Composition and electrophoretic mobility of plasma lipoproteins of dromedary camels (Camelus dromedarius)

OBJECTIVE: To determine the lipid composition and electrophoretic pattern of plasma lipoproteins in samples obtained from healthy 1-humped camels (Camelus dromedarius). ANIMALS: 34 healthy camels raised under similar farming and dietary conditions. PROCEDURES: Plasma samples were subjected to density-gradient ultracentrifugation for separation of plasma lipoproteins, including very-low-density lipoproteins (VLDL), low-density lipoproteins (LDL), and high-density lipoproteins (HDL). Purity of the separation was assessed by use of polyacrylamide gel disk electrophoresis. Concentrations of triglycerides, cholesterol, and phospholipids were measured in each lipoprotein fraction, and lipoprotein electrophoretic patterns were determined in plasma samples. RESULTS: Phospholipid was the major constituent of VLDL (mean +/- SD concentration, 10.62 +/- 1.2 mg/dL), LDL (24.66 +/- 3.12 mg/dL), and HDL (38.08 +/- 0.76 mg/dL). Low-density lipoprotein, VLDL, and HDL were important plasma lipoprotein carriers for cholesterol (67.94 +/- 9.51%), triglyceride (55.83 +/- 7.81%), and phospholipid (51.91 +/- 1.55%), respectively. On the basis of electrophoresis results, relative percentages of alpha- and beta-lipoproteins were 31.72 +/- 4.88% and 68.3 +/- 4.68%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The lipoprotein profile in 1-humped camels differed substantially from that of other ruminants. Results may be useful in the evaluation of metabolic disorders in camels.     

Screening of sugar beet tissue culture clones for resistance to rhizomania disease

In this study, sugar beet tissue culture clones were used to screen rhizomania resistant genotypes. At first, explants derived from shoot tips of sugar beet seedlings were transferred to shoot tip elongation media after surface sterilization. Then, the grown shoots were transferred to media containing various hormonal combinations NAA, BA, IBA and GA3 for multiplication, growth and rooting. Later, the clones were transferred to soil-peatmoss mixture were adapted to greenhouse conditions. For screening clones against rhizomania, the genotypes of adapted clones were selected and inoculated to rhizomania-infested soil. This experiment was in a randomized complete block design with three replicates (three inoculation times) in greenhouse. Adapted plants were transferred to the soil containing rhizomania virus. All infested soils were diluted 3 to 7 with sand. After two months, infested plants were examined by DAS-ELISA test also optical densities of the samples were analyzed by SAS program. Significant differences among genotypes and blocks were observed. Genotypes were classified to few groups (ranked from completely susceptible to completely resistant). The difference between blocks was because of difference of inoculation time temperature. Use of clones of each genotype caused an increase in selection accuracy of resistant genotypes. By use of this method, chance of escaping from inoculation factor decrease and researchers can determine to be resistance of plants with high level of confidence and apply in breeding programs.     

Serum electrolyte and nonelectrolyte status in freshwater juvenile Persian sturgeon Acipenser persicus

Status of serum electrolyte and nonelectrolyte variables can be used for managing sturgeon species cultured in freshwater or living in seawater. The aim of the present study was to evaluate serum biochemical variables in clinically healthy juvenile Persian sturgeon Acipenser persicus cultured in freshwater. Serum samples from 11 females and 10 males were analyzed, and levels (mean +/- SD) of the following variables were compared between sexes: glucose (Glc; 5.58 +/- 1.25 mmol/L for females and 8.56 +/- 1.80 mmol/L for males), total cholesterol (TC; 2.50 +/- 0.45 and 2.40 +/- 0.65 mmol/L), triglyceride (TG; 7.13 +/- 2.68 and 5.14 +/- 1.27 mmol/L), blood urea nitrogen (BUN; 1.28 +/- 0.2 and 1.01 +/- 0.2 mmol/L), total protein (TOP; 55.84 +/- 8.77 and 41.44 +/- 8.62 g/L), inorganic phosphate (P(i); 6.19 +/- 1.02 and 5.23 +/- 0.49 mmol/L), calcium (Ca; 2.80 +/- 0.43 and 2.63 +/- 0.32 mmol/L), magnesium (Mg; 0.9 +/- 0.23 and 0.99 +/- 0.22 mmol/L), sodium (Na; 152.80 +/- 13.81 and 156.38 +/- 12.67 mmol/L), potassium (K; 2.64 +/- 0.58 and 2.27 +/- 0.39 mmol/L), and chloride (Cl; 143 +/- 13.85 and 151.67 +/- 21.08 mmol/L). There were no differences in TC, Ca, Mg, Na, K, or Cl between sexes. The Glc value was lower in female Persian sturgeon than in males, whereas the values of TG, BUN, TOP, and P(i) were higher in females than in males. Freshwater adaptation may affect serum ion concentrations in juvenile Persian sturgeon.     

Mapping connectivity and conflict risk to identify safe corridors for the Persian leopard

Landscape Ecology - Many large carnivores depend on habitat patches outside protected areas, as well as safe corridors between them. However, corridor assessments typically ignore potential...     

Chemical control of weeds in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in Iran

Experiments were conducted in 2006–2007 at six research stations of the Iranian Plant Protection Research Institute to study the efficacy of different herbicides to control weeds in wheat. Treatments included mesosulfuron-methyl plus iodosulfuron-methyl-sodium plus mefenpyr-diethyl (WG) at 45 + 45 + 135 g a.i./ha, respectively, sulfosulfuron at 21, 31.5, 42 and 51 g a.i./ha, chlorsulfuron at 15 g a.i./ha, bromoxynil plus MCPA at 600 g a.i./ha with clodinafop propargyl at 64 g a.i./ha, sulfosulfuron plus metsulfuron-methyl at 36 g a.i./ha, mesosulfuron-methyl plus iodosulfuron-methyl-sodium plus mefenpyr-diethyl (OD) at 15 + 3 + 45 g a.i./ha, respectively, and a full season weed-free control. Herbicides were applied at wheat tillering. Results showed that sulfosulfuron plus metsulfuron-methyl, and bromoxynil plus MCPA with clodinafop propargyl resulted in satisfactory weed control and wheat grain yield at most locations. Weed control efficacy of both formulations of mesosulfuron-methyl plus iodosulfuron-methyl-sodium was variable across locations. Efficacy of the OD formulation appears to depend upon location, so that application of this herbicide at Shiraz and Gorgan resulted in better weed control compared to use of the WG. Satisfactory performance of the OD formulation at Gorgan and Shiraz could be attributed in part to the even pattern of rainfall distribution during the growing season and wheat cultivar used, respectively. With respect to grain yield, however, the OD formulation was better than WG formulation at most of the locations.     

Evaluation on Sixty-eight Rice Germplasms in Cold Tolerance at Germination Stage

Sixty-eight rice germplasms were used for cold tolerance evaluation at the germination stage in laboratory. Seeds of rice germplasms germinated at three different temperatures containing low temperature (constant 13°C for 28 days), alternative temperature (a temperature cycle of 12 h at 20°C and 12 h at 23°C for 14 days) and control (constant 26°C for 7 days). Analysis of variance revealed that temperature had a significant effect on germination rate, coleoptile length and radicle length. Germination rate was strongly affected by the low temperature and alternative treatments. Stress of low temperature at the germination stage on the tested rice germplasms caused a reduction in final germination rate and the lengths of coleoptile and radicle. The normal and healthy seeds began to germinate within 36 h after imbibition and germination were completed on the 7th day in the control, but delayed under the low and alternative temperature treatments. The low and alternative temperature treatments delayed the growth of coleoptile and radicle compared to the control, and the average lengths of coleoptile and radicule were strongly inhibited with the decreasing temperature in all of the tested germplasms. Taichung, a semi-dwarf, low amylose content and early maturing rice variety, showed a significantly higher germination rate at the three temperature treatments and its coleoptile length was significantly higher than other germplasms.