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.     

White striping prevalence and its effect on meat quality of broiler breast fillets under commercial conditions

White striping (WS), characterized by white striations on the Pectoralis major muscle, is an emerging problem for the broiler industry. Thus, the impact of WS on meat quality has become a current research topic. In this context, a 2‐year follow‐up study, to reveal the prevalence of WS in broiler integrations, was undertaken. Additionally, a laboratory experiment was conducted to determine the oxidative quality during storage and the differences in proximate composition, colour and fatty acid and amino acid profiles of broiler breast fillets scored visually as normal, moderate and severe. In integrations, the WS incidence increased with increasing broiler age and more than 50% of breast fillets obtained from 32‐ to 35‐day‐old broilers and 36‐ to 39‐day‐old broilers had stripes with different scores. Lower protein and higher fat contents were measured in the moderate and severe scored fillets than the normal fillets (p < 0.001). Severe score stripes induced the formation of less redness on the ventral surface (p < 0.05) and a darker colour on the dorsal surface (p < 0.01). The lowest histidine, arginine and tryptophan amounts were determined in severe fillets (p < 0.05). Moderate and severe scored fillets were rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids implying that they were sensitive to lipid oxidation. That suggestion was further proven by the higher TBARS values. Freeze‐thawing induced the formation of carbonyl compounds, but it did not cause differences in sulphydryl groups. Briefly, we suggest that different WS scores may affect the physicochemical and oxidative quality of breast fillets; however, more studies are needed to assert an accurate and explicit judgement.     

Evaluation of gallbladder volume and contraction index with three-dimensional ultrasonography in healthy dogs

Three-dimensional (3D) ultrasonography has been shown to be an accurate and appropriate tool for measurement of gallbladder volume in humans. Therefore, we applied this novel technique for the first time to study fasting and postprandial gallbladder volume in 10 healthy dogs and compared the results with those of 2-dimensional (2D) ultrasonography. Fasting gallbladder volumes determined by 3D ultrasonography were significantly higher than corresponding volumes determined by 2D ultrasonography (P<0.01). Additionally, gallbladder volumes were significantly decreased in the postprandial state compared with the fasting state using 3D ultrasonography (P<0.001), but 2D ultrasonography showed no significant difference (P=0.189). The Gallbladder contraction index was higher in 3D ultrasonography than 2D ultrasonography; however, it did not reach statistical significance (P=0.25). In conclusion, 3D ultrasonography was able to measure gallbladder volume in healthy dogs in this study. It is suggested that 3D ultrasonography can be used to accurately estimate gallbladder volume and contractility.     

Assessment of growth condition for a candidate probiotic, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Shewanella algae</Emphasis>, isolated from digestive system of a healthy juvenile <Emphasis Type="Italic">Penaeus monodon</Emphasis>

To conquer disease problem in shrimp industries, probiotic biocontrol is a well-known remedy now. The antagonistic ability of separated isolates from different parts of juvenile P. monodon was screened against shrimp Vibrio pathogens, V. parahaemolyticus and V. alginolyticus. The most antagonistic effect was observed for an isolate that primarily identified as Shewanella algae using conventional method followed by Biolog GN and GP microplates. Since adaptability to the host optimum cultural condition of the target organism is of the great importance, response surface methodology, with central composite design, was applied to assess log cell count response of S. algae in different incubation conditions. Therefore, four independent variables were assumed as: temperature (10–50°C), pH (6–10), NaCl concentration (0–50‰) and time (12–60 h). The coefficients of multiple determinations (R ²) for the responses log cell count of S. algae being 0.827. Temperature was the merely significant independent variable that affected the log cell count of the candidate probiotic. The candidate probiotic was revealed a reasonable growth response in quite wide range of temperature, pH and NaCl concentration in which the maximum levels were in same range of optimum shrimp culture.     

森林生态蓄水功能的经济评价(个案研究:伊朗扎格罗斯森林)(英文)

森林生态服务直接或间接地造福人类。本文利用模拟模型和地理信息系统作为工具,分析生态因子对生态系统服务功能的作用,评估了伊朗西部扎格罗斯森林对Bazoft河流域水源保护的经济价值。应用HEC-HMS模型中的曲线数字法对降雨量-径流进行了模拟。该模型需要输入土地覆被、土壤、短期降雨和流出数据。用观测数据并分阶段校对对拟合模型的功效进行了修订。测定了森林在4种设定的土地覆盖方案中保水性和减少地表径流量的作用以及土地用途改变对该区降雨量-径流行为的影响。结果表明:方案一假定该流域全被森林覆盖,总的流出量将最小,降雨初期损失将增加。用重置成本法估算了森林水文功能之保水性经济价值。评估结果表明,每公顷Bazoft河流域的森林可以蓄存84.8立方米水,年产值0.5 US$/m3。因此,每公顷BazoR河流域的森林保水性经济评价值是43US$。说明覆被森林有利于该流域经济发展,该研究有助于决策者选择适当的、经济可行的发展策略。     

Effects of foliar spray of nano-particles of FeSO4 on the growth and ion content of sunflower under saline condition

This study investigated the effects of foliar spray of normal and nano-particles of iron sulfate (FeSO₄) on the response of sunflower cultivars to salinity. Treatments included five cultivars (Alstar, Olsion, Yourflor, Hysun36 and Hysun33), two salinity levels (0 and 100 mM sodium chloride (NaCl)), and three levels of fertilizer application. Fertilizer treatments were the foliar application of normal and nano-particles of FeSO₄. Foliar application of FeSO₄ in either form increased leaf area, shoot dry weight, net carbon dioxide (CO₂) assimilation rate (A), sub-stomatal CO₂ concentration (Ci), chlorophyll content, Fv/Fm and iron (Fe) content and decreased sodium (Na) content in leaves. The extent of increase in chlorophyll a content by foliar spray of FeSO₄ nano-particles was significantly greater than normal form. The results showed that the FeSO₄ nano-particles increased biomass production of sunflower plants greater in comparison with normal form, although no significant difference was found between two forms.     

Changes in carbohydrate contents in shoot tips,leaves and roots of strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa Duch.) during flower-bud differentiation

Flowering is an important step in crop production. Under flower-inducing conditions, biochemical or physiological changes can be recognized. Changes in carbohydrates have an important role in flower development in plants; however, carbohydrate changes during flower bud differentiation in strawberry have not been thoroughly investigated. In this study, runner plants potted in 18 cm diameter pots and grown under non-inducing conditions (28 ± 3/22 ± 3 °C day/night; 16 h day length). When the plants were established, half of the plants then were put under inducing conditions (23 ± 3/13 ± 3 °C day/night; 8 h day length). After the induction period of 21 short-day cycles, plants were brought to non-inductive conditions again. In order to evaluate the carbohydrate changes during flower differentiation, shoot tips, leaves and roots were sampled from four replicated plants collected weekly for the period of 7 weeks. Sucrose, glucose and fructose contents were determined by HPLC, and starch by the anthrone method. The results obtained indicated that the most abundant soluble sugar in all organs tested was sucrose. Sucrose in the shoot tips of induced plants at 42, 56 and 70 days after the start of the short-day treatment were significantly higher than corresponding time in non-induced plants. However, the glucose, fructose and starch contents in shoot tips, leaves and roots of non-induced plants in most sampling dates were greater than those of induced plants. In other words, the shoot tips (bud) of induced plants acted as strong ‘utilizing sink’ and preferentially metabolized carbohydrates rather than storing them. It seems that non-structural carbohydrate contents in shoot tips, leaves and roots of strawberry may have an important role in flower-bud differentiation.     

Immunogenicity of a Fusion Protein Comprising Coli Surface Antigen 3 and Labile B Subunit of Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli

Background: Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) strains are the major causes of diarrheal disease in humans and animals. Colonization factors and enterotoxins are the major virulence factors in ETEC pathogenesis. For the broad-spectrum protection against ETEC, one could focus on colonization factors and non-toxic heat labile as a vaccine candidate. Methods: A fusion protein is composed of a major fimbrial subunit of coli surface antigen 3, and the heat-labile B subunit (LTB) was constructed as a chimeric immunogen. For optimum level expression of protein, the gene was synthesized with codon bias of E. coli. Also, recombinant protein was expressed in E. coli BL21DE3. ELISA and Western tests were carried out for determination of antigen and specificity of antibody raised against recombinant protein in animals. The anti-toxicity and anti-adherence properties of the immune sera against ETEC were also evaluated. Results: Immunological analyses showed the production of high titer of specific antibody in immunized mice. The built-in LTB retains native toxin properties which were approved by GM₁ binding assay. Pre-treatment of the ETEC cells with anti-sera significantly decreased their adhesion to Caco-2 cells. Conclusion: The results indicated the efficacy of the recombinant chimeric protein as an effective immunogen inducing strong humoral response. The designated chimer would be an interesting prototype for a vaccine and worthy of further investigation. Key Words: Recombinant vaccine, Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC), cstH, eltB