Genome-wide association analysis for stripe rust resistance in spring wheat(Triticum aestivum L.) germplasm

Stripe rust is a continuous threat to wheat crop all over the world. It causes considerable yield losses in wheat crop every year. Continuous deployment of adult plant resistance(APR) genes in newly developing wheat cultivars is the most judicious strategy to combat this disease. Herein, we dissected the genetics underpinning stripe rust resistance in Pakistani wheat germplasm. An association panel of 94 spring wheat genotypes was phenotyped for two years to score the infestation of stripe rust on each accession and was scanned with 203 polymorphic SSRs. Based on D' measure, linkage disequilibrium(LD) exhibited between loci distant up to 45 c M. Marker-trait associations(MTAs) were determined using mixed linear model(MLM). Total 31 quantitative trait loci(QTLs) were observed on all 21 wheat chromosomes. Twelve QTLs were newly discovered as well as 19 QTLs and 35 previously reported Yr genes were validated in Pakistani wheat germplasm. The major QTLs were QYr.uaf.2 AL and QYr.uaf.3 BS(PVE, 11.9%). Dissection of genes from the newly observed QTLs can provide new APR genes to improve genetic resources for APR resistance in wheat crop.     

Basilaphelenchus gorganensis n. sp. (Aphelenchoidea,Tylaphelenchinae) from wood from northern Iran

Basilaphelenchus gorganensis n. sp. is described and illustrated from wood and bark of a dead tree from northern Iran. The new species is characterized by female body length (415–559 µm), three‐lined lateral fields, a sclerotized cephalic vestibule and cephalic framework, thin stylet with three elongate backwardly directed knobs, small spherical to oval metacorpus, with small and posteriorly located valve, simple vulva without any flap apparatus, 59‐ to 79‐µm‐long post‐vulval uterine sac, functional rectum and anus and dorsally convex, ventrally concave, usually ventrally bent conical female tail with a sharp tip. Males are common, apparently functional and characterized by well‐curved spicules, three pairs of small caudal papillae and no bursa at tail tip. Molecular phylogenetic inferences using partial sequences of small and large subunit ribosomal RNA genes (SSU and LSU rDNA) from different isolates of the new species revealed it differs from currently sequenced species and belongs to the Tylaphelenchinae clade.     

Irrigation rate and plant density effects on yield and water use efficiency of drip-irrigated corn

The efficient use of water by modern irrigation systems is becoming increasingly important in arid and semi-arid regions with limited water resources. This study was conducted for 2 years (2005 and 2006) to establish optimal irrigation rates and plant population densities for corn (Zea mays L.) in sandy soils using drip irrigation system. The study aimed at achieving high yield and efficient irrigation water use (IWUE) simultaneously. A field experiment was conducted using a randomized complete block split plot design with three drip irrigation rates (I₁: 1.00, I₂: 0.80, and I₃: 0.60 of the estimated evapotranspiration), and three plant population densities (D₁: 48,000, D₂: 71,000 and D₃: 95,000 plants ha⁻¹) as the main plot and split plot, respectively. Irrigation water applied at I₁, I₂ and I₃ were 5955, 4762 and 3572 m³ ha⁻¹, respectively. A 3-day irrigation interval and three-way cross 310 hybrid corn were used. Results indicated that corn yield, yield components, and IWUE increased with increasing irrigation rates and decreasing plant population densities. Significant interaction effects between irrigation rate and plant population density were detected in both seasons for yield, selected yield components, and IWUE. The highest grain yield, yield components, and IWUE were found for I₁D₁, I₁D₂, or I₂D_1, while the lowest were found for I₃D₂ or I₃D₃. Thus, a high irrigation rate with low or medium plant population densities or a medium irrigation rate with a low plant population density are recommended for drip-irrigated corn in sandy soil. Crop production functions with respect to irrigation rates, determined for grain yield and different yield components, enable the results from this study to be extrapolated to similar agro-climatic conditions.     

Effect of Organic and Chemical Fertilizer on Soil Characteristics and Essential Oil Yield in Dragonhead

We conducted field experiments in two locations to investigation of organic and chemical fertilizer on soil characteristics and essential oil yield in dragonhead. Results showed that the inoculation of bacteria with the seeds in location 1 and also the inoculation of bacteria with the seeds of G₁ genotype in location 2 than G₂ genotype increased the total soil nitrogen content. The application of azocompost and its inoculation with urea's chemical fertilizer comparing to chemical control, it increase the soil carbon content. Results indicated that by increasing azocompost content with a linear procedure bulk density increased. Results showed that application of 100% azocompost treatment had the highest electrical conductivity in the soil. According to the results, the main effect of genotype and fertilizer regime and also two-way interaction (bacteria × fertilizer) had significant relationship with essential oil yield.     

Dietary ginger administration attenuates oxidative stress and immunosuppression caused by oxytetracycline in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)

In the present study, potential ameliorative effects of dietary ginger (GN) were investigated on antioxidant and immune responses of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) during oxytetracycline (OX) administration. As a 2 × 3 factorial design, the fish were orally treated with OX (a daily dose of 100 mg/kg) and GN (either 10 or 20 g/kg diet) for 10 days. Then, blood samples were taken from each treatment to monitor plasma lysozyme, complement (ACH50), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione‐S‐transferase (GST) activities, and reduced glutathione (GSH), malondialdehyde (MDA), total immunoglobulin (Ig) and globulin levels. OX treatment significantly decreased SOD (30%), GPx, (10%) and lysozyme (23%) activities, and GSH (19%) levels; however, it increased GST (16%) activity and MDA (28%) levels. Ten grams GN per kg levels significantly decreased SOD (35%), CAT (13%), GST (20%) and MDA (30%), but increased GSH (30%), lysozyme (48%) and globulin (16%). Twenty grams GN per kg diet significantly decreased SOD (26%) and MDA (17%), but increased lysozyme (31%) levels. Interaction effects of dietary GN and OX were observed on plasma MDA and GPx levels, as 10 g GN per kg diet prevented the OTC‐induced changes in these parameters. Moreover, 20 g GN per kg diet prevented the OX‐induced change in GPx activity and mitigated the MDA elevation by 20%. It is concluded that GN administration at 10 g/kg diet is beneficial in mitigating oxidative stress and immunosuppression of rainbow trout during OX administration.     

Redox halopriming: A Promising Strategy for Inducing Salt Tolerance in Bread Wheat

New strategies to enhance growth and productivity of food crops in saline soils represent important research priorities. This study has investigated the role of certain priming techniques to induce salt tolerance of bread wheat. Wheat grains were soaked in 0.2 mm sodium nitroprusside as nitric oxide donor (redox priming), diluted sea water (halopriming) and the combination of both (redox halopriming). Grains were also soaked in distilled water (hydropriming); in addition, untreated grains were taken as control. Our results indicated that priming treatments significantly improved all growth traits and increased leaf pigments concentration as compared to the control. Priming treatments markedly enhanced membrane stability index, proline, total soluble sugars and K⁺ concentration with simultaneous decrease in the concentration of Na⁺ and malondialdehyde (MDA). Furthermore, yield and yield‐related traits such as plant height, spike length, total number of tillers, 1000‐grain weight, straw and grain yield considerably affected by priming treatments. Moreover, the grain yield of both genotypes was positively affected by redox halopriming treatment. However, the extent of enhancement was more prominent in Gemmiza‐9 (salt sensitive) than that in Sakha‐93 (salt‐tolerant). Overall, this study clearly indicated that redox halopriming treatment is a promising and handy technique to induce salinity tolerance of wheat genotypes.     

Monitoring of the fermentation media of citric acid by the trimethylsilyl derivatives of the organic acids formed

In this approach, a derivatization method is described for monitoring of organic acids in fermentation media without any separation step. The aqueous phase of fermentation media was evaporated and heated in a silylation reagent to form trimethylsilyl (TMS) derivatives. The silylated compounds are analyzed by 29Si nuclear magnetic resonance (29Si NMR) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). 29Si NMR can qualitatively monitor the components produced in the Krebs cycle. Quantification of these compounds is investigated by using selected ion monitoring mode of mass spectrometry. In this mode, mass to charge (m/z) values of their [M - 15]+ ions, which are 465, 275, 247, 221, 335, 251, and 313 of TMS derivatives of citric, alpha-ketoglutaric, succinic, fumaric, l-malic, oxaloacetic, and palmitic (as an internal standard), acids, respectively, are used. The limit of detection and the linear working range for derivatized citric acid were found to be 0.1 mg L(-1) and 10-3 x 10(4) mg L(-1). The relative standard deviation of the method for five replicates was 2.1%. The average recovery efficiency for citric acid added to culture media was approximately 97.2%. Quantitative results of GC-MS are compared with those obtained by an ultraviolet-visible method.     

Compensatory growth response of European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax L.) under cycled starvation and restricted feeding rate

The compensatory growth response of the European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) that faced cycling starvation and restricted ration was assessed. Juveniles (10.5 g) were stocked into 15 tanks at a density of 25 fish per tank. Five different feeding regimes were tested on triplicate groups of fish: C_Satiation: control fed for 60 days without deprivation, C_Restricted: 25% restricted feeding, S‐R: 1 day starvation then 4 days C_Restricted feeding, R‐F: 1 day C_Restricted feeding then 4 days C_Satiation feeding, and, finally, S‐F: 1 day starvation then 4 days C_Satiation feeding. The specific growth rate of fish in the C_Satiation (2.5 ± 0.06% day^?1), S‐F (2.5 ± 0.11% day^?1) and R‐F (2.4 ± 0.18% day^?1) were significantly higher than that of C_Restricted (2.2 ± 0.05% day^?1) or S‐R (2.0 ± 0.01% day^?1). Fish in S‐F group were able to achieve catching up with the C_Satiation. There was no significant difference in feed conversion rates but R‐F and S‐F consumed approximately 34% more feed than C_Satiation following the first re‐feeding day. Although, the highest lipid content was observed in C_Satiation (14.4%), S‐R (33.3% dry matter) had the highest water content compared with the C_Satiation and C_Restricted (37.8% and 36.9% dry matter respectively). In conclusion, it may be concluded that sea bass has rapid response to cycling starvation/re‐feeding and that a 25% restricted feeding ratio is insufficient to invoke a compensatory growth response in sea bass.     

Treatment of Cotton by β-Cyclodextrin/Triclosan Inclusion Complex and Factors Affecting Antimicrobial Properties

The efficacy of antimicrobial treatment of cotton fabrics depends on various parameters of the coating process, such as the chemical nature and concentration of the antimicrobial agent, the composition of the crosslinking formulation, and the curing temperature. The inclusion complex of triclosan with β-cyclodextrin (βCD) was synthesized and characterized by FTIR, XRD, NMR, Raman, SEM, and TGA. The minimum inhibitory concentration and minimum bactericidal concentration of the complex against Klebsiella pneumoniae and Staphylococcus aureus were compared to those of its precursor. A multifactorial study included an evaluation of the effects of triclosan complexation with β-cyclodextrin, a comparison between the glyoxal and tetracarboxylic acid as crosslinkers, an investigation of the effect of crosslinker and catalyst concentrations, and a comparison of curing at 120°C and 180°C. The cotton was characterized by FTIR-ATR, the micrographs of treated samples were obtained by SEM and the weight add-on was calculated. The bactericidal properties were determined according to AATCC-147. The correlation between the coating process parameters and the antimicrobial efficacy was determined. The optimal combination leading to the highest weight add-on and the antimicrobial coating that was most durable to multiple detergent washes at an elevated temperature was the use of complexed triclosan grafted onto the cotton in the presence of tetracarboxylic acid, followed by curing at 180°C. The curing temperatures were 120°C (P=0.002) and 180°C (P=0.008), catalysts were 1 % and 2 % aluminium sulfate and sodium hypophosphite (P<0.001), and the crosslinkers were 5 % and 10 % glyoxal and butanetetracarboxylic acid (P<0.001); these parameters significantly enhanced the antimicrobial properties of the treated fabrics. The study showed that βCD did not have antimicrobial activity, while the βCD/triclosan-treated textile exhibited potential antimicrobial properties. Overall, the bactericidal activity of fabrics can be enhanced by using βCD/triclosan with 10 % butanetetracarboxylic acid as a cross-linker and 5 % sodium hypophosphite as a catalyst at a curing temperature of 180°C.