Wild pistachio tree (Pistacia mutica) in the Qalajeh forest region of western Iran

Wild pistachio tree (Pistacia mutica) is considered the most important species in the Zagros forests. It can adapt to unfavorable environmental conditions. To find the suitable ecological conditions for pistachio species, we investigated different environmental factors such as gradient, aspect and position of the slopes through the distribution area. Frequency of pistachio trees in the north and northwest of Qalajeh forests was 36.4% and 1%, respectively. Maximum (32%) and minimum (13%) number of wild pistachio trees were in 30%–60% and >120% slope classes, respectively. The most number and least number of pistachio trees were found at elevations of 1100–1200 m and 2200–2300 m, respectively. The percentage of pistachio canopy coverage was 10. The average percentage of herbaceous coverage was 6.5. Pistachio trees of diameter per hectare at breast height (DBH) >20 cm numbered 5 while average number of pistachio trees was 8 per hectare. Pistachio seedlings per hectare averaged 3.5. The number of other species per ha was 7 trees. The effect of aspect on other species was not significant (p=0.151). Slope class and geographical aspect did not affect regeneration (p=0.275 and p=0.111, respectively). Pistachio plays an important economic role in semi-arid areas, therefore it is essential to protect and restore Qalajeh forests through participation by government and local people.     

Effect of Sodium Chloride on Germination and Seedling Characters of Different Types of Rice (Oryza sativa L.)

The rice eultivars grown in the tropies and sub-tropics can be broadly categorized as aromatic small grain, local coarse grain and modern high yielding varieties (HYV). The first two categories are traditional rice, and are generally palatable. The aromatic rice has better market value than HYV rice, yet farmers are unwilling to expand its cultivation because of the low yield potential. One possibility to expand the cultivation of traditional rice is o t find stress tolerant cultivars for growing in marginal land. The salinity tolerance of nine rice cultivars representing three from each type of aromatic small grains, local coarse grains and HYV types, was analysed at germination and early seedling stage. Seeds were placed for germination and the seedlings were allowed to grow for nine days at NaCl concentrations of 0, 50, 100, 150 and 200 mM. NaCl decreased the germination index (GI), speed of germination, seedling height and seedling dry matter weight. Seedling characteristics were decreased more than GI. In general aromatic small grain type showed more salt sensitivity than the other two types. Among the nine cultivars Shakkorkhora (aromatic type) showed the least salt tolerance in relation to germination and seedling characters while the other two cultivars of the same group showed tolerance as high as the tolerant cultivars in other types. Generalization of group salt tolerance of rice, therefore, has little value from the agronomic point of view at least at early growth stage. As the number of cultivars employed in this study was only three from each type it is suggested that more cultivars be considered for the purpose of salt tolerant improvement programme of various types of rice.     

Assessment of Iranian wheat germplasm for salinity tolerance using analysis of the membership function value of salinity tolerance (MFVS)

Journal of Crop Science and Biotechnology - Salinity stress is one of the most important abiotic stresses which reduce crop production worldwide. In this study, 17 morphological and agronomic...     

Impact of DNA damage on the frequency of sperm chromosomal aneuploidy in normal and subfertile men

Background: Various frequencies of sperm aneuploidy are reported in sperms of subfertile patients compared to normal individuals. Moreover, sperm DNA damage is shown to be associated with male infertility. In this study, the rate of DNA damage and frequencies of aneuploidy in sperms of subfertile patients was investigated. Methods: Semen samples were obtained from healthy normal and subfertile (oligozoospermia, asthenozoospermia, and oligoasthenozoospermia) men. The frequency of aneuploidy was assessed using primed in situ labeling (PRINS) analysis with specific primers for chromosomes 18, 21, X, and Y. Sperm DNA damage was assessed using alkaline comet assay. Results: The mean frequencies of disomy for the patients were significantly higher than normal for all chromosomes (P<0.01). The extent of DNA damage in sperms of subfertiles was significantly higher than in normal individuals (P<0.001). The obtained results indicated that higher rate of DNA damages led to higher frequency of chromosomal disomy except for asthenozoospermia samples which exhibited higher rate of DNA damage and lower frequency of chromosomal disomy. Conclusions: These results demonstrate that men with oligozoospermia and oligoasthenozoospermia have an elevated risk for chromosome abnormalities in their sperm, particularly sex chromosomes. DNA damage might be involved in the process of malsegregation of chromosomes.Asthenozoospermia, DNA damage, Primed in situ labeling (PRINS), Comet assay     

Effect of processing on the in vitro digestibility of proteins and carbohydrates in some Indian legumes

The effect of different types of processing such as boiling, pressure cooking, puffing, frying, germination, and germination followed by cooking on the protein and carbohydrate digestibility of chickpea, horsegram and cowpea were studied in in vitro systems. In the case of chickpea, the protein digestibility was not significantly improved by any of the treatments. However, for horsegram and cowpea, improvement in protein digestibility was observed after some of the different processing treatments. Frying decreased the protein digestibility in all of the pulses. All of the treatments, except germination, caused a marked increase in in vitro carbohydrate digestibility.     

Evaluation of ELISA in the serodiagnosis of bovine farcy

Mycobacterium farcinogenes is the causal agent of bovine farcy, a chronic infectious disease of zebu cattle in some parts of tropical Africa. Whole cell homologous antigen of M. farcinogenes was used in the standardization and evaluation of an enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the detection of circulating antibodies against bovine farcy using sera from confirmed bovine farcy and from bovine farcy-free cattle. The cut-off optical density (OD) value was decided at 1.8 using filter 405nm after one hour of incubation at 37°C. Accordingly, 115 out of 124 (92.7%) serum samples from clinically proven bovine farcy cattle were reported sero-positive. Sera from cattle infected with M. avium and M. paratuberculosis revealed OD value <1.8, indicating the differential diagnostic ability of M. farcinogenes antigen. Our test sensitivity was 92.7% and specificity was 97%, therefore could be routinely employed to support early clinical diagnosis, epidemiological surveys and for screening animals before exportation to farcy-free regions.