Seroepidemiology of Neospora caninum infection in dairy cattle herds in Mashhad area, Iran

A seroepidemiology study of Neospora caninum was conducted in Mashhad area, Khorasan province, Iran on 337 cattle from 30 dairy using ELISA. All herds had seropositive cattle and antibodies were formed in 46% of the cattle. Abortion was significantly associated with seropositivity of cattle. The highest risk of abortion was observed in the 1-2-year-old cows. Our results indicate that Neospora infection is widespread in Iran.     

Estimation,interrelationships and repeatability of genetic variability parameters in spring safflower using multi-environment trial data

The present investigation was carried out to estimate the interrelationships and repeatabilities of various variability parameters, i.e., genotypic (σ²g) and phenotypic (σ²p) variances, genotypic (GCV) and phenotypic (PCV) coefficients of variation, broad-sense heritability (h_b²), genetic advance (GA), and genetic gain (GG), using data derived from a number of plant characters [seed yield (SY), days to heading (DH) and maturity (DM), plant height (PH), and thousand kernel weight (TKW)] of 17 spring safflower genotypes grown in 27 environments in Iran during 2003–2005. The analysis of variance for the five characters revealed significant differences among the genotypes in most of the environments, indicating a very high variability within the genotype. High genotypic and phenotypic variances in the quantitative traits, particularly for SY, were markers of increased success. A close correlation between GCV and PCV was observed for all the traits, indicating that all of the characters were less influenced by the environment and that the variability which exists in these characters is under genetic influence; however, the relatively higher values of PCV indicate the predominant role of environment. High expected genetic advances were observed for SY, but this trait showed large fluctuations in different environments (97.4%). High and low mean values of heritability were observed for DH (74.3%) and SY (59.7%), respectively, whereas high and low mean values of genetic gain were found for SY (60.3%) and DM (4.2%), respectively. High heritability coupled with low GA as a percentage of the mean was observed for DH and MD, whereas moderate heritability with moderate GA as a percentage of the mean was exhibited for SY. Analysis of correlation among the parameters showed that they were strongly and constantly correlated with each other, but none of them were consistently well correlated with the heritability parameter (h_b²). Based on estimates of the genetic variability parameters within each trial, the ranking of genotypes in the low-performance subset for all traits differed from that in the high-performance subset. This result indicates poor repeatability for the genetic variability parameters. The estimates of the parameters in the multi-year trials were almost constant and repeatable, whereas the responses over years showed poor repeatability.     

The use of parametric and non-parametric measures for selecting stable and adapted barley lines

This research was carried out to estimate yield stability of 18 barley breeding lines using different parametric and non-parametric statistics across 15 environments during 2012–2015 growing seasons. The results of combined analysis of variance (ANOVA) and additive main effect and multiplicative interaction (AMMI) analysis showed that environments (E), genotypes (G), GE interaction, as well as the first four interaction principal component axes were highly significant, suggesting that the lines interacted differentially with environments, so further general adaptability and stability analysis across environments should be followed before being introduced for cultivation. Based on correlation coefficient and principal components analysis (PCA), most of the non-parametric statistics were significantly inter-correlated with parametric statistics, hence seem to be suitable alternatives to complement parametric statistics. Furthermore, according to the static and dynamic concepts of stability, the results revealed that stability statistics can be clustered into three groups. The overall stability analysis following different stability methods concluded that four lines (G5, G7, G17 and G20) were highly stable for grain yield in rain-fed conditions of subtropical regions of Iran. Thus, these lines can be recognized as the most stable lines for cultivation in diverse environments of semi-warm regions of Iran.     

Decline‐associated Phaeoacremonium species occurring on forest trees in the north of Iran

Between 2013 and 2015, several surveys were conducted throughout forest areas in the north of Iran with the aim of isolating and identifying fungi present on trees showing decline symptoms. Fungal species, isolated from symptomatic wood tissues of various tree genera, including Zelkova, Acer, Parrotia, Quercus, Diospyros, Fagus, Fraxinus, Populus, Pinus, Pterocarya, Gleditsia, Carpinus, Ulmus, Crataegus, Alnus, Mespilus, Punica, Cydonia, Cupressus and Prunus, were morphologically identified and characterized. A molecular identification based on comparisons of DNA sequences of the β‐tubulin gene allowed us to identify seven species belonging to Phaeoacremonium; namely, Phaeoacremonium parasiticum, Pm. alvesii, Pm. minimum, Pm. iranianum, Pm. scolyti, Pm. fraxinopennsylvanicum and Pm. croatiense were isolated and identified. Phaeoacremonium minimum was the most common species and isolated from Gleditsia caspica, Parrotia persica, Cydonia oblonga and Alnus glutinosa. Pathogenicity on selected plants using a mycelium plug inoculation method revealed that most of these species are pathogenic to all the tested trees, with Pm. parasiticum and Pm. minimum being the most pathogenic species. According to host plant species and geographical distribution, the majority of Phaeoacremonium species found represent new records. This is also the first report of Pm. croatiense in Iran and outside Croatia.     

Crop sequences and fertilization affect soil vital enzyme activities

This experiment was conducted in split plots based on randomized complete block design with three replications. Three crop sequences: (R1): chickpea, sunflower, wheat, and canola; (R2): green manure, chickpea, green manure, wheat, green manure, and canola; (R3): canola, wheat, and canola were used as main plots. Sub plots consisted of six methods of fertilization: (N1): farmyard manure; (N2): compost; (N3): chemical fertilizers; (N4): farmyard manure + compost; (N5): farmyard manure + compost + chemical fertilizers; and (N6): control. Results showed that the enzyme activities were higher in the N4 treatment. The highest amount of acid phosphatase, protease, dehydrogenase activity, and grain yield was observed in R2 sequence. The highest urease activity (58.6 µg g^?1 h^?1) was obtained in R2N4 treatment. In R2N4 treatment using in-farm inputs, a non chemical fertilizer system can be carried out to improve soil biological activity.     

Principal Areas of Applying Information and Communication Technologies in the Agricultural Extension System of Iran

This study investigated areas for potential application of information and communication technologies (ICTs) in the agricultural extension system of Iran. Two hundred forty-one extension staff (out of 1,145) in the Ministry of Agriculture were selected and studied as a sample through a stratified random sampling technique. The findings revealed that six factors/components containing 32 variables determined about 68.91% of the variations in the areas of application. The six factors were Management of documentation and preparation of extension information (14.88% of variance), Planning and implementation of extension education programs (13.6%), Professional empowerment of extension agents (10.8%), Expansion of intra-organizational relationships (10.27%), Facilitation of organizational processes (9.7%), and Improving communication through e-mail services (9.64%).     

Expression of membranous epidermal growth factor receptor in colorectal adenocarcinoma and its correlation with clinicopathological features

The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of membranous epidermal growth factor receptor in colorectal adenocarcinoma and it's correlation with clinicopathological features. Fifty formalin-fixed, paraffin embedded archival specimens of colorectal cancer were included randomly as cases. Immunohistochemical staining was performed to assess EGFR expression. The results were correlated with the clinicopathological features of colorectal tumor tissues. More than 1% of membranous EGFR expression was found in 24 (48%) of cancer specimens. The immunoreactions intensity was classified as weak, moderate and strong representing 2, 22 and 24%, respectively. According to multivariate analysis, EGFR expression was not significantly associated with age, sex, tumor site, stage, grade and type of tumor in cases. These results suggest that the assessment of EGFR expression in colorectal cancer by conventional immunohistochemistry has not proven its predictive value and can not be useful to predict about outcome of patients.     

Determination of the best temperature and dry condition in carrot primed-seeds

Seed priming and drying condition effects were investigated immediately after seed-priming and 9 week after the storage. In this experiment, carrot seeds of 'Forto C.V.' were used. These seeds were individually primed for 10 days at 20 degrees C and in PEG (6000) (273 g L(-1)) and KNO3 (200 mmol) solutions. Then they were dried for 1 and 2 h at 15, 25 and 30 degrees C, respectively. One part of the seeds was stored at 5 degrees C in RH/45% For 9 week. Chemical priming effects, drying temperature as well as germination temperature on different traits especially germination percentage were significant. However, drying time had no significant effect on germination percentage after storage period. PEG priming and drying at 25 degrees C for 2 h provided the best condition for germination percentage. Using the best material for pre-priming, along with suitable drying management with appropriate quality and good conditions of the storage is important.     

Assessment of chronic gastritis in pet dogs and its relation with helicobacter-like organisms

The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of chronic gastritis in pet dogs, to determine the histopathologic changes of gastric mucosa and, to determine its relationship with canine gastric Helicobacter infection. Sixty percent (n = 18), 27% (n = 8) and 13% (n = 4) of the examined stomachs showed normal, congested and erosive gastric mucosa respectively. Histopathologic examination was confirmed the presence of chronic gastritis in 40% of dogs (n = 12). Lymphocytic-plasmacytic gastritis was the most common type of chronic gastritis. Gastric Helicobacter was detected in cytological examination of 26 out of 30 dogs (86.6%) but in the PCR analysis, 93% of gastric samples were positive for GHLO. There was no significant relation between the presence of Helicobacters and chronic gastritis (p>0.05). Follicular gastritis was detected in 12 cases (40%) and there was also no significant correlation between its presence and GHLO's infection (p>0.05). In conclusion, chronic gastritis can be considered as a prevalent disease especially in dogs. Nutritional and environmental factors as well as individual immune response may have role in induction of chronic gastritis, but the clinical significance of these histopathologic changes should be evaluated.