Growth and flower quality of four Rosa hybrida L. cultivars in response to propagation by stenting or cutting in soilless culture

Performance of four Rosa hybrida L. cultivars (‘African Dawn’, ‘Ilios’, ‘Maroussia’ and ‘Soprano’) was evaluated. They were grown either on their own roots or grafted (stenting) onto Rosa canina L. ‘Inermis’ rootstock in a polyethylene greenhouse with hydroponics system. Parameters of plant growth and flower quality were investigated for two successive harvesting years (2005 and 2006). Results indicated that, all the cultivars were superior for most of the parameters studied when grafted onto rootstock compared to being on their own roots. Flowering stem fresh weight and diameters, flower fresh and dry weight, flower diameter and length, petal number, leaf chlorophyll content and quality index were higher in grafted plants compared to those propagated by cuttings. However, highest flowering stem length and number were observed in plants propagated by cutting, although not significant as compared with stenting method.     

Improving dairy yield predictions through combined record classifiers and specialized artificial neural networks

A multi-network system, comprising a neural classifier and two specialized neural predictors, was developed for prediction of milk yield from monthly records of Holstein dairy cattle. The classifier categorized records based on high- (≥9000 kg) and low-yields (<9000 kg) after which each set of classified records was fed to a network specialized, or semi-specialized, in prediction of yields for that category. Two differently trained classifiers were developed and compared; one trained with records covering the entire range of milk production, and the other with yields bordering on the cut-off point value of 9000 kg. Training files for the specialized predictors included records from only one yield category while those of the semi-specialized networks contained some records from the other category as well. The classifier trained with border cut-off point yields, had a considerably higher classification rate than the other (99.7% versus 92.3%). In the case of the specialized networks, the addition of records from the opposite category to the training files slightly degraded predictions for the records in the category of their specialization, but considerably improved those of the misclassified records. When misclassifications were marginal, however, the specialized networks produced the highest overall performance. Compared to a network trained with mixed records the combined classifier-predictor system improved the results, although it required an increase in development time.     

Variability of amino acid digestibility of lupin and pea grains in caecectomised laying hens

1. The objective of this study was to investigate the variations in amino acid (AA) digestibility of lupin and pea grains in caecectomised laying hens. The relationship between AA digestibility and chemical constituents of the grains was determined.

2. Twelve variants of lupins and peas were each added to a basal diet at a concentration of 300 g/kg, at the expense of maize starch. The lupin and pea variants were separately investigated in two subsequent trials. Each trial consisted of two 7 × 7 Latin squares, each comprising the basal diet and six diets with lupins or peas.

3. Fourteen caecectomised laying hens (LSL-classic) were individually housed in metabolism cages and 120 g/d of experimental diets were provided for eight days. During the last four days, excreta were collected quantitatively and feed intake was recorded. A regression approach was used to determine the AA digestibility of the lupin and pea variants.

4. Amino acid digestibility of the lupins and peas was high, although significant differences in AA digestibility among the lupins and peas were detected. The digestibility of lysine was in the range of 0.87–0.91 and 0.87–0.93 for lupins and peas, respectively. The digestibility of methionine in lupins and peas varied between 0.80–0.88 and 0.72–0.90. Variations in AA digestibility in peas were more pronounced than in lupins.

5. Significant correlations between chemical constituents of lupins, such as alkaloids, and AA digestibility were detected in some cases, without a consistent pattern. In peas, tannin concentration and the insoluble protein fraction were negatively correlated with digestibility of some AAs, but only when one colour flower variant was considered. Trypsin inhibitor activity in peas was negatively correlated with AA digestibility, particularly for the white flower variants.     

Effects of different irrigation intervals and weed control on yield and yield components of safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.)

A two-year (2008–2009) field experiment was conducted to determine the effect of irrigation management and weed control on yield and yield components of safflower. The experiment was conducted as a split-split plot arranged in a randomized blocks design with three replications. There were two treatments (weedy and weed free) and four irrigation interval water managements (7 days for all stages, 15, 22 and 28 days after six-leaf stages). The results indicated that grain yield was 29% higher in weed-free plots than in weedy plots. Weed competition reduced yield components such as primary branches, petal weight and number of capitulum per plant. Increasing the irrigation interval to 15 days at the six-leaf stage had no significant effects on grain yield, but grain yield decreased by 18 and 29.8% with increases in the irrigation interval to 22 and 28 days, respectively. An increased irrigation interval >15 days had negative effects on yield components like number of capitulum per plant, petal weight and number of primary branches. The highest grain yield (3703 kg ha^?1) was obtained in the weed-free plot, and there was no significant difference between 7- and 15-day irrigation intervals.     

Bacillus pumilus and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia as two potentially causative agents involved in Persian oak decline in Zagros forests (Iran)

The oak decline is known as one of the most destructive complex diseases causing high economic losses around the world, especially in Iran. The main objective of the present study was to investigate the possible role of bacteria as causative agents of oak decline in the Zagros forests of Iran. To do this, stem, root and leaf samples were taken from symptomatic Persian oak trees (Quercus brantii) in different zones of Zagros forests (Ilam Province, Iran). From 150 bacterial isolates, 20 showed pathogenicity against Geranium seedlings. Among 20 hypersensitivity test positive strains, four strains showed pathogenicity against oak saplings. Based on morphological and 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, three strains were identified as Bacillus pumilus and one strain as non‐sporulating Gram‐negative Stenotrophomonas maltophilia. Pathogenicity studies of different B. pumilus and S. maltophilia strains revealed that they have potential to cause the disease in oak saplings and symptoms of disorder in Persian oak trees. To our knowledge, there are no previous records of B. pumilus and S. maltophilia causing decline on Fagaceous trees like Q. brantii. More detailed field and molecular studies are required to confirm the absolute role of such bacteria in occurrence of oak decline in Zagros forests.     

The study of seed yield and seed yield components of lentil (Lens culinaris Medik) under normal and drought stress conditions

In this study yield and seed yield components of twenty lentil (Lens culinaris Medik) genotypes were compared in a split plot RCBD based design with 3 replications at the Zanjan University Research Farmland in 2004. The main plots were lentil planted under drought stress and non stress (irrigation) condition and subplots were twenty of genotype lentil. There were significant differences between traits in lentil genotypes. The seed yield per plant was sensitive to drought stress but 100 seed weight was more tolerance and stable trait in drought condition. As correlation analysis of traits in various stress condition, the harvest index, seed yield per plant, pods per plant and biological yield were correlated with grain yield. In addition harvest index, seed yield per plant, pods/plant and biological yield were the most important traits that have a relationship with grain yield.     

The analysis of <Emphasis Type="Italic">groEL</Emphasis> gene in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Salmonella enterica</Emphasis> subspecies <Emphasis Type="Italic">enterica</Emphasis> serovar Typhimurium isolated from avians by PCR-Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism method

Salmonella enterica subspecies enterica serovar Typhimurium causes food-borne outbreaks and systemic diseases in humans and animals. groEL gene (also known as mopA gene in S. Typhimurium), possessing conserved sequence, plays an important role in invasion of bacteria. The purpose of present study was to identify the polymorphism of groEL gene among different avians in different regions by PCR-RFLP method. Fifty two S. Typhimurium isolates (Broiler (n = 13), Layer (n = 12), Duck (n = 5), Goose (n = 5), Sparrow (n = 8), Canary (n = 3), Pigeon (n = 5) and Casco parrot (n = 1). were identified using serotyping as well as multiplex-PCR. Then, amplification of groEL gene performed and amplified products subjected to restriction digestion with BsuRI enzyme. Three RFLP profiles, A, B and C, generated DNA fragments between approximately 100–1,000 bp in size, were observed. The RFLP profile A was observed in 35 (67.3%), profile B in 14 (26.9%) and profile C in 3 (5.77%) of isolates. S. Typhimurium isolates recovered from 13 broilers (two of which profile A, 9 profile B and 2 profile C) and from 8 sparrows (two of which profile A, 5 profile B and 1 profile C) showed all three profiles, but 12 layers and other avians (including Canary (n = 3), Goose (n = 5), Duck (n = 5), Pigeon (n = 5) and Casco parrot (n = 1)) showed profile A. None of these profiles was allotted for a special region. The result of present study showed that S. Typhimurium undergoes genetic mutations in groEL gene under unpleasant milieu in different regions and in different avians. Thus, genetic diversity, despite conserved nature of groEL gene in S. Typhimurium, may exist but it depends on the condition where bacteria have settled. To our knowledge, three RFLP profiles of groEL gene generated by BsuRI restriction enzyme were not reported previously.     

Broiler litter and inorganic fertilizer effects on seed yield and productivity of buckwheat and fenugreek in row intercropping

We present data of a 2 years field experiment on influence of intercropping and N source on yield and yield components of fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum)–buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum) intercrops. The experiment was conducted at the research farm, College of Agriculture, Shahrekord, Iran during 2014 and 2015. Treatments included sole cropping of fenugreek (F), sole cropping of buckwheat (B), and three intercropping ratios. Second factor was N fertilizer type: mineral chemical fertilizer (CF) or broiler litter (BL). Intercropping improved yield of fenugreek and buckwheat compared with sole cropping and BL was the more effective fertilizer especially in intercrops. Fenugreek and buckwheat in intercrops used available environmental resources for increasing pods plant^?1, seeds pod^?1, 1000-seed weight, and harvest index (HI) (for fenugreek) and clusters plant^?1 and 1000-seed weight (for buckwheat) compared to the respective sole crops in both years. The resulting land equivalent ratios (LERs) of intercrops varied from 0.99 to 1.72 and the highest LER was observed in F:B = 2:1 treated with BL. This study shows a potential yield benefit of fenugreek–buckwheat intercropping under semiarid growing conditions when planting fenugreek and buckwheat at a ratio of 2:1, respectively, and applying BL compared with sole cropping with inorganic fertilizer application.     

Evaluation of HYDRUS-2D model to simulate the loss of nitrate in subsurface controlled drainage in a physical model scale of paddy fields

Agriculture is a major source of nitrogen usage and release to environment. Due to the effect of water movement on solute transport, investigating the effect of different management scenarios of irrigation and drainage could be useful for reducing nitrate loss and environmental pollution. This study is a scientific attempt to assess the ability of HYDRUS-2D model to simulate the effect of subsurface controlled drainage on nitrate loss of paddy fields. So, two physical models with difference in depth of subsurface controlled drainage (40 and 60 cm) were constructed. The tanks were filled with loam silty soil texture and then transplanted rice. 90 kg/ha potassium nitrate fertilizer was added in two stages of rice growth. Mid-season drainage was applied 26 days after transplantation. After 17 days, drains were closed again and applied flooded irrigation with 5-cm water stagnant layer above soil surface. During experiment, nitrate concentration of drain water was measured. HYDRUS-2D was calibrated with measured data in 60 cm drain depth and validated with 40 cm drain depth. HYDRUS-2D could simulate nitrate concentration with the coefficient of determination 0.95 and 0.89 in calibration and validation stages, respectively. The comparison between the volume of drain water and nitrate concentration from the drains in the depths of 40 and 60 cm indicated lower nitrate load in depth of 40 cm. The results obtained proved that the presence of hardpan layer in depth of 25 cm rather than the absence of it causes increase in 3 % of average nitrate concentration and reduce in 17 % of water discharge.     

Evaluation of Anticancer and Cytotoxic Effects of Genistein on PC3 Prostate Cell Line under Three-Dimensional Culture Medium

Background:Prostate cancer is a major cause of disease and mortality among men. GNT is an isoflavone found naturally in legumes. Isoflavones, a subset of phytoestrogens, are structurally similar to mammalian estrogens. This study aimed to evaluate the anticancer and cytotoxic effects of GNT on PC3 cell line under 3D culture medium. Methods:The 3D culture was created by encapsulating the PC3 cells in alginate hydrogel. MTT assay, neutral red uptake, comet assay, and cytochrome C assay were used to study the anticancer and cytotoxic effects of GNT at 120, 240, and 480 μM concentrations. Also, NO, catalase, and GSH levels were determined to evaluate the effect of GNT on the cellular stress. The culture medium was used as the negative control.Results:GNT reduced the production of cellular NO and increased the production of catalase and glutathione, confirming the results of the NO test. Evaluation of the toxicity effect of GNT at the concentrations of 120, 240, and 480 μM using comet assay showed that this chemical agent induces apoptosis in PC3 cells in a dose-dependent manner. As the level of cytochrome C in PC3 cells treated with different concentrations of GNT was not significantly different from that of the control, GNT could induce apoptosis in PC3 cells through the non-mitochondrial pathway. Conclusion:The findings of this study disclose that the anticancer effect of GNT on PC3 cells under 3D culture conditions could increase the effectiveness of treatment. Also, the cell survival rate is dependent on GNT concentration. Key Words: Apoptosis, Genistein, Three-dimensional cell culture