coli were completely resistant to Sage extract even at concentration of 0.1 g dL(-1). Its antibacterial activity (0.1 g dL(-1)) against P. vulgaris, S. flexneri and S. sonnei was the same as nitrofurantoin and ampicilline respectively. Sage extract (0.1 and 0.05 g dL(-1)) exhibited the same effects as ampicilline and streptomycin against S. typhi. Its antibacterial activity (0.1, 0.05 and 0.25 g dL(-1)) against S. aureus was the same as ceftazidim, chloramphenicol, gentamycin, neomycin and nitrofurantoin and was more significant compared to streptomycin and vancomycin. The results suggest Sage can be considered as an alternative herbal in the treatment of infections caused by the above-mentioned bacteria.     

Inotropic and chronotropic effects of 6-hydroxy-4-methylquinolin-2(1H)-one derivatives in isolated rat atria

Background: Selective phosphodiesterase (PDE3) inhibitors improve cardiac contractility and may use in congestive heart failure. However, their proarrhythmic potential is the most important side effect. Methods: In this research, we evaluated the potential cardiotonic activity of six new synthesized selective PDE3 inhibitors (6-hydroxy-4-methylquinolin-2(1H)-one derivatives) using the spontaneously beating atria model. In each experiment, atrium of reserpine-treated rat was isolated and the contractile and chronotropic effects of a synthesized compound were assessed. The 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine, a non-selective PDE inhibitor, was used for comparison. Results: The results showed that, among new compounds, the best pharmacological profile was obtained with the compound 6-[4-(4-methylpiperazine-1-yl)-4-oxobutoxy]-4-methylquinolin-2(1H)-one, C6, which displayed selectivity for increasing the force of contraction (168 +/- 5% change over the control) rather than the frequency rate (138 +/- 5% change over the control) at 300 muM. However, C6 at concentrations of 10 and 100 muM produced left and upward shift in the positive inotropic concentration-response curve of isoprenaline. The -log EC50 of isoprenaline was 8.843 +/- 0.171 in the absence, 9.448 +/- 0.138 and 9.456 +/- 0.107 in the presence of 10, 100 muM of C6, respectively (P<0.001, n = 6). Also, amrinone, a selective PDE3 inhibitor, shifted the isoprenaline concentration-response curve to the left and upward. The concentration of 10 and 100 muM amrinone decreased -log EC50 of isoprenaline to 9.527 +/- 0.287 and 9.423 +/- 0.243, respectively (P<0.001, n = 6). Moreover, the positive chronotropic effect of isoprenaline was not affected by amrinone or C6. Conclusion: This study provides functional evidence for the positive inotropic effect of C6. Considering the augmentation of isoprenaline positive inotropic concentration-response with C6 and amrinone, we conclude that C6 produces its effect via potentiation of cAMP-dependent signaling system and possibly by inhibition of PDE3 activity.     

Leishmania Parasite: the Impact of New Serum-Free Medium as an Alternative for Fetal Bovine Serum

Background:Flagellated protozoan of the genus Leishmania is the causative agent of vector-borne parasitic diseases of leishmaniasis. Since the production of recombinant pharmaceutical proteins requires the cultivation of host cells in a serum-free medium, the elimination of FBS can improve the possibility of large-scale culture of Leishmania parasite. In the current study, we aimed at evaluating a new serum-free medium in Leishmania parasite culture for future live Leishmania vaccine purposes. Methods:Recombinant L. tarentolae secreting PpSP15-EGFP and wild type L. major were cultured in serum-free (CSFM) and serum-supplemented medium. The growth rate, protein expression, and infectivity of cultured parasites in both conditions was then evaluated and compared. Results:Diff-Quick staining and epi-fluorescence microscopy examination displayed the typical morphology of L. major and L. tarentolae-PpSP15-EGFP promastigote grown in CSFM medium. The amount of EGFP expression was similar in CSMF medium compared to M199 supplemented with 5% FBS in flow cytometry analysis of L. tarentolae-PpSP15-EGFP parasite. Also, a similar profile of PpSP15-EGFP proteins was recognized in Western blot analysis of L. tarentolae-PpSP15-EGFP cultured in CSMF and the serum-supplemented medium. Footpad swelling and parasite load measurements showed the ability of CSFM medium to support the L. major infectivity in BALB/C mice. Conclusion:This study demonstrated that CSFM can be a promising substitute for FBS supplemented medium in parasite culture for live vaccination purposes. Key Words: Growth rate, L. major, L. tarentolae, Serum-free medium, PpSP15-EGFP protein     

Effects of different carbon sources and dietary protein levels in a biofloc system on growth performance,immune response against white spot syndrome virus infection and cathepsin L gene expression of Litopenaeus vannamei

A 5‐week study was performed to evaluate the effect of spoilage date extract (SDE) as the biofloc carbon source on Litopenaeus vannamei (5.4 ± 0.3 g) performance. The two levels of dietary protein (15% and 25% crude protein) and two carbohydrate sources (molasses‐M and SDE‐P) were tested including: M15, M25, P15 and P25. The minimum (0.2 ± 0.0 mg/L) and the maximum (0.5 ± 0.0 mg/L) of total ammonia nitrogen were observed in the P15 and M25 groups respectively. The highest protein efficiency ratio (6.1 ± 0.3) and protein productive value (112.3 ± 5.8%) were found in the P15 group (p < 0.05). No significant difference was found between biofloc treatments in the expression of cathepsin L gene in hepatopancreas (p > 0.05). The number of total haemocyte count (THC), semigranular cells (SGC) and granular cells (GC) of shrimp in SDE‐based biofloc treatments was relatively higher than those in molasses‐based biofloc treatments. Following the white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) challenge, a significant decrease in THC, SGC, GC and hyaline cell values was observed in all treatments (p = 0.001). Plasma biochemical parameters were significantly influenced by dietary protein levels, biofloc carbon sources as well as WSSV challenge test. In conclusion, SDE successfully could be used as an alternative carbon source for establishing a biofloc system in L. vannamei production.     

An appraisal of moulting on post-moult egg production and egg weight distribution in white layer hens; meta-analysis

1. The aim of this study was to establish how different moulting methods and body weight losses influenced post-moult performance and USDA egg weight distribution.

2. Data on 5 laying flocks (#34–38) of the North Carolina Layer Performance and Management Test were used in this meta-analysis.

3. The moulting methods were non-fasted moulted (NF), short feed restricted (SF), 13-d feed restricted (FR), non-anorexic moult programme (NA), non-anorexic moult programme with low sodium (NALS) as well as non-moulting programme as control treatment. The percentages of targeted body weight loss during the moulting period were 20, 24, 25 and 30% of body weight at the end of the first egg production cycle.

4. Post-moult egg production and egg mass were influenced by all moulting methods. Maximum increase in post-moult egg production rate and egg mass occurred with FR and NF programmes, respectively, at 30% of body weight loss, compared to non-moulted hens. Non-fasting methods reduced mortality rate more effectively than fasting methods.

5. Moulting resulted in increases in percentage of grade A and decreases in percentage of grade B eggs. Non-fasting methods increased percentage of grade A eggs more effectively than fasting methods. Percentage of cracked eggs decreased in moulted rather than non-moulted hens and the lowest rate was associated with the NA programme.

6. Post-moult egg weight was not significantly influenced by moulting methods. However, percentage of body weight reduction affected egg weight. The optimum increment in egg weight was achieved by 24% body weight reduction.

7. Overall, non-fasting methods resulted in similar egg production compared with fasting methods. Considering post-moult mortality and USDA egg weight distribution, non-fasting methods, especially NF and NA programmes, performed much better than fasting methods, indicating that non-fasting moulting methods, which are better for animal welfare, are effective alternatives to fasting methods.     

The Impact of Development Plans on Hydrological Changes in the Shazand Watershed,Iran

Development plans are mainly responsible for population changes and the conversion of forest and rangelands into agricultural lands and human settlements. Qualitative and quantitative analysis of population and land use changes are necessary to assess the impacts of change on hydrological processes. However, such important issues have been less considered worldwide particularly in developing countries. Therefore, we selected the Shazand Watershed (1740 km²) because of rapid industrialization to track the effects of land use and population changes on streamflow and sediment yield. The data were collected from statistical yearbooks and satellite imageries from 1973 to 2008. All available measurements on discharge and suspended sediment concentration at the Pole doab hydrological station were also collected. The study was conducted for the whole period, as well as the pre‐1991 and post‐1991 as a basis for the economic development growth in the region. We found that the land use and population changes have occurred in the Shazand Watershed, especially in the vicinity of industrial zones. The results showed that the cities, industrial zones, roads, and bare lands quickly increased from 58 · 8 to 134 · 3 km² during post‐1991. The flow durations, sediment rating curves and trend analyses indicated distinct variations in the relationship between streamflow and sediment and also caused changes within different periods. Based on the results, the mean annual flow and sediment yield in post industrialization (1991–2008) were respectively 0 · 84 and 1 · 19 times of those for pre‐industrialization period and the annual sediment yield increased from 25,000 to 29,850 Mg. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.