Phylogenetic relationships of fluorescent <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pseudomonad</Emphasis> isolates associated with bacterial canker of stone fruit trees in Kurdistan province,Iran

Bacterial canker is one of the most important diseases of stone fruit trees in various locations of Kurdistan province, Iran. Genetic diversity and evolutionary relationships among 20 fluorescent pseudomonads isolated from stone fruit trees with symptoms similar to bacterial canker were investigated using a polyphasic approach by means of phenotypic characterizations, repetitive PCR using the REP and ERIC primers and multilocus sequence typing (MLST) of four housekeeping genes (gapA, rpoD, gyrB and gltA). The pathogenicity of strains was carried out under greenhouse conditions. Twelve strains produced an expected amplified DNA fragment of about 752-bp which indicated the presence of the syrB gene. Based on MLST, these strains belonged to P. syringae species complex and included in the genomospecies 1, phylogroup 2b and 2d. Phylogenetic analysis of the other eight fluorescent pseudomonad strains by using gyrB and rpoD sequences allowed the identification of strains into P. fluorescens, P. putida and P. lutea groups. Unweighted pair group method analysis (UPGMA) of genomic fingerprints obtained by rep-PCR revealed 17 different patterns which grouped P. syringae strains into three clusters clearly separated from other fluorescent pseudomonads. MLST confirmed the genetic variability among strains obtained by rep-PCR. Grouping identified of P. syringae strains by both rep-PCR and MLST was related to geographic locations of strains.     

Diachronic (1979–2003) analysis of rice genetic diversity in Guinea did not reveal genetic erosion

Greater insight into the dynamics of genetic resources of crop plants is needed in order to pinpoint detrimental evolutionary patterns and draw up conservation priorities. Temporal evolution of rice genetic diversity was monitored in Maritime Guinea where subsistence-oriented agriculture prevails. Diachronic comparison was performed between samples collected in six villages during the 1979/1982-period and in 2003, based on the names and number of varieties inventoried and the polymorphism of microsatellite markers. The number of varieties appeared not to be comparable between the two dates, due to differences in the collection methods. The varietal composition had evolved very substantially between the two collection dates. Many long-duration varieties present in 1979/1982 had been abandoned and several improved varieties had been introduced. The mean number of alleles per locus and per accession was significantly higher in accessions collected in 2003. Pairwise comparisons of the mean number of alleles per locus in 1979/1982–2003 homonymous accession pairs indicated higher intra-accession diversity for the 2003 collections. Genetic differentiation, measured with the F _ST values, was very high and significant for more than 80% of these pairs of accessions. The overall genetic differentiation between accessions from the two collections dates was also significant. Significant changes were also observed for allelic composition. However, alleles specific of each collection date had much lower frequency, compared to alleles common to the two collection dates. These results suggest that rice genetic diversity in Maritime Guinea has been maintained or even enhanced. Old collections of crop genetic resources are often not exhaustive enough to undertake perfect diachronic comparison. New methods to utilize this historical data for diversity monitoring are needed.     

Rice Root Genetic Architecture: Meta-analysis from a Drought QTL Database

During the last 10 years, a large number of quantitative trait loci (QTLs) controlling rice root morphological parameters have been detected in several mapping populations by teams interested in improving drought resistance in rice. Compiling these data could be extremely helpful in identifying candidate genes by positioning consensus QTLs with more precision through meta-QTL analysis. We extracted information from 24 published papers on QTLs controlling 29 root parameters including root number, maximum root length, root thickness, root/shoot ratio, and root penetration index. A web-accessible database of 675 root QTLs detected in 12 populations was constructed. This database includes also all QTLs for drought resistance traits in rice published between 1995 and 2007. The physical position on the pseudo-chromosomes of the markers flanking each QTL was determined. An overview of the number of root QTLs in 5-Mb segments covering the whole genome revealed the existence of “hot spots,” The 32 trait × chromosome combinations comprising six or more QTLs were subjected to a meta-QTL analysis using the software package MetaQTL. The method enabled us both to determine the likely number of true QTLs in these areas using an Akaike information criterion and to estimate their position. The meta-QTL confidence intervals were notably reduced and, for the smallest ones, encompassed only a few genes.     

Comparative study on immunomodulatory and growth enhancing effects of three prebiotics (galactooligosaccharide,fructooligosaccharide and inulin) in common carp (Cyprinus carpio)

This study investigated the effects of different prebiotics, including galactooligosaccharide (GOS), fructooligosaccharide (FOS) and inulin (INL), on skin mucosal immune parameters, humoral immune responses as well as performance of common carp (Cyprinus carpio). Two hundred and forty specimens (13.85 ± 0.85 g) were stocked in 12 fibreglass tanks assigned into three treatments and a control group. The experimental diets were formulated to have equal level (2%) of the prebiotics. At the end of the feeding trial, the highest skin mucus lysozyme activities and total immunoglobulin (total Ig) were observed in GOS‐fed group (P < 0.05). However, skin mucus protease activity showed no significant difference among different dietary groups (P < 0.05). Blood respiratory burst activity was significantly increased in all prebiotic‐fed fish compared to the control group (P < 0.05); the highest activity was observed in GOS treatment. Furthermore, evaluation of humoral immune response revealed that feeding with GOS‐supplemented diet significantly increased lysozyme and alternative complement (ACH50) activity as well as total Ig compared to the control and other prebiotic groups. While no significant difference was observed between FOS and INL groups, common carps fed GOS‐supplemented displayed improved (P < 0.05) growth performance, including final weight, weight gain, specific growth rate (SGR) and feed conversion ratio (FCR), compared to the control treatment. These results revealed that different prebiotics modulate carp growth and immune response in different manner, and GOS seems to be the most suitable prebiotic.     

The study of antioxidant enzymes and immune‐related genes expression in common carp (Cyprinus carpio) fingerlings fed different prebiotics

The aim of the present study was to study the effects of different prebiotics (galacto‐, fructooligosaccharide and inulin) on immune response and oxidative stress of common carp (Cyprinus carpio) fingerlings at the molecular level. A total number of 240 fish (13.85 ± 0.85 g) were supplied and randomly stocked in twelve fiberglass tanks (20 specimens per tank). Fish were fed a basal formulated diet (Control) or basal diet supplemented with equal level (2%) of different prebiotics (four treatments repeated in triplicated) for 8 weeks. At the end of feeding trial, the expression of immune‐related genes (interleukin 1 beta [IL‐1β], IL‐8, IL‐10, lysozyme [LYZ], tumour necrosis factor alpha [TNF‐α] and transforming growth factor beta [TGF‐β]) were determined in head kidney and intestine tissues and the expression of antioxidant‐related genes (glutathione S‐transferase [GST‐α], glutathione reductase [GR] and glutathione peroxidase genes [GPX]) were studied in intestine. The results revealed that dietary administration of prebiotics modulated the expression of immune‐related genes and the degree of expression was affected by the type of prebiotics and the organ that was used for analyses. Also, evaluation of antioxidant genes expression showed that GSTα and GR expression levels increased as a result of feeding common carp with the prebiotics. According to these findings, it can be concluded that feeding on different prebiotics had altered effects on the expression of immune and antioxidant‐related genes.     

Species and space: a combined gap analysis to guide management planning of conservation areas

Landscape Ecology - With accelerating global declines in biodiversity, establishment and expansion of conservation areas (CAs) have increasingly been advocated in recent decades. Gap analysis has...     

Planning and management modeling for treated wastewater usage

Due to urban growth, some agricultural lands have been replaced by residential, municipal, and industrial areas. In some cases the remaining agricultural land will not have enough water because of transfers from agriculture to M&I (municipal and industrial) users. Therefore, in many places, especially in arid and semi-arid regions, the use of treated wastewater as a reliable source of irrigation water has already been, or will be, considered in the future. Due to its unique characteristics, this new resource has many challenges that cannot be ignored, such as health issues, water quality, and long- and short-term effects on soils and crops. The study described herein considered the development of a new GIS-based model for planning and managing the reuse of treated wastewater for the irrigation of agricultural and green lands, considering various factors such as population and urban growth. The model is composed of several different modules, including an urban growth model. These modules are designed to help in the decision-making process for allocations of water resources to agricultural areas, considering factors such as crop types, crop pattern, water salinity, soil characteristics, pumping and conveyance costs, and also by comparing different management scenarios. Appropriate crops that can be grown with a specific water salinity and soil characteristics, proper water resources for each farm (according to pumping and conveyance costs, and analysis of water demand, and water supply) can be determined through the application of this model. The model can also rank agricultural areas and open spaces in and near an urban area according to their suitability for irrigated agriculture.     

Overwintering biology of the carob moth Apomyelois ceratoniae (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae)

The pomegranate fruit moth, Apomyelois ceratoniae (Zeller), is the most important pest of pomegranate orchards in Iran, where infestations lead to 20%–80% fruit loss. A. ceratoniae overwinters as larvae in several instars. The success in overwintering determines the fruit loss in the following season, thus overwintering physiology of A. ceratoniae could provide insights into population prediction. To this end, overwintering strategy and some seasonal physiological and biochemical changes were investigated in the field-collected larvae of A. ceratoniae. The lowest supercooling point was recorded in November (?14.6 ± 0.9 °C) and the highest in both October and March (?10.2 ± 0.9 °C). The median lethal temperature (LT₅₀) of larvae was higher than supercooling point, suggesting that A. ceratoniae is chill-susceptible. Overwintering larvae had slightly higher concentrations of glycerol and sorbitol compared to summer larvae. There were no significant seasonal changes in body water content or hemolymph osmolality. Current winter temperatures in Iranian orchards are higher than the cold tolerance thresholds of A. ceratoniae, suggesting that overwintering mortality is not a key factor in determining A. ceratoniae populations.     

Salvia officinalis hydroalcoholic extract improved reproduction capacity and behavioral activity in rats exposed to immobilization stress

This study was conducted to evaluate the Salvia officinalis hydroalcoholic extract on fertility capacity and behavioral features in rats exposed to immobilization stress. Male rats were randomly divided into five groups; Control; Stressed rats; and Stressed rats received 50, 100 and/or 200 mg/kg bw S. officinalis hydroalcoholic extract. To induce stress, rats were immobilized for 49 days and received S. officinalis extract orally. On day 56, we analyzed behavioral tests and evaluated reproduction capacity by measuring LH, FSH, and testosterone. Sperm parameters such as motility, viability, and total count were also determined. Bodyweight changes were also calculated on day 56. Male rats from different groups were mated with healthy female rats. Data showed that the use of 100 and 200 mg/kg bw S. officinalis extract in stressed rats increased bodyweight gain and improved behavioral disorders compared to control‐matched groups (p < .05). Besides, administration of 100 and 200 mg/kg bw S. officinalis extract had the potential to improve sperm parameters and fertility capacity in stressed rats (p < .05). Decreased testosterone levels were blunted in the stressed rats that received plant extract coincided with the reduction of LH and FSH compared to control‐matched stressed rats (p < .05). We found neutral effects in stressed rats that received 50 mg/kg bw plant extract. Collectively, the hydroalcoholic extract of S. officinalis could improve the fertility capacity and behavioral features under stressful conditions in a dose‐dependent manner.     

Antibiotic Resistance Pattern of Different Escherichia coli Phylogenetic Groups Isolated from Human Urinary Tract Infection and Avian Colibacillosis

Background : The emergence and propagation of different phylogenetic groups of antimicrobial-resistant E. coli have become a worldwide health concern in human and veterinary medicine. Therefore, the evaluation of the phylogenetic distribution of antibiotic-resistant E. coli is important for therapeutic and economic purposes. The aims of this study were to determine phylogenetic groups and patterns of antibiotic resistance of E. coli strains isolated from human urinary tract infection and avian colibacillosis. Methods: A total of 50 E. coli isolates (25 from human urinary tract infection and 25 from avian colibacillosis) were characterized by culture and assigned as different phylogenetic groups (A, B1, B2, and D) by triplex PCR assay. Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method was used to assess the susceptibility of all isolates to ten antibiotics. Results: Results showed that the majority of the human and poultry isolates belonged to phylogenetic groups A and B2 and phylogenetic group B1 of the avian pathogenic strain isolates were the most drug-resistant isolates. Most of the isolates were resistant to at least five antibiotics, and multiple drug resistance was observed in 98% of E. coli isolates. A high degree of resistance was seen against penicillin and erythromycin. Conclusion: According to the results of this study, multidrug-resistance among isolates and high relation between phylogenetic groups and resistance in both human and poultry isolates were observed. Key Words: Escherichia coli, Avian colibacillosis, Phylogenetic grouping