Effects of carbohydrate source and polyethylene glycol on maturation and germination of somatic embryos in walnut (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Juglans regia</Emphasis> L.)

Low efficiency of somatic embryo maturation, germination, and conversion to plantlets is a major problem in many species including J. regia L. Germination efficiency of somatic embryos is very low in walnut. In this study, effects of two carbohydrate sources, sucrose and maltose (each at 3% and 6%), and two kinds of PEG (4000 and 6000) (each at four levels of 1.5%, 3%, 5% and 7.5%) on maturation and germination of walnut embryos were tested. The number of somatic embryos increased conspicuously on medium containing PEG. Furthermore, higher levels of PEG-4000 (7.5%) could remarkably enhance the morphogenesis of somatic embryos and the number of embryos produced. PEG-4000 stimulated somatic embryo maturation of walnut. This stimulatory effect was dependent on the carbohydrate source used. Sucrose in combination with PEG-4000 produced 50% of cotyledonary and normal somatic embryos. Different concentrations of PEG were effective on the number of embryos with a shoot meristem. PEG-4000 7.5% and sucrose 3.0% produced the highest rate (50.0%) of normal shooting embryos. However, PEG (4000, 6000) and maltose caused an unfavorable effect and increased the frequency of abnormal shaped somatic embryos.     

Protective immune responses induced by in ovo immunization with recombinant adenoviruses expressing spike (S1) glycoprotein of infectious bronchitis virus fused/co-administered with granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor

Infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) causes tremendous economic losses associated with production inefficiencies and mortality in poultry industry worldwide. In the present report, the recombinant adenoviruses expressing chicken granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and S1 gene of nephropathogenic IBV were constructed and characterized. Then, the immunological efficacy and protection against homologous IBV challenge were assessed in specific pathogen free (SPF) chickens. The results showed that the chickens vaccinated in ovo with rAd-S1, rAd-GM-S1 (GM-CSF fused with S1 using glycine linkers) and rAd-GM-CSF plus rAd-S1 (co-administered) developed specific anti-IBV HI antibodies. Moreover, the fusion of the GM-CSF markedly increased spleen cell proliferation and IFN-γ production while mild increased in IL-4 production, which demonstrated the enhancement of cell-mediated immune responses. Following challenge with IBV, the chickens in the group vaccinated with rAd-S1 fused or co-administered with GM-CSF had fewer nephropathic lesions and showed 100% protection as compared to that of rAd-S1 alone which showed 70% protection. It indicated that the single dose in ovo vaccination of the GM-CSF fused or co-administered with S1 of IBV could enhance significantly the humoral, cellular immune responses and provide complete protection against nephropathogenic IBV challenge. This finding may provide basic information for effective in ovo vaccines design against IBV.     

Thiamine (vitamin B1) deficiency in germinating seeds of Phaseolus vulgaris L. exposed to soaking injury

Exogenous application of thiamine (vitamin B1) during imbibition improved germination and seedling development of bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L. cv. Lasso) seeds, which were exposed to soaking injury by submergence. Leaching of the vitamin into the incubation medium was not increased in submerged seeds. However, translocation of the thiamine reserves from the cotyledons to the seedling axis was reduced in response to soaking injury. After exogenous application of free thiamine to the seeds, thiaminedi-phosphate (TDP), which is the physiologically active coenzyme form of thiamine, accumulated in the seedling axis of submerged seeds, suggesting an increased demand for thiamine-dependent metabolic reactions in these tissues. Limited oxygen supply of the seeds during the soaking period induces a shift from respiration to fermentation of carbohydrates. Neither thiamine-dependent ethanolic fermentation, nor ATP production or adenylate energy charge (AEC) of the seedling axis were affected by exogenous thiamine application, suggesting that there is no limitation of thiamine-dependent reactions in the energy metabolism of the seedlings. Thus the physiological mechanisms improving germination and seedling development of submerged seeds in response to thiamine seed treatment are still not clear.     

Evaluation of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) single cross hybrids under heat stress condition

Sunflower is an important oilseed crop, which shows susceptibility to heat stress. In this study, 63 single cross hybrids were evaluated under heat stress condition for 2 years and compared with the two commercial hybrids. Genotype and genotype × environment (GGE) was used to differentiate single cross hybrids on the basis of multiple traits. GGE biplot showed that several single cross hybrids had higher seed yield potential than standard check. Moreover, seed yield per plant (SYP) was related to pollen viability percentage, showing that achene yield was the product of high gametophytic fertility under heat stress. Hybrids having high seed yield potential under heat stress had lower cell membrane injury. GGE biplot for SYP and its components showed that single cross hybrids were characterized into two major groups. Group I was further characterized into two sub group. Group Ia included hybrids with high 100-SW, while group Ib had the hybrids with high number of seeds per head and head diameter. Group II had the hybrids with high kernel weight and kernel to seed ratio. The hybrids could be recommended according to their potential utilization in the seed industry.     

Performance of Anaerobic Biotrickling Filter and Its Microbial Diversity for the Removal of Stripped Disinfection By-products

The objective of this research was to evaluate the biodegradation of chloroform by using biotrickling filter (BTF) and determining the dominant bacteria responsible for the degradation. The research was conducted in three phases under anaerobic condition, namely, in the presence of co-metabolite (phase I), in the presence of co-metabolite and surfactant (phase II), and in the presence of surfactant but no co-metabolite (phase III). The results showed that the presence of ethanol as a co-metabolite provided 49% removal efficiency. The equivalent elimination capacity (EC) was 0.13 g/(m³ h). The addition of Tomadol 25-7 as a surfactant in the nutrient solution increased the removal efficiency of chloroform to 64% with corresponding EC of 0.17 g/(m³ h). This research also investigated the overall microbial ecology of the BTF utilizing culture-independent gene sequencing alignment of the 16S rRNA allowing identification of isolated species. Taxonomical composition revealed the abundance of betaproteobacteria and deltaproteobacteria with species level of 97%. Azospira oryzae (formally dechlorosoma suillum), Azospira restrica, and Geobacter spp. together with other similar groups were the most valuable bacteria for the degradation of chloroform.     

Perturbation of the EphA2-EphrinA1 System in Human Prostate Cancer Cells by Colonic (Poly)phenol Catabolites

The Eph tyrosine kinase receptors and their ephrin ligands play a central role in human cancer as their deregulated expression induces tumorigenesis with aggressive phenotypes. To evaluate their potential contribution to EphA2-ephrinA1 modulation, several colonic catabolites of dietary (poly)phenolics, known to be generated in vivo, were screened using an ELISA-based binding assay. Some of the catabolites inhibited the binding in a dose-dependent manner (IC(50) values from 0.26 to 43 μM). Functional studies on prostate adenocarcinoma cells revealed that pyrogallol and protocatechuic acid specifically antagonized ephrinA1-Fc-induced EphA2 phosphorylation at concentrations that were not cytotoxic. The active concentrations of pyrogallol appear to be close to what can be reached in vivo under physiological conditions. Finally, because of the roles played by the Eph-ephrin system not only in cancer development but also in neurodegeneration and diabetes, pyrogallol and protocatechuic acid are candidates for more detailed functional studies to elucidate their role in these pathophysiological processes.     

Mycorrhizai associations with some plant species in a soil strip of different successional stages in Egypt

In this study, soil and plant samples were collected from a strip of soil comprising four successional stages from the eastern desert plateau to the Nile Valley, Egypt. On one hand, some essential elements [i.e., potassium (K), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), and sulfur (S)] and water contents decreased on transition from the desert soil to the Nile Valley. Soil nitrite content was the highest in Nile Valley soil and decreased toward desert soil. pH values of the soils did not strongly differ and were moderately alkaline. Root colonization with arbuscular‐mycorrhizae (AM) fungi of 33 plant species (11 cultivated and 22 wild) collected from the study area was highest in eastern desert plateau and decreased toward the Nile Valley. Mycorrhizai spore counts reflected the root colonization data. The decrease in mycorrhizai colonization was explained on the basis of difference in soil porosity, soil water contents, and toxicity of nitrite. Contents of K, Ca or Mg in some species were increased by increasing the colonization percentage of roots by AM fungi. Increasing the infection percentage of roots decreased or maintained the ratio of Na K+Ca+Mg (in meq) in the shoots of investigated plants. The contents of chlorophyll, soluble sugars, and protein significantly increased as a result of increasing colonization value. Also, mycorrhizal root colonization improved the water status of most plant species. These results suggest that increasing infection by AM fungi in the newly reclaimed soil may enable the plants to maintains its internal water status and mineral balance through decreasing the ratio of distressing ions to the nutrient ones.     

Sulfur Alleviates Growth Inhibition and Oxidative Stress Caused by Cadmium Toxicity in Rice

A hydroponic experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of sulfur (S) on growth inhibition and oxidative stress caused by Cd²⁺ toxicity, using two rice cultivars with different grain Cd²⁺ content. Treatments consisted of factorial arrangement of three S levels (0.2, 0.4, and 0.8 mmol), two cadmium (Cd) levels (0 and 1 μ mol), and two rice cultivars (‘Bing 97252,’ a cultivar with low grain Cd²⁺ content, and ‘Xiushui 63,’ a cultivar with high grain Cd²⁺ content). The results showed that Cd²⁺ addition in the medium generally increased Cd²⁺ and malondialdehyde (MDA) content in both roots and shoots; the increases were more pronounced in ‘Xuishui 63’ than in ‘Bing 97252.’ Dramatic reductions in growth parameters, including plant height, root and shoot weight, tillers per plant, chlorophyll content, and net photosynthetic rate were found in the plants exposed to Cd stress relative to the plants without Cd²⁺ treatment. ‘Xiushui 63’ showed more sensitivity than ‘Bing 97252’ under Cd²⁺ exposure. In comparison with the lower S level (0.2 mmol), the higher S levels (0.4 and 0.6 mmol) helped alleviate Cd toxicity, characterized by a significant increase in growth parameters, and a decrease in Cd²⁺ and MDA content in both roots and shoots. In addition, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in the plants varied among tissues, cultivars, and Cd treatments. High Cd²⁺ and MDA content was consistently accompanied by higher SOD activity, and higher S levels caused a marked increase in glutathione content and a reduction in SOD activity, indicating a positive effect of S in alleviating oxidative stress.     

Impact of 12-year field treatments with organic and inorganic fertilizers on crop productivity and mycorrhizal community structure

The effect of manure and mineral fertilization on the arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungal community structure of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) plants was studied. Soils were collected from a field experiment treated for 12 years with equivalent nitrogen (N) doses of inorganic N, dairy manure slurry, or without N fertilization. Fresh roots of tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) grass collected from the field plots without N fertilization and unfumigated field soils were used as native microbial inoculum sources. Sunflower plants were sown in pots containing these soils, and three different means of manipulating the microbial community were set: unfumigated soil with fresh grass roots, fumigated soil with fresh grass roots, or fumigated soil with sterilized grass roots. Assessing the implications with respect to plant productivity and mycorrhizal community structure was investigated. Twelve AM fungal OTUs were identified from root or soil samples as different taxa of Acaulospora, Claroideoglomus, Funneliformis, Rhizophagus, and uncultured Glomus, using PCR-DGGE and sequencing of an 18S rRNA gene fragment. Sunflower plants grown in manure-fertilized soils had a distinct AMF community structure from plants either fertilized with mineral N or unfertilized, with an abundance of Rhizophagus intraradices-like (B2). The results also showed that AM inoculation increased P and N contents in inorganic N-fertilized or unfertilized plants, but not in manure-fertilized plants.