Rates of inbreeding and genetic diversity in Iranian Holstein Cattle

The accumulation of inbreeding and the loss of genetic diversity is a potential problem in Holstein dairy cattle. The goal of this study was to estimate inbreeding levels and other measures of genetic diversity, using pedigree information from Iranian Holstein cattle. Edited pedigree included 1 048 572 animals. The average number of discrete generation equivalents and pedigree completeness index reached 13.4 and 90%, respectively. The rate of inbreeding was 0.3% per year. Effective number of founders, founder genomes, non‐founders and ancestors of animals born between 2003 and 2011 were 503, 15.6, 16.1 and 25.7, respectively. It was proven that the unequal founder contributions as well as bottlenecks and genetic drift were important reasons for the loss of genetic diversity in the population. The top 10 ancestors with the highest marginal genetic contributions to animals born between 2003 and 2011 and with the highest contributions to inbreeding were 48.20% and 63.94%, respectively. Analyses revealed that the most important cause of genetic diversity loss was genetic drift accumulated over non‐founder generations, which occurred due to small effective population size. Therefore, it seems that managing selection and mating decisions are controlling future co‐ancestry and inbreeding, which would lead to better handling of the effective population size.     

Suppression of Meloidogyne javanica by Pseudomonas aeruginosa IE-6S in tomato: the influence of NaCl, oxygen and iron levels

Understanding the environmental factors that influence the suppression of disease-suppressive strains of Pseudomonas fluorescens is an essential step toward improving the level and reliability of their biocontrol activity. A 0.8 M NaCl concentration was optimal for in vitro survival and growth of IE-6S⁺ while, nematicidal activity by IE-6S⁺ was maximal when the bacterium was exposed to 0.4 M NaCl. The bacterium was highly sensitive to high (1.6 M) NaCl concentration. Culture filtrate of the bacterium resulting from the medium supplemented with 0.2 or 0.4 M NaCl showed the presence of secondary metabolite, hydrogen cyanide (HCN). Soil amendment with IE-6S⁺ alone or in conjunction with up to 0.8 M NaCl enhanced bacterial efficacy towards Meloidogyne javanica, the root-knot nematode. Soil amendment with NaCl up to 0.8 M also resulted in enhanced bacterial rhizosphere colonization and growth of tomato seedlings. Protein content of the shoot was reduced when soil was amended with 1.6 M NaCl. Inner root establishment of the bacterium was greatly affected in the soils treated with 1.6 M NaCl. Under in vitro conditions, IE-6S⁺ showed enhanced growth when kept at ambient oxygen conditions while the growth of bacterium affected when incubated at low oxygen conditions. Culture filtrate of the bacterium resulting from low oxygen level caused greater mortality of M. javanica juveniles in vitro compared with the filtrates obtained from ambient oxygen conditions. Culture filtrate from low oxygen conditions also showed the presence of hydrogen cyanide while those from ambient oxygen condition did not. Under glasshouse conditions, regardless of bacterial application, nematode penetration rate was greater when the pots were watered from the top; nematode penetration was lowered in bacterized pots compared with non-bacterized controls. IE-6S⁺ applied in the pots either watered from the top or bottom had no significant impact on growth of tomato but protein contents of the leaves increased after treatment with the bacterium. Rhizosphere and inner root colonization of the bacterium increased when the pots were watered from the top. Under in vitro conditions, with an increased iron concentration in the form of FeEDDHA, growth of IE-6S⁺ and its nematicidal activity increased. Culture filtrate of IE-6S⁺ obtained from liquid King's B medium supplemented with 0.5 or 1.0 mM FeEDDHA showed the presence of HCN. Under glasshouse conditions, soil treated with FeEDDHA alone did not reduce nematode penetration rates but did reduce greatly when applied in conjunction with IE-6S⁺. FeEDDHA applied at 0.5 mg/kg of soil in combination with IE-6S⁺ significantly enhanced plant growth and leaf protein contents. FeEDDHA at 1 mg/kg of soil increased bacterial populations both in the rhizosphere and inner root tissues of tomato.     

Plasticity and stability in the major fatty acid content of almond kernels grown under two Mediterranean climates

Summary

Oil contents and fatty acid compositions were determined in 17 almond cultivars growing under two different Mediterranean conditions, in northeast Spain and in central Morocco. The major differences were irrigation management in Spain and higher temperatures in Morocco. Although a cultivar effect was observed for some compounds, the general trend was for an increase in total oil content [58.65% vs. 55.58% (w/w)] and in the percentage of oleic acid [71.1% vs. 68.62% (w/w)] in those kernels harvested in Spain, probably due to having lower temperatures and better water status. As the total oil content and level of oleic acid in almond oil are the major parameters for higher quality almond kernels, these results emphasise the need to optimise the management of almond orchards to improve kernel quality, not only from the commercial and industrial points of view, but also because of their healthgiving properties.     

Phytochemical accumulation and antioxidant capacity at four maturity stages of cranberry fruit

Specific components of cranberry fruit are being associated with human health attributes, such as maintenance of urinary tract health and antioxidant status. Some of the chemical properties and antioxidant capacity of cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon Ait. cv. Pilgrim) fruits were investigated at light green, blush, light red and dark red maturation stages. Fruit total phenolics, total monomeric anthocyanins, soluble solids, titratable acidity and individual organic acids were examined. Antioxidant capacity of fruits were determined by both the ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC) assays. The fruit color was measured using a portable chromameter. A converse relationship was found between total phenolics and anthocyanin as fruits mature. Total phenolic concentration was declined from 7990 to 4745 mg GAE/kg fw, while total monomeric anthocyanin content was increased from 0.8 to 111.0 mg/kg fw from green to dark red stage. Brix was increased from 6 to 9.3% as well. The main organic acid was citric acid determined by the HPLC method. The antioxidant capacity of cranberries decreased to light red stage; when a fruit accumulates more anthocyanin the activity increased again in both FRAP and TEAC methods. Averaged antioxidant capacity measured was 12.61 and 17.48 mmol TE/kg fw by FRAP and TEAC methods.     

The true nature of Ganoderma in Iran: Taxonomy based on ITS and mtSSU rDNA

The genus Ganoderma Karst. has broad‐spectrum usage in biotechnology, medicine and the food industry. The complexity of the morphology within species has led to uncertain identification in the past, but recent advancements in molecular identification methods have provided scientists with the opportunity to better understand the taxonomy of the species. The present study attempts for the first time to elucidate the distinctiveness of the Ganoderma species growing in Iran concerning those elsewhere in the world based on mitochondrial small subunit ribosomal DNA (mtSSU rDNA) and internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequence data. The results disclosed that the G. lucidum Karst. samples collected in Iran are more similar to the European Ganoderma species than to the Asian (Chinese) one used in this study.     

Interaction analysis between slenderness ratio and resin content on mechanical properties of particleboard

The interaction between particle size and resin content is one of the most important structural parameters that can influence the accuracy of predictions about wood-composite properties. We developed three kinds of equation (linear, quadratic, and exponential) for each mechanical property of particleboard based on slenderness ratio and resin content at a constant density (0.7g cm -3 ). Results from SHAZAM software (version 9) suggested that the quadratic function was not significant, but the linear and exponential functions were significant. The interaction between particle size and resin content was analyzed by Maple 9 software. The results indicated that an exponential function can better describe the simultaneous effect of slenderness and resin content than a linear equation. Under constant resin content, particles with higher slenderness ratios increased more in modulus of rupture (MOR) and modulus of elasticity (MOE) than did particles with lower slenderness ratios. Edge withdrawal resistance (SWRe) values did not increase with increasing slenderness ratio.     

Diversity in phosphorus mobilisation and uptake in ectomycorrhizal fungi

• Introduction   

Phosphorus (P) is often the first or second element limiting aboveground net primary productivity of forests. Besides low available inorganic orthophosphate (Pi) concentrations, soil may contain high total P contents, as insoluble mineral P or as organic P. Most plants form mycorrhizal associations that improve their P nutrition. Three main hypotheses have been proposed to explain this positive effect through an increase of (1) P mobilisation from mineral P, (2) P mobilisation from organic P and (3) soil exploration and P uptake. However, the positive effect of mycorrhizal symbiosis may be variable with the fungal species forming the association. This could be due to the different abilities of mycorrhizal fungi to mobilise P and/or to take up Pi from the soil.     

Evaluation of pulp and paper making characteristics of certain fast growing plants

Summary Four species of fast growing annual plant viz.Hibiscus sabdariffa, Crotalaria juncea, Tephrosia candida andHibiscus cannabinus and a variety of reed, Neyraudia reynaudiana were evaluated in the laboratory for their pulp and paper making properties. Data on proximate chemical analysis of raw materials, unbleached and bleached pulp properties, morphological properties of fibres and physical strength properties of paper sheets were evaluated. The unbleached pulp yields were 44.90–53.20% with all the five plant materials, while bleached pulp yields varied from 39.80–50.60%. The average fibre lengths and diameters of the unbleached pulp obtained from the five plant species were within the range of 0.75 mm–2.15 mm and 20–22 pun respectively. Paper hand sheets, made with bleached pulps (45° SR) obtained from the five plant species, gave burst indices 2.75–3.92 kPa m²/g, tear indices 3.73–9.61 m N m²/g and tensile indices 37.27–47.81 N mg^–1, indicating adequate strength properties for writing and printing type of paper.The authors thank Director, Regional Research Laboratory (CSIR), Jorhat, India, for his kind permission to publish this paper. The authors also wish to thank B. N. Tosh, JPF for his assistance.     

Elastic parameters of poplar wood with end-cracks

? In this study, longitudinal specific modulus of elasticity along the grain (specific MOE_L = MOE_L/ρ) as well as radial and tangential shear moduli (G _LR and (G _LT ) of Populus Deltoides wood were examined in free flexural vibration in a free-free bar method, where end-cracks produced manually in LT plane along and parallel to annual rings in four different sizes.

? The effects of four different crack sizes (0, 6, 12, and 18 cm) on elastic parameters of the bars were examined for their vibration properties based on Timoshenko bar equations, in order to find a procedure to make a confident choice of a clear specimen among the cracked ones, considering three initial modes of vibration.

? Based on research findings, a significant correlation existed between radial and tangential shear moduli of the clear bars as G _LR was approximately 15 percents higher than (G _LT . After making the shortest crack sizes, however, this correlation entirely faded. Statistically for 6 cm crack, decreases in specific MOE _L for measurement on the tangential impact were not significant though they were for longer cracks.

? It was also revealed that in specimen under the study if longitudinal specific modulus of elasticity from both LR and LT flexural vibrations were almost equal and G _LR was slightly larger than (G _LT , the user could be confident enough to consider the specimen without severe longitudinal cracks.