Suppressive effect of composts from residual biomass on Pythium ultimum

Journal of Plant Diseases and Protection - Two experiments were established in the laboratory of the Department of Organic Farming and Cropping Systems and the greenhouse of the University of...     

Effect of growth regulators and explant on plant regeneration of Solanum lycopersicum L. var. cerasiforme

Tomato serves as a model to introduce agronomically important genes into dicotyledonous crop plants and to develop edible vaccines and produce cost-effective therapeutics. This study has developed an efficient protocol of shoot organogenesis for Lycopersicon esculentum Mill. through using of different types of explants and growth regulators. Generally, all explants responded significantly to presence of BAP. Best shoot regeneration for leaf (100%) was achieved on MS supplemented with BAP (2 mg/L) + IAA (0.1 mg/L), whereas it was recorded on MS supplemented with BAP (2 mg/L) and BAP (2 mg/L) + IAA (0.5 mg/L) for cotyledons (95%). In addition, hypocotyls (77%) showed the best shoot response on MS supplemented BAP (3 mg/L). Highest number of shoots per explant was 13.33, 12.25, 7.94 respectively for hypocotyls, leaves, cotyledons. The best medium for highest length of shoot was in the presence of BAP (3 and 2 mg/L) + IAA (0.1 mg/L) respectively for hypocotyl (45 mm) and leaf (40.50 mm) explants. This parameter was achieved for cotyledons (13.32 and 12.5 mm) on MS medium supplemented with BAP (3 and 2) mg/L + IAA (0.1 mg/L), respectively. The increasing of BAP concentration up to 3 (mg/L) causes shoot length to continue developing, but it fell down in the presence of BAP (4 mg/L) due to the toxic effect of growth regulators accumulation. Root formation took place within 10–14 days after culturing on the rooting media. Best root induction (100%) was observed on MS medium supplemented with IAA (0.1 and 0.2 mg/L). All rooted shoots acclimated in phytotron and then cultivated in the greenhouse.     

Manufacturing polymethyl methacrylate nanofibers as a support for enzyme immobilization

Nanofibers have a great potential for enzyme immobilization application due to their large surface area to volume ratio besides their porous structure. In this work, we produce polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) nanofibers via electrospinning method in dimethylformamide (DMF) as solvent. Thereafter, we employ a chemical method on final PMMA nanofiberous web to covalently immobilize acetylcholinesterase (AChE) enzyme on membrane surface. Morphology and tensile properties of nanofibers are studied as first steps of characterization to make sure of obtaining a properly stable membrane for enzyme carrying application. Thereafter, the stability and activity of immobilized enzymes as two main characteristic parameters are tested and reported for different applications such as biosensor manufacturing.     

Strength performance of mortise and loose-tenon furniture joints under uniaxial bending moment

We determined the effects of adhesive type and loose tenon dimensions （length and thickness） on bending strength of T-shaped mor- tise and loose-tenon joints. Polyvinyl acetate （PVAc） and two-component polyurethane （PU） adhesives were used to construct joint specimens. The bending moment capacity of joints increased significantly with increased length and thickness of the loose tenon. Bending moment capacity of joints constructed with PU adhesive was approximately 13% higher than for joints constructed with PVAc adhesive. We developed a predictive equation as a function of adhesive type and loose tenon dimensions to estimate the strength of the joints constructed of oriental beech （Fagus orientalis L.） under uniaxial bending load.