Protein quality of four types of edible mushrooms found in Jordan

This study was conducted to determine the protein quality of four types ofedible mushrooms, Terfezia claveryi, Pleurotus ostreatus, Tricholoma terreum and Agaricus macrosporus that are common inJordan. Protein efficiency ratio (PER) and net protein utilization methods(NPU) were used. The four mushroom types failed to support growth asreflected by negative values for PER; –1.76 for T. claveryi; –0.23 for P. ostreatus; –0.98 for T. terreum and–0.41 for A. macrosporus. The NPU_(op), NPU_(st)and NdpE% for T. claveryi were 32.6, 33.9 and 3.89%,respectively. The respective values for P. ostreatus were 38.5, 40.7and 4.35%; T. terreum 29.1, 29.8 and 3.63%; and A.macrosporus 31.5, 32.9 and 3.91%. The results showed that the fourmushrooms were significantly (p 0.05) lower in protein qualitycompared with casein results (NPU_(op), NPU_(st) andNDpE% of 78.5, 86.4 and 7.16%, respectively.     

Evaluation of Tunisian milk quality in dairy herds: Inter‐relationship between chemical,physical and hygienic criteria

The objective of this paper was to evaluate the global milk quality in Tunisian dairy herds. Samples of milk were analyzed for chemical, physical and hygienic parameters. Milk total solids, fat content and density were consistently correlated and one of them can be used as a chemical indicator of milk quality. The somatic cell count value of 689 × 10³/mL was higher than the recommended threshold. All milk samples were positive for the major pathogen Staphylococcus aureus. These hygienic parameters were related more closely with chloride content, minerals and electrical conductivity, which allows them to be used as indicators of mammary gland infection. It was concluded that milk producers have at hand rapid and easy tools for assessing the overall quality of milk.     

Generation of pathogenic F1 progeny from crosses of Phytophthora infestans isolates differing in ploidy

Ten Phytophthora infestans isolates were analysed for maximal growth rate (μ_max), sporulation capacity (K), ploidy and the ability to produce infective F₁ progeny when combined in different crosses on tomato leaflets. Ploidy was determined using three different methods: simple sequence repeats (SSR, microsatellites), allele quantification at F382Y in the RNA polymerase, and flow cytometry. Eight out of 10 isolates were classified as diploid, the other two as triploid. There was no correlation between ploidy, growth rate and sporulation capacity although the latter was rather low for triploid isolates. Ten crosses were investigated in tomato leaflets (five 2n × 2n; four 2n × 3n; one 3n × 3n). Oospore production was observed in all crosses independent of parental ploidy. Germination and pathogenicity of oospores were investigated by measuring the number of infection sites (pathogenic F₁ progeny) over a time period of 72 days. All crosses containing a triploid parent produced many fewer F₁ isolates than 2n × 2n crosses. The generation of pathogenic F₁ progeny isolates was best for 2n × 2n crosses. A total of 319 F₁ offspring were produced and analysed for mating type and ploidy; a subset was tested for ploidy with all three methods. For 2n × 2n crosses, the majority of offspring were diploid, whereas in crosses containing one or two triploid parents, diploid, triploid and trisomic offspring were observed. The results suggest that less pathogenic F₁ progeny isolates are produced if at least one parent is triploid.     

Effect of Meloxicam on Pregnancy Rate of Recipient Heifers Following Transfer of In Vitro Produced Embryos

The main objective of this study was to determine if administration of meloxicam, a cyclooxygenase (COX) two inhibitor, to heifers in which embryo transfer (ET) is more difficult and requires a greater manipulation of the tract, would be beneficial. Nulliparous recipient heifers were divided in two groups: CON (n = 102), in which animals received 10 ml of saline IM (the same volume of meloxicam) and MEL (n = 105) animals that were treated with meloxicam. According to the degree in passing the catheter, recipients from both groups were classified as Grade I, easy (< 60 s), and Grade II (more than 80 s), difficult. Immediately after embryo transfer, MEL recipients received an injection of 200 mg of meloxicam (10 ml).There was no difference in the pregnancy rates on Day 35 considering animals which presented Grade I cervix independently whether the treatment was performed or not (p = 0.22). There was a statistical difference in the pregnancy rates (p < 0.01) between both groups (49.0% and 66.7% for CON and MEL, respectively) when cervical grade was not considered, on Day 35. Considering the animals that presented Grade II cervix, the pregnancy rate was higher for MEL (21.15% and 78.84%, respectively) in both examinations (p < 0.01).The authors concluded that meloxicam had a positive influence on general pregnancy rate of treated heifers in comparison to non‐treated heifers. It was also observed that pregnancy rate was not influenced by meloxicam administration in Grade I heifers. Treatment increased the pregnancy rate of Grade II heifers.     

Seed Development,Oil Accumulation and Fatty Acid Composition of Drought Stressed Rapeseed Plants Affected by Salicylic Acid and Putrescine

Two field experiments were carried out in 2017 and 2018 to evaluate the impacts of salicylic acid (1?mM SA) and putrescine (1?mM Put) on leaf osmolytes, seed reserve and oil accumulation and fatty acid composition of rapeseed (Brassica napus L.) under different watering levels (irrigations after 70 and 150?mm evaporation as normal irrigation and severe drought stress, and 70?→?90?→?110?→?130?→?150 and 70?→?100?→?130→150 as gradual and moderately gradual water deficits, respectively). The experiments were laid out as split plot on the bases of randomized complete block design in three replications. Water stress increased the contents of glycine betaine, proline, soluble sugars, and proteins. Application of SA and Put further enhanced the contents of glycine betaine and soluble sugars, while reduced proline content of leaves. Seed filling duration, seeds per plant, plant biomass and seed yield were decreased with increasing irrigation intervals. Exogenous SA and Put enhanced all of these parameters under different irrigation intervals. Oil accumulation in seeds was diminished as water stress severed. The gradual water deficit considerably reduced the impacts of drought stress on yield related traits and oil content per seed, due to stress acclimation of plants. Oil content of seeds was augmented by SA and Put treatments through prolonging seed filling duration, particularly under limited irrigations. Percentages of palmitic acid and stearic acid (saturated fatty acids) were not affected by water limitation. However, unsaturated fatty acids of linoleic and linolenic acids were reduced, and oleic acid was enhanced due to water shortage. Unsaturation index was improved by SA and Put treatments under severe water stress as a result of decreasing oleic acid and increasing linoleic and linolenic acids contents. The SA spray was the best treatment for improving rapeseed seed and oil production under normal and stressful conditions.

     

Relationship among vegetative growth and nutrient elements in the scion of different Persian lime accessions and its effect on WBDL phytoplasma

Journal of Plant Diseases and Protection - Nutrient elements have a significant role in plant physiology and metabolism, and the concentration of nutrients in the plant depends on plants genetic...     

Simulation of 1D surface and 2D subsurface water flow and nitrate transport in alternate and conventional furrow fertigation

Increasing water and fertilizer productivity stands as a relevant challenge for sustainable agriculture. Alternate furrow irrigation and surface fertigation have long been identified as water and fertilizer conserving techniques in agricultural lands. The objective of this study was to simulate water flow and fertilizer transport in the soil surface and in the soil profile for variable and fixed alternate furrow fertigation and for conventional furrow fertigation. An experimental data set was used to calibrate and validate two simulation models: a 1D surface fertigation model and the 2D subsurface water and solute transfer model HYDRUS-2D. Both models were combined to simulate the fertigation process in furrow irrigation. The surface fertigation model could successfully simulate runoff discharge and nitrate concentration for all irrigation treatments. Six soil hydraulic and solute transport parameters were inversely estimated using the Levenberg–Marquardt optimization technique. The outcome of this process calibrated HYDRUS-2D to the observed field data. HYDRUS-2D was run in validation mode, simulating water content and nitrate concentration in the soil profiles of the wet furrows, ridges and dry furrows at the upstream, middle and downstream parts of the experimental field. This model produced adequate agreement between measured and predicted soil water content and nitrate concentration. The combined model stands as a valuable tool to better design and manage fertigation in alternate and conventional furrow irrigation.