New selection strategies for determining the traits contributing to increased grain yield in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) under aluminum stress

Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution - Finding the suitable traits that mediate grain yield under stress condition represent an important challenge to plant breeders in order to improve production....     

Changes of vitamins A, E, and C and lipid peroxidation status of breeding and pregnant sheep during dry seasons on medium-to-low quality forages

This study assessed the changes of plasma vitamin A, E, and C and the lipid peroxidation status of sheep during breeding and pregnancy under drought conditions. The study was conducted on 105 cross-bred fat tailed ewes, 3–5 years old with body condition scores (BCS) of 2.5 to 3.5. The ewes were grazing on medium-to-low quality forages during summer and low quality forages within the succeeding months and had ad libitum access to a mixture of alfalfa hay (40%) and wheat straw (60%) in the afternoons. From 3 weeks before breeding till 1 month after the introduction of rams, 300 g of barley grain/head/day was offered to the ewes and then the supplemental grain was reduced to 100 g/head/day. For better synchronization of estrus cycles in ewes, they were isolated from the rams for at least 2 months and then kept in close proximity of the rams for 1 week before the introduction of the rams to the ewe flock. Then, whole blood samples were collected on days 1, 7, 21, and 120 after ram introduction. Vitamins A, E, and C were measured in plasma. Malondialdehyde (MDA) was measured in the hemolysate as a biomarker of lipid peroxidation. Plasma progesterone (P4) was measured in the samples of day 120 for assessing pregnancy status of the ewes. Vitamins A and C showed continuous and significant declines (P < 0.05) through days 1 to 120. Vitamin E declined only during the first 21 days of the study and remained almost constant till day 120. MDA concentration increased significantly at day 21. An elevated concentration of MDA was also detected at day 120. The difference between days 21 and 120 was not significant (P > 0.05). A positive correlation between vitamins E and C was detected at day 120 (r = 0.349, P < 0.01). Age and BCS did not affect the patterns of changes. Assuming that the ewes with P4 concentrations ≥2.5 ng/ml were pregnant, 95 out of 105 ewes (90.5%) were pregnant at day 120 of the study. Under the conditions of the present study with medium-to-low quality pastures as the main sources of feed, ewes of various ages and body conditions may suffer from oxidative stress during breeding and pregnancy.     

Genetic structure,clonality and diversity in commercial pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) cultivars

Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution - The pomegranate fruit is one of the most important horticultural products due to the presence of polyphenols, anti-oxidant and anti-fungal compounds. In the...     

Modelling the impact of climate change on rangeland forage production using a generalized regression neural network: a case study in Isfahan Province,Central Iran

Monitoring of rangeland forage production at specified spatial and temporal scales is necessary for grazing management and also for implementation of rehabilitation projects in rangelands. This study focused on the capability of a generalized regression neural network(GRNN) model combined with GIS techniques to explore the impact of climate change on rangeland forage production. Specifically, a dataset of 115 monitored records of forage production were collected from 16 rangeland sites during the period 1998–2007 in Isfahan Province, Central Iran. Neural network models were designed using the monitored forage production values and available environmental data(including climate and topography data), and the performance of each network model was assessed using the mean estimation error(MEE), model efficiency factor(MEF), and correlation coefficient(r). The best neural network model was then selected and further applied to predict the forage production of rangelands in the future(in 2030 and 2080) under A1 B climate change scenario using Hadley Centre coupled model. The present and future forage production maps were also produced. Rangeland forage production exhibited strong correlations with environmental factors, such as slope, elevation, aspect and annual temperature. The present forage production in the study area varied from 25.6 to 574.1 kg/hm~2. Under climate change scenario, the annual temperature was predicted to increase and the annual precipitation was predicted to decrease. The prediction maps of forage production in the future indicated that the area with low level of forage production(0–100 kg/hm~2) will increase while the areas with moderate, moderately high and high levels of forage production(≥100 kg/hm~2) will decrease both in 2030 and in 2080, which may be attributable to the increasing annual temperature and decreasing annual precipitation. It was predicted that forage production of rangelands will decrease in the next couple of decades, especially in the western and southern parts of Isfahan Province. These changes are more pronounced in elevations between 2200 and 2900 m. Therefore, rangeland managers have to cope with these changes by holistic management approaches through mitigation and human adaptations.     

Molecular characterization of a Squalene epoxidase gene in dermatophyte pathogen Trichophyton tonsurans

BACKGROUND: Trichophyton tonsurans is one of the dermatophyte fungi which invades the skin and hair of human. Several properties of this fungus have been investigated so far. However a few studies were carried out in the field of molecular biology of this fungus. In the present study, we tried to identify the Squalene epoxidase gene which is related to synthesis of ergosterol in this fungus. METHODS: Pairs of 23 and 24 nucleotides primers were designed from highly conserved regions of the similar genes in other fungi. Mentioned primers were utilized in PCR by using isolated genomic DNA of T. tonsurans whereas the PCR fragments were then sequenced. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Nucleotides (n = 558) have been sequenced from this new gene which encodes a polypeptide with 186 amino acids. Sequences comparison in gene data banks (NCBI, NIH) for this part of DNA and its deduced amino acid revealed significant homology with members of the eukaryotic Squalene epoxidase.     

Chemical composition of oleo-gum-resin from Ferula gummosa

The chemical composition of oleo-gum-resin from Ferula gummosa collected in the northern part of Iran has been studied. The fraction of oleo-gum-resin soluble in ethanol (ca 67 wt.%) is composed by three major fractions: (i) monoterpenes and monoterpenoids (ca 15 wt.% fraction), (ii) sesquiterpenes and sesquiterpenoids (ca 30 wt.%) and (iii) triterpenes and triterpenoids (ca 55 wt.%). The major families of terpenes and terpenoids were identified employing gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry detector (GC-MS). Almost 25 wt.% of oleo-gum-resin was insoluble in ethanol and, according to wet chemistry analyses, assigned to arabinogalactane structurally associated with protein complex (AGP). This arabinogalactan possessed the molecular weight of ca 30 kDa, as revealed by size exclusion chromatography, and the main backbone was constituted by β-(1 → 3)/β-(1 → 3,6)-linked d-galactopyranosyl residues ramified predominantly by terminal α-l-arabinofuranosyl and β-d-glucuronopyranosyl residues, as assessed by 1D/2D ¹H NMR.     

A case of dorso-medial luxation of the radial carpal bone in a dog

Luxation of the radial carpal bone is an uncommon injury in the dog and cat. Previous clinical cases have reported palmaro-medial luxation with injury to the short radial collateral ligament. In this study a case of dorsomedial luxation of the radial carpal bone in a 10-year-old female Gordon Setter is described. A closed reduction of the luxation was performed and a conservative treatment was carried out. Thirteen months after the reduction, the dog had a satisfactory limb function, despite the presence of degenerative joint disease of the carpus. A pathogenic hypothesis for this dorso-medial luxation of the radial carpal bone is proposed reproducing the luxation on canine cadavers.     

Investigation of physico-chemical properties and antioxidant activity of twenty Iranian pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) cultivars

Pomegranate is one of the native fruits of Iran which contains high genetic resources, but there are insufficient information regarding properties of the fruit. The objective of the present study was to investigate the physcio-chemical characteristics and antioxidant activity of twenty pomegranate cultivars grown in Iran. This study showed that there were significant differences among the cultivars in all measured factors except the length/diameter ratio of fruit. The fruit weight, skin percentage, aril percentage and juice percentage were within the range of 196.89–315.28 g, 32.28–59.82%, 37.59–65% and 26.95–46.55%, respectively. The total soluble solids content varied from 11.37 (°Brix) to 15.07 (°Brix), pH values from 3.16 to 4.09, titratable acidity content from 0.33 g 100 g⁻¹ to 2.44 g 100 g⁻¹ and total sugars content from 13.23 g 100 g⁻¹ to 21.72 g 100 g⁻¹. The results also showed that the values of ascorbic acid ranged from 9.91 mg 100 g⁻¹ to 20.92 mg 100 g⁻¹. The total anthocyanins content was observed in pomegranate cultivars between 5.56  mg 100 g⁻¹ and 30.11 mg 100 g⁻¹. The level of total phenolics was varied from 295.79 mg 100 g⁻¹ to 985.37 mg 100 g⁻¹. The antioxidant activity of pomegranate cultivars was found between 15.59 and 40.72%. These data demonstrated that the cultivar was the main parameter which influences the physico-chemical properties and antioxidant activity in pomegranates.     

Rutin from different parts of Capparis spinosa growing wild in Khuzestan/Iran

A qualitative and quantitative analysis of rutin from leaves, fruits and flowers of Capparis spinosa growing wild in Khuzestan was achieved. After soxhelet extraction of fats in diethyl ether, rutin was extracted by maceration using 50% EtOH. The ethanol extracts of these parts were separated by preparative TLC on silica gel precoated plate with a mixture of butanol: acetic acid (4:1, by volume) as the developing solvent. The spots were visualized under ultraviolet light (254 nm). Rutin was qualified by comparison of its R(f) value with that of standard. UV/Vis spectrum of separated rutin was also compared with those of standards and showed characteristic wavelengths at 260 and 360 nm. Purified rutin was quantified by UV/Vis spectrophotometric determination at 360 nm. The calibration curve was linear in the range of 0.156-2.5 microg mL(-1) with detection limit of 0.0731 microg mL(-1). The purity of extracted rutin from leave, flower and fruit determined by high performance liquid chromatography were 90.41, 87.25 and 64.56%, respectively. The amounts of rutin in leaves, fruits and flowers were 61.09, 6.03 and 43.72 mg per 100 g of dried powder, respectively. By analyzing the spiked samples of leave, flower and fruit the recovery of the UV/Vis method was in the range of 102-107.6%.