Effect of nitrogen and potassium fertilizer on growth,yield and chemical composition of sweet fennel

Abstract

In this study, the effect of different levels of nitrogen (N) and potassium (K) fertilizers on vegetative fresh bulb yield, quality and biochemical attributes of sweet fennel were investigated in spring 2017 and 2018. Treatments consisted of 0, 50, 100, or 150?kg ha^?1 of N and K in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Results showed that, the bulb fresh yield increased with application of N and K in both years, while the higher level of K had significant adverse effect in first year. Results also showed that sweet fennel bulb treated by N and K exhibited higher vitamin C, total phenols and flavonoid contents, and antioxidant capacity, especially in first year. In both years, alone or combined application of N and K increased total soluble solids (TSS) content as compared to control, and this effect was more pronounced in 2017 season. Macronutrient contents of bulb including magnesium (Mg), phosphorus (P), K, N, and calcium (Ca) were significantly enhanced by NK fertilizer, however an alone application of K decreased Ca and Mg nutrient contents. Therefore, to improve fresh bulb yield, quality and antioxidant capacity in sweet fennel, 150?kg ha^?1 K and 100?kg ha^?1 N is recommended.     

Septicemic salmonellosis in a two-humped camel calf (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Camelus bactrianus</Emphasis>)

A 1-week old, two-humped female camel (Camelus bactrianus) calf with continual whining, epiphora, anorexia, muscle twitching, and lateral recumbency was referred to a veterinary hospital. Although she died shortly after preliminary clinical examination, but necropsy was performed and tissue samples were taken for further microbiological and pathological examinations. On bacteriological investigation, Salmonella typhimurium and Streptococcus agalactiae were isolated. Histopathologically, lesions consisted of hyperemia and hemorrhage in all serosal and mucosal surfaces, gastroenteritis, and purulent ascites, associated with suppurative omphalitis. Acute nutmeg liver demonstrated centrilobular congestion and moderate fatty changes without any inflammatory cell infiltration. The abomasal and intestinal mucosa were hemorrhagic and erosive. The brain was hyperemic with severe fibrinopurulent meningoencephalitis. Except for dromedary camels and llamas, there has been no previous report of an acute, fatal septicemia in a two-humped camel calf due to S. typhimurium accompanied by S. agalactiae.     

Immunolocalization of Na+, K+-ATPase-rich cells in the gill and urinary system of Persian sturgeon, Acipenser persicus, fry

Localization of Na⁺, K⁺-ATPase-rich cells in the gill and urinary system of Acipenser persicus fry was performed through immunofluorescence light microscopy using a mouse monoclonal antibody IgGα₅ raised against the α-subunit of chicken Na⁺, K⁺-ATPase. Different types of epithelia were clearly identified in the gill epithelium: epithelia of branchial arch, interbranchial septum, filament and lamellar epithelium. The Na⁺, K⁺-ATPase-rich cells were found in the epithelia of branchial arch, interbranchial septum, filament, interlamellar region and also in the lamellae. Histologically, the urinary system is divided into head kidney, trunk kidney and short caudal kidney. The head kidney is composed of the pronephric tubules and the haemopoietic tissues, while the trunk kidney is composed of a large number of glomeruli and convoluted nephrons. Each nephron consisted of a large glomerulus and tubules (neck, proximal, distal and collecting tubules) which connected to ureters. Posteriorly, ureters extended and joined together to form a small urinary bladder. In the urinary system, no specific fluorescence staining was observed in the glomerulus, neck segment and proximal tubules. The distal tubule cells and collecting tubule cells showed a strong immunostaining of Na⁺, K⁺-ATPase. Epithelia of ureters and urinary bladder also showed several isolated immunofluorescent cells. Immunofluorescent cells were rich in Na⁺, K⁺-ATPase enzyme which is very important for osmoregulation.     

Bacterial DNA Detection in the Blood of Healthy Subjects

Background:The presence of microbiome in the blood samples of healthy individuals has been addressed. However, no information can be found on the healthy human blood microbiome of Iranian subjects. The current study is thus aimed to investigate the existence of bacteria or bacterial DNA in healthy individuals. Methods: Blood samples of healthy subjects were incubated in BHI broth at 37 °C for 72 h. The 16S rRNA PCR and sequencing were performed to analyze bacterial isolates. The 16S rRNA PCR was directly carried out on DNA samples extracted from the blood of healthy individuals. NGS was conducted on blood samples with culture-positive results.Results:Fifty blood samples were tested, and six samples were positive by culture as confirmed by Gram staining and microscopy. The obtained 16S rRNA sequences of cultured bacterial isolates revealed the presence of Bacilli and Staphylococcus species by clustering in the GeneBank database (≥97% identity). The 16S rRNA gene sequencing results of one non-cultured blood specimen showed the presence of Burkholderia. NGS results illustrated the presence of Romboutsia, Lactobacillus, Streptococcus, Bacteroides, and Staphylococcus in the blood samples of positive cultures.Conclusion: The dormant blood microbiome of healthy individuals may give the idea that the steady transfer of bacteria into the blood does not necessarily lead to sepsis. However, the origins and identities of blood-associated bacterial rDNA sequences need more evaluation in the healthy population.Key Words: Bacteria, Blood, Microbiome, Sequencing, 16S rRNA     

A methodology for up-scaling irrigation losses

This paper presents a methodology for up-scaling field irrigation losses and quantifying relative losses at the irrigation area level for potential water savings. Two levels of analysis were considered: First, the field level where irrigation is applied. Second, the irrigation area level, where the field level losses are aggregated, or up-scaled, using average loss functions. In this up-scaling approach, detailed crop-soil-water modelling can capture the variability of physical parameters (such as soils, crops, water table depth, and management practices) at the field level which are then used to derive loss functions for aggregating losses at higher scales (irrigation area level). This allows potential field-level adaptations and water management changes made by individual farmers to be assessed for impact at the larger irrigation area level. The APSIM farming systems model was used for simulation of crops (wheat, rice, and soybean) and their interaction with the wider system processes at the field level. Given the climate, soil, and management information (sowing, fertilisation, irrigation, and residue management), the model simulates infiltration, the soil moisture profile, plant water uptake, soil evaporation, and deep drainage on a daily basis. Then, by placing the field level analysis in the context of the wider irrigation system or catchment, it is possible to correlate field level interventions (e.g. water savings measures) with water requirements at these higher levels. Application of this method in the Coleambally Irrigation Area in NSW, Australia, demonstrated that an exponential function can describe the relationship between deep drainage losses and the water table depth for different soil, crop, and water table depth combinations. The rate of loss increase (slope of the curve) with the water table depth is higher on lighter (higher intake rates) soils than on heavy soils and is more pronounced in areas under rice cultivation. We also demonstrate that this analysis technique can assist in identifying spatial distribution of losses in irrigation areas, considering water table depth as an additional factor, leading to targeted areas for water-saving measures.     

Survey of the microbiological count of the milk collected from livestock ancient city of Garmsar,Semnan Province,Iran

Milk has a high nutritional value and can affect human health. Therefore, it is important to know the factors affecting its quality. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the raw milk microbial quality and factors affecting it. A total of 4260 raw cow milk samples, which were collected from villages around Garmsar city, Iran, and their microbial load were registered at Garmsar Dairy Cow Association between 2013 and 2014, was used in the present study. The total average ± SD of microbial load concentration was 3.02?×?10⁵?±?2.75?×?10⁵ (CFU/ml). The average concentration of total bacteria in 2013 was 2.73?×?10⁵?±?1.58?×?10⁵ (CFU/ml) and in 2014 it was 3.32?×?10⁵?±?3.93?×?10⁵(CFU/ml). Seasonally, it was 2.94?×?10⁵?±?1.72?×?10⁵ (CFU/ml), 3.69?×?10⁵?±?4.55?×?10⁵ (CFU/ml), 2.91?×?10⁵?±?1.62?×?10⁵ (CFU/ml), and 2.63?×?10⁵?±?1.67?×?10⁵ (CFU/ml) for spring, summer, autumn, and winter, respectively. There was a significant difference in seasonal average microbial concentration of milk samples (p?<?0.05). The present study concludes that microbial load of milk can be affected by environmental and hygienic conditions. Ranchers need to pay more attention to hygiene especially in warm seasons. Because in case of high microbial load in raw milk, even after milk pasteurization, it is not possible to have a high-quality and desirable product. Milk producers and distributors need also awareness in order to reduce the incidence of secondary contamination. But, the main correction is to establish direct supervision of the Ministry of Health onto the health of dairy cow farmers by structural integrity of Veterinary Medical Organization as the global one health.

     

The genome of the African trypanosome Trypanosoma brucei

African trypanosomes cause human sleeping sickness and livestock trypanosomiasis in sub-Saharan Africa. We present the sequence and analysis of the 11 megabase-sized chromosomes of Trypanosoma brucei. The 26-megabase genome contains 9068 predicted genes, including approximately 900 pseudogenes and approximately 1700 T. brucei-specific genes. Large subtelomeric arrays contain an archive of 806 variant surface glycoprotein (VSG) genes used by the parasite to evade the mammalian immune system. Most VSG genes are pseudogenes, which may be used to generate expressed mosaic genes by ectopic recombination. Comparisons of the cytoskeleton and endocytic trafficking systems with those of humans and other eukaryotic organisms reveal major differences. A comparison of metabolic pathways encoded by the genomes of T. brucei, T. cruzi, and Leishmania major reveals the least overall metabolic capability in T. brucei and the greatest in L. major. Horizontal transfer of genes of bacterial origin has contributed to some of the metabolic differences in these parasites, and a number of novel potential drug targets have been identified.     

Pre- and post-McDonald cerclage cervical length, width and funneling rate and their association with duration of pregnancy

Changes of cervical ultrasonographic physical parameters and their association with outcome of cerclage have not been fully elucidated. This study aimed at evaluating association between ultrasonographic physical cervical shapes before and after McDonald cerclage with the length of pregnancy. Cervical length, width and funneling rate were assessed by transvaginal ultrasonography before and after the procedure. Mean pre-cerclage cervical length, width and funneling rate were 29.28 +/- 5.54, 19.92 +/- 10.30 mm and 12.90 +/- 18.87%, respectively. The mean post-cerclage cervical length, diameter and funneling rate were 31.68 +/- 4.21, 9.78 +/- 13.86 and 4.32 +/- 10.89%, respectively (p < 0.001 for all pre- and post-cerclage changes). The mean post-cerclage duration of pregnancy was 19.78 +/- 5.94 weeks. There were significant direct correlations between the pre-and post-cerclage cervical lengths with pregnancy duration (r = 0.24, p = 0.04 and r = 0.44, p < 0.001, respectively). There were significant indirect correlations between the pre- and post-cerclage funneling rate with pregnancy duration (r = -0.30, p = 0.01 and r = -0.20, p = 0.01, respectively). Similar correlations were not significant for the cervical widths. This study showed that the pre- and post-cerclage ultrasonographically determined cervical length and funneling are good predictors of pregnancy duration.     

NEW MOLYBDENUM-HYPERACCUMULATOR AMONG PLANT SPECIES GROWING ON MOLYBDENUM MINE- A BIOCHEMICAL STUDY ON TOLERANCE MECHANISM AGAINST METAL TOXICITY

The aim of this work was to determine metal accumulation by plants growing on three molybdenum-mine zones and their tolerance strategies. The plants from tailing, extracting and non-contaminated zones were sampled with their corresponding soils. The results show that molybdenum (Mo) and copper (Cu) were at toxic levels in soils and their levels varied in 44 collected species from 21 families. Ajuga chamaecistus and Cramb orientalis L. excluded Mo and Cu, respectively. Achilla tenuifollia as Mo-hyperaccumulator with total Mo (1979 mg kg^?1) and then Erodium ciconium with 1308 mg kg^?1 Mo and Conyza Canadensis with 618 mg kg^?1 Cu were moderate metal accumulators. They stored considerable levels of metals in their leaves vacuoles and elevated the levels of phytochelatins, cysteine and glutathione and induced antioxidant enzymes. In conclusion, this study indicated that some collected plants excluded metals. In metal-accumulators, antioxidant enzymes, phytochelatins and sequestration of excess metals were involved in their tolerance mechanism.