Higher grain yield and higher grain protein deviation underline the potential of hybrid wheat for a sustainable agriculture

Grain yield and protein content are traits of major importance in wheat breeding, but their combination is challenging due to a tight negative correlation. Protein yield and grain protein deviation have been proposed as selection criteria to simultaneously improve both traits. Sedimentation volume is an indicator of protein quality, which plays an important role for bread‐making quality in wheat. All these traits have been investigated in our study with 135 parental inbred lines, their 1,604 hybrids and 10 commercial check varieties evaluated at five environments. The focus of our study was to investigate the usefulness of the grain protein deviation and to define a bivariate model for calculating the grain protein deviation. Further, we compared line and hybrid wheat for grain yield and quality‐related parameters such as protein content and sedimentation volume. The grain protein deviation determined with a bivariate model delivered robust estimates of variance components and enabled a balanced selection of genotypes with improved protein content and grain yield across different quality classes. Although heterosis for protein content and sedimentation volume was negative, hybrids had a higher grain protein deviation as well as higher grain yield at a given sedimentation volume or a given protein content than line varieties.     

Preparation and characterization of Ceftazidime loaded electrospun silk fibroin/gelatin mat for wound dressing

Fabrication of Ceftazidime (CTZ) loaded silk fibroin/gelatin (SF/GT) nanofibers (NFs) without the loss of structure and bioactivity of CTZ was demonstrated by electrospinning method. The structure, morphology and mechanical properties of the electrospun SF/GT nanofibrous mats were characterized using FT-IR, SEM and DSC. The drug release profile of different electrospun fibers was analyzed using spectrophotometric method, and also diffusion method was applied to assess the antibacterial effect of NFs. Cell viability was evaluated by MTT assay. The results show that the average diameter of drug loaded NFs at the optimum polymer to drug feeding ratio (10:1) was 276.55±35.8 nm, while increasing the feeding ratio to 1:1 increases the average diameter to 825.02±70.3 nm. FT-IR of drug loaded NFs was revealed that CTZ was successfully encapsulated into NFs while viability study approved cytocompatibility of SF/GT NFs. CTZ was released from NFs during 6 h, and formation of inhibition zone in diffusion test demonstrated the antibacterial effect of drug loaded NFs. Altogether, the CTZ loaded SF/GT NFs can improve the drug effectiveness particularly in the prevention of post-surgical adhesions and infections for wound dressing.     

Siberian sturgeon (Acipenser baerii) larvae fed Artemia nauplii enriched with poly‐β‐hydroxybutyrate (PHB): effect on growth performance,body composition,digestive enzymes,gut microbial community,gut histology and stress tests

The effects of feeding Artemia nauplii enriched with or without poly‐β‐hydroxybutyrate (PHB) and/or highly unsaturated fatty acids (HUFA) on Siberian sturgeon (Acipenser baerii) larvae were investigated. Feeding larvae with PHB‐enriched nauplii (PHB, PHB + HUFA) decreased the growth performance of the larvae. PHB affected the body composition by increasing the lipid content of the whole body and decreasing total saturated, monoenoic, n3, n6 and decosahexanoeic acid (DHA) in the larvae, indicating that the PHB addition affected lipid metabolism. A high activity of pepsin was observed in the digestive extracts of PHB treatments (PHB, PHB + HUFA), while PHB suppressed amylase activity in the intestine of the larvae. Based on molecular analysis, PHB changed the microbial community in the distal intestine of the larvae. The highest counts of goblet cells were observed in the HUFA‐containing treatments (HUFA, PHB + HUFA), indicating that HUFA addition may improve the mucosal barrier defence system. The overall quality of the larvae was evaluated by exposing them to different salinities and ammonia stress levels. PHB decreased survival rates in these challenges. Our results show that optimal PHB doses for bio‐encapsulation into Artemia remain to be determined for further application at the earliest larval stages of sturgeon.     

Genetic diversity and gene-pool subdivisions of diploid D-genome <Emphasis Type="Italic">Aegilops tauschii</Emphasis> Coss. (Poaceae) in Iran as revealed by AFLP

The diploid goatgrass Aegilops tauschii is considered the D-genome donor of bread wheat and has probably a centre of diversity in north of Iran. In order to measure the genetic diversity of and the relationships among different populations, varieties and subspecies belonging to Ae. tauschii in Iran, DNA was extracted from 48 accessions of Ae. tauschii collected across the geographic range of the species in the Country and the genetic diversity was assessed using AFLPs based on eight PstI/MseI +3 primer pairs resulted in 277 bands, 198 of which were polymorphic. High level polymorphism was detected, with an average of polymorphism rate of 0.715; relatively low genetic similarity (0.455) between accessions and significant difference between the lowest (0.179) and the highest genetic similarity (0.817). The Iranian Ae. tauschii populations showed high level of genetic diversity. The populations studied were divided into two groups: one group was mainly representing Northern populations collected from Southern Caspian Sea shore and the other group was mainly representing Northeast and Northwest populations. Based on the results of this study, it can be suggested that Ae. tauschii possesses two separate gene-pools in Iran: Northern and Northeastern–Northwestern. Considering the needs for introducing new characteristics and alleles for wheat improvement purposes, Ae. tauschii Iranian gene-pool is assumed to be of high importance for more investigation in the future.     

No detected hepatitis B virus-DNA in thalassemic patients infected by hepatitis C virus in Kerman province of Iran

This research was aimed to investigate the prevalence and clinical impact of occult HBV infection in thalassemic patients with chronic HCV infection. In this cross-sectional study we have totally examined 60 patients suffering HBV and HCV infections by PCR and RT-PCR methods, respectively, in Kerman province of Iran. ELISA technique (RADIM, Italy) was used to detect anti-HBc, anti-HBs and HBsAg. The serum level of liver enzymes (SGOT, SGPT, DB, TB and ALK) were analyzed in the HCV infected patients (MAN, IRAN). Statistical analyses performed using t-test and Chi-square. We found that 27 cases (out of 60) were infected by HCV but HBV-DNA was not seen in HCV infected patients. Present findings also showed that none of samples were HBsAg positive but 9 (33%) (out of 27) HCV-RNA positive patients were anti-HBc positive and 11 (40.7%) were positive for anti-HBs. We found that SGOT, SGPT, DB, TB and ALK are above normal in 27 (100%), 19(70.3%), 12(44.5%), 15 (55.5%) and 15 (55.5%) RNA-HCV positive patients, respectively. The prevalence of hepatitis C infection is very high in thalassemic patients and based on other studies our results showed that the prevalence of HCV infection in Kerman is more than other provinces of Iran. In contrast with other studies HBV-DNA in these patients could not be detected, hence, it seems that occult HBV infection isn't frequent in Iranian thalassemic patients who suffering from chronic HCV infection.     

Antioxidants and glycine can improve the developmental competence of vitrified/warmed ovine immature oocytes

Despite the numerous potential applications of oocyte cryopreservation, the poor success rate has limited its practical applications. In livestock, particularly in ovine, the oocytes have low developmental competence following vitrification/warming process. Considering the occurrence of osmotic and oxidative stresses during the vitrification/warming process, the application of antioxidants and osmolytes may improve the developmental competence of vitrified/warmed oocytes. In the present study, we aimed to evaluate the effects of the addition of ascorbic acid (AA) and N‐acetyl cysteine (NAC) as antioxidants and glycine as an organic osmolyte either to the vitrification/warming solutions (VWS) or to the IVM medium on the developmental competence of vitrified/warmed ovine germinal vesicle stage oocytes. The survival rate in the vitrified groups was significantly lower than fresh ones. In vitrified/warmed oocytes, there was no significant difference in survival rate between supplemented and non‐supplemented groups. The addition of AA and/or NAC to the VWS or IVM medium and adding glycine to the IVM medium reduced the proportion of apoptotic oocytes and fragmented embryos, which was reflected as an increase in the proportions of metaphase II stage oocytes and blastocyst production. The best result was achieved by supplementing the IVM medium with NAC. In our study condition, antioxidants and glycine could improve the developmental competence of vitrified/warmed ovine immature oocytes, especially when added during IVM.     

Distribution and activity levels of matrix metalloproteinase 2 and 9 in canine and feline osteosarcoma

Overexpression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) has been associated with increased tumor aggressiveness and metastasis dissemination. We investigated whether the contrasting metastatic behavior of feline and canine osteosarcoma is related to levels and activities of MMP2 and MMP9. Zymography and immunohistochemistry were used to determine expression levels of MMP2 and MMP9 in canine and feline osteosarcoma. Using immunohistochemistry, increased MMP9 levels were identified in most canine osteosarcomas, whereas cat samples more often displayed moderate levels. High levels of pro-MMP9, pro-MMP2, and active MMP2 were detected by gelatin zymography in both species, with significantly higher values for active MMP2 in canine osteosarcoma. These findings indicate that MMP2 is probably involved in canine and feline osteosarcoma and their expression and activity could be associated with the different metastatic behavior of canine and feline osteosarcoma.     

The feasibility of using an industrial sewage sludge produce in Pakistan as agricultural fertilizer used for cultivation of Sorghum bicolor L

Abstract

In the present study we evaluate the feasibility of using untreated industrial sewage sludge by liming before use as a fertilizer, produced in Pakistan. In a pots experiment, limed industrial sewage sludge (LSW) and non-limed sewage sludge (NLSW), were amended with soil separately and grown sorghum. After maturity, the sorghum grains were analysed for total contents of potentially toxic metals (TPTM), As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn. The proportion of different mobility fractions of each element in LWS and NLSW, a modified BCR sequential extraction procedure (Community Bureau of Reference) and single extractions with mild extractants (deionized water and CaCl₂) were used. In LSW, the availability of most of the elements under study was reduced, probably due to the increased pH of soil, while this was the reverse in the cases of Cd and Cu, their mobility was slightly increased by lime-treated sludge. The sorghum grains grown in LSW have low level As, Cr, Ni, Pb and Zn as compared to grains grown in NLSW, except Cu and Cd, which, however, never exceeded legal limits. Thus the research showed that liming, by augmenting soil alkalinity, allows a safe agricultural use even of industrial sludge, which is environmentally hazardous for its great content of heavy metals.     

Effect of Drought Stress and Different Levels of Nitrogen and Potassium Fertilizers on the Accumulation of Osmolytes and Chlorophyll in Rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Gesunde Pflanzen - Management of plant nutrition using fertilizers is an approach to deal with drought and to increase water productivity in paddies. The aim of this study, therefore, was to...     

A new species of the genus Xiphinema Cobb 1913 (Nematoda: Longidoridae) from north and northwest Iran

European Journal of Plant Pathology - Five populations of a new dagger nematode species were recovered from natural grasslands and forests of north and northwest Iran, and described based upon...