Genotypic Variation for Water-Deficit Tolerance in Cotton (Gossypiumhirsutum L.) Germination in Southern Iran

To determine the effect of water deficit on growth characteristics of 27 cotton cultivars (Gossypiumhirsutum L.), two separate experiments were performed in laboratory and glasshouse in Fars Province, Zarin-Dasht city (28° 36′ N, 54° 41′ E) in August 2015. In both experiments, which last for 10 days, a completely randomized block design with three replications was used. The main factor was water-deficit levels ((0, ?4, and ?12 MPa in laboratory and (0 and ?8 MPa) in glasshouse experiments), and the subsidiary factor was different cotton cultivars. The sensitivity to water deficit was compared based on factors such as germination rate, shoot and root lengths, fresh and dry weights, seed energy, and seed vigor. The results of both experiments indicated that Oltan, Opal, Pak, Armaghan, Super-Elit Golestan, Super-Elit Bakhteghan, SB-35, Super-Elit Arian, Khandagh, Tabela-18, and Sahel cultivars are more resistant and therefore are suitable candidates to increase plant density and uniformity in the farm.     

Detection and frequency of Stx2 gene in Escherichia coli O157 and O157:H7 strains isolated from sheep carcasses in Shiraz-Iran

Enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli constitute a subset of serotypes (E. coli O157 and some other serogroups) of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli firmly associated with severe human illnesses like bloody diarrhoea and haemolytic uraemic syndrome. Escherichia coli O157:H7 is a zoonotic pathogen. They rarely cause disease in animals, live in the intestines of healthy sheep and ruminants are recognized as their main natural reservoir, so they can contaminate meat during slaughtering practices. The purpose of this study was epidemiological survey on the occurrence of E. coli O157:H7 in healthy sheep in Shiraz-Iran. Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) assay was developed to detect the Stx2 gene the only bacterial factor that has been associated with more severe disease. During a period of 7 months (December 2005 to June 2006), 153 slaughtered sheep at Shiraz slaughterhouse, were randomly selected and examined for surface carriage of E. coli O157:H7 by conventional plating and Stx2 gene detection by PCR technique. E. coli O157:H7 was found in 6(3.92%) of 153 sheep. The bacteria were isolated from 5(3.34%) of 114 and 1(2.63%) of 38 sheep two or under two and more than 2 years old, respectively (p = 0.5). The contamination rate might vary depending on season, age and infection time. The higher frequency for younger animals may be due to differences in the composition of the gastrointestinal flora resulting from differences in diet. This is the first report of the presence of E. coli O157:H7 in sheep from Iran.     

Hijacking tobacco hairy roots and leaves in order to produce IpaD antigen by means of different signal peptides

IpaA, IpaB, IpaC, and IpaD are Shigella dysenteriae Ipa operon genes which collectively contribute in invasion to the epithelial cells of the human gut. Among them, IpaD has been demonstrated to play the most crucial role in shigellosis. Noteworthy, due to the more efficient, cost-effective and no need for advanced equipment in comparison with traditional systems, plant-based expression systems are considered as a novel strategy for production of recombinant proteins. As an aim of this research, attempts were carried out to examine and compare IpaD antigen production in three different plant-based platforms, including transgenic tobacco hairy roots and leaves as well as a transient based expression. Furthermore, different signal peptides (i.e. Zera® and Extensin) were also employed in order to improve the production level. Based on TAS-ELISA result, the highest yield of IpaD acquired by ER-derived protein bodies (Zera® ) which was more than 1.29-fold higher as compared with apoplastic space based on TSP% in both transgenic tobacco hairy roots and leaves. Furthermore, transgenic tobacco hairy roots were more abundant than transgenic leaves averaging 0.52 ng of IpaD per μg TSP and with a maximum of 0.94 ng IpaD per μg TSP in the best-performing construct of pBI-ZeCIpaD. Totally, the results of quantitative RT-PCR and TAS-ELISA indicated that the best time point for the production of IpaD using agroinfiltration was 72 h post infiltration and during 72 to 96 hpi, expression levels descended rapidly. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report representing and combining the potential effects of signal peptides and plant-based expression platforms on stably production of IpaD antigen in transgenic tobacco leaves and hairy roots.     

Evaluation of the influence of irrigation methods and water quality on sugar beet yield and water use efficiency

Rapid urbanization and industrialization have increased the pressure on limited existing fresh water to meet the growing needs for food production. Two immediate responses to this challenge are the efficient use of irrigation technology and the use of alternative sources of water. Drip irrigation methods may play an important role in efficient use of water but there is still limited information on their use on sugar beet crops in arid countries such as Iran. An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of irrigation method and water quality on sugar beet yield, percentage of sugar content and irrigation water use efficiency (IWUE). The irrigation methods investigated were subsurface drip, surface drip and furrow irrigation. The two waters used were treated municipal effluent (EC = 1.52 dS m⁻¹) and fresh water (EC = 0.509 dS m⁻¹). The experiments used a split plot design and were undertaken over two consecutive growing seasons in Southern Iran. Statistical testing indicated that the irrigation method and water quality had a significant effect (at the 1% level) on sugar beet root yield, sugar yield, and IWUE. The highest root yield (79.7 Mg ha⁻¹) was obtained using surface drip irrigation and effluent and the lowest root yield (41.4 Mg ha⁻¹) was obtained using furrow irrigation and fresh water. The highest IWUE in root yield production (9 kg m⁻³) was obtained using surface drip irrigation with effluent and the lowest value (3.8 kg m⁻³) was obtained using furrow irrigation with fresh water. The highest IWUE of 1.26 kg m⁻³ for sugar was obtained using surface drip irrigation. The corresponding efficiency using effluent was 1.14 kg m⁻³. Irrigation with effluent led to an increase in the net sugar yield due to an increase in the sugar beet root yield. However, there was a slight reduction in the percentage sugar content in the plants. This study also showed that soil water and root depth monitoring can be used in irrigation scheduling to avoid water stress. Such monitoring techniques can also save considerable volumes of irrigation water and can increase yield.     

分子标记法和形态学特征对杏仁栽培种及野生种基因型的遗传关系构建的辨别

应用23个形态学特征,19个扩增片段长度多态性(AFLP)引物组合,80个随机扩增多态DNA(RAPD)引物和32个简单序列重复(SSR)引物对,比较三种分子标记法在29个杏仁栽培种和3个野生种遗传关系构建中的信息景和效率.根据预期杂合度的评价,与AFLPs和RAPDs相比,SSRs具有较高水平的多态性和较大的信息量.AFLPs预期朵合度值最低,但其辨别效率值最高,因为AFLPs能揭示每个反应中的大量条带,导致各种类型的多样性指数均较高.三种分子标记法对杏仁基因型的辨别效率均较高,只是SSRs无法辨别‘Monagha'和‘Sefied'杏仁基因型.三种分子标记法基因型相似性相关系数统计上显著,但SSR数据要低于RAPDs和AFLPs的值.尽管三种分子标记法树形图拓扑结构存在一些差异,但相似性水平均较高.SSRs、RAPDs和AFLPs的系统树图及其综合数据都能依据地理散布反映大多数栽培种的关系.AMOVA检测到每个地理组中栽培种和野生种的变异.辅助程序分析表明,实验所应用的标记物数量足以保证基因相似性估计的可靠性和标记法间的比较是有意义的.     

Effect of different sources and forms of dietary carbohydrates on growth performance,body indices and lipogenesis activity of striped catfish Pangasianodon hypophthalmus fingerlings

A 12‐week feeding trial was conducted to determine a suitable carbohydrate source and form for Pangasianodon hypophthalmus. Ten isoenergetic, isonitrogenous and isolipidic diets, including five carbohydrate sources (dextrin, potato starch, wheat starch, corn starch and sago starch) and two carbohydrate forms (raw and cooked), were formulated. Results showed that specific growth rate, weight gain percentage, whole‐body lipid and 6‐phosphogluconate dehydrogenase enzyme activity of fish fed with cooked carbohydrates were significantly lower (p < .05) than those fed with raw carbohydrates (p < .05). Similarly, the fatty acid synthase enzyme activity of fish fed with the cooked form of carbohydrates was significantly lower (p < .05) than that fed with the raw form of carbohydrates except fish fed with cooked potato starch. The blood glucose level and malic enzyme activity of fish fed with cooked carbohydrate were significantly (p < .05) higher than those fed with raw carbohydrate. In summary, this study showed that cooked starch is an unsuitable dietary carbohydrate form for Pangasianodon hypophthalmus fingerlings. The raw forms of dextrin starch and potato are suitable dietary carbohydrate sources for further scientific studies on the carbohydrate utilization of P. hypophthalmus.     

Ovaprim treatment promotes oocyte development and milt fertilization rate in diploid and triploid African catfish (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Clarias gariepinus)</Emphasis>

Triploid fish are increasingly used in aquaculture because they are generally unable to reproduce successfully. Energy is channeled into somatic growth rather than gonadal development, and in the event of escape, the animals are unlikely to breed successfully among themselves or with wild conspecifics. This study tested the ability of recently matured triploid African catfish (Clarias gariepinus) to produce and fertilize eggs with and without ovaprim treatment. Triploid females did not show the increase in ovary size observed in diploid members of the same cohort between 8 and 9 months of age, or the coincident decrease in visceral fat deposits, and this was unaffected by up to 5 weekly i.m. injections of 0.5 ml kg⁻¹ Ovaprim. However, we observed advanced vitellogenin (Vtg) sequestration in oocytes of triploid females, albeit to a lesser degree and with lesser cortical alveoli, compared to oocytes from diploid cohort members. Histological sections revealed a positive trend of oocyte development up to the third weekly ovaprim injection followed by a negative gonadal development in weeks four and five. Milt from triploid males injected 9–12 h earlier with 0.25 ml kg⁻¹ ovaprim i.m. fertilized more diploid eggs than milt from untreated triploid males (30 vs. 20%), but none of the developing embryos of triploid paternity survived to hatch. In contrast, milt of diploid males fertilized 49% of eggs, and 20% of the developing embryos hatched successfully. These rates were improved in ovaprim-injected diploid males to 70% fertilization and 33% hatch. This study demonstrates potential of overcoming non-viability of eggs from triploid female African catfish, and enhancing the ability of triploid milt to fertilize eggs.     

Identification and antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of bacteria causing otitis externa in dogs

Bacterial agents are considered important pathogens causing external otitis in dogs. It is essential to carry out bacterial culture and antimicrobial susceptibility test in the case of otitis externa, particularly for chronic or recurring cases. Sterile swab samples were obtained from terminal part of vertical ear canals of 74 dogs with otitis externa for cytology, bacterial culture and antimicrobial susceptibility test. Cytologic smears were stained using Gram and Giemsa staining methods. Aerobic bacterial culture performed on blood agar and MacConkey agar. Among total number of 92 isolated bacteria, 68 were Staphylococcus intermedius. Other isolated bacteria included: Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Proteus mirabilis, Escherichia coli, Pasteurella canis, and six other species of coagulase-negative Staphylococcus. Antimicrobial susceptibility test were performed for all isolated bacteria using 14 antibiotics. Based on the results of this study, all isolated Staphylococcus spp. were sensitive to amikacin, enrofloxacin, and rifampin, and had low resistance to gentamicin, cephalothin and ceftriaxone. More than half of gram-positive isolates were resistant to penicillin and ampicillin. Generally, all isolated gram-negative bacteria, were sensitive to amikacin and enrofloxacin, and had low resistance to ceftriaxone and gentamicin. They were highly resistant to penicillin, eythromycin, and cephalothin. Regarding the results of this study, in cases of uncomplicated otitis externa, it is possible to select antimicrobial drugs merely based on cytology, but it is recommended to perform bacterial culture and antimicrobial susceptibility test. However, in complicated or refractory cases, antimicrobials should be selected based on bacterial culture and antimicrobial susceptibility test.     

Variation for stomatal characteristics and water use efficiency among diploid,tetraploid and hexaploid Iranian wheat landraces

Wheat is one of the most important crops in the world. Its study has involved anatomy, ecology, physiology, molecular biology, biotechnology, and cultivation. Knowledge of the relationship of diploid, tetraploid and hexaploid wheat with stomatal characteristics and water-use efficiency is spare and is subject to argument. The present study was aimed to examine different characteristics of stomata in 28 Iranian landraces belonging to the species Triticum monococcum (2n = 2x = 14), Triticum durum (2n = 4x = 28) and Triticum aestivum (2n = 6x = 42), respectively and investigated a possible relationship between these characteristics and water use efficiency by pot cultivation experiments. The results revealed large variation among landraces as well as between the different species for stomatal frequency and size. The diploid wheat species had the highest stomatal frequency and the lowest stomatal length and width. The hexaploid species had a lower stomatal frequency than the tetraploid species. A highly significant relationship was noted between the value of those traits on the adaxial and abaxial surfaces of the leaf. The ratio of adaxial to abaxial values appeared to be constant for a given species. Both stomatal frequency and size were associated with ploidy level, but also with the nature of the constituting genomes of the species. A highly significant negative association was found among accessions between stomatal frequency and size. As a consequence, the variation for stomatal area per unit leaf area was less than for the other traits. Diploid and hexaploid wheat have significantly higher water use efficiency, compared to tetraploid wheat. No clear association was found, however, between water use efficiency and stomatal characteristics.     

The efficacy and safety of long-term Helicobacter species quadruple therapy in asymptomatic cats with naturally acquired infection

Owing to rising drug-resistant Helicobacter species infections in people and animals, currently therapies are losing their efficacy; therefore, regimens efficacious in the presence of drug resistance are needed. This study assessed the efficacy and safety of a 14-day quadruple Helicobacter species therapy in cats with naturally acquired infection. Thirteen asymptomatic adult stray cats with Helicobacter species infection (identified by analysis of gastric biopsies using polymerase chain reaction and Helicobacter-specific primers) received omeprazole 0.7mg/kg q 8h plus amoxicillin 20mg/kg q 12h, metronidazole 20mg/kg q 12h and clarithromycin 7.5mg/kg q 12h, for 14 days. Second molecular analysis of gastric biopsies revealed persistence of Helicobacter species DNA in four cats that were negative on quantitative urease testing, cytology and histopathology. Our results suggest that antibiotic regimens that are effective against Helicobacter pylori in people cannot eradicate Helicobacter species in cats with naturally acquired infection, although transient suppression may occur.