Classification of herbicides according to chemical family for weed resistance management strategies – an update

There are inaccuracies in the chemical families of the WSSA and HRAC herbicide classification systems which could limit their practical use in herbicide‐based weed management strategies. In essence, these inaccuracies could be divided into four parts: (i) the nomenclature of many of the chemical families is not correct, (ii) distinct active ingredients are grouped in same chemical families, (iii) many chemical families have been repeated in at least two modes of action/herbicide groups, and (iv) many active ingredients have not been assigned to chemical family, herbicide group or mode of action. The aim of this study was to revise the current classifications and to propose corrections for the current ones. Detailed investigations on chemical structure of the active ingredients of the registered herbicides showed that some moieties have the same mechanisms of action. According to this study, these moieties have been assigned to the names of chemical families and active ingredients are then classified within the chemical families accordingly. This study has 119 chemical families, compared with 145 in the WSSA system and 58 in the HRAC system. A major priority of this study is the number of active ingredients covered; we included 410 active ingredients with known mechanisms of action and herbicide groups, more than 100 active ingredients more than the current classification systems. Overall, this study provides better opportunities for the management of resistance to herbicides through the application of improved pure and applied knowledge.     

Expression of ROR1 in patients with renal cancer--a potential diagnostic marker

Background: The ectopic expression of receptor tyrosine kinase Ror1 has been reported in patients with hematological malignancies such as chronic lymphocytic leukemia and acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Here we report, for the first time, expression of ROR1 gene in both tumor tissues and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from patients with renal cancer (RC). Methods: In the current study, the expression of ROR1 gene was semi-quantitatively measured in PBMC and tumor tissues from 16 RC patients as well as PBMC from 22 healthy individuals relative to the expression of the housekeeping gene phosphoglucomutase 1 by RT-PCR. Results: Our results showed that ROR1 was expressed at gene level in 81.3% of renal tumor tissues (13 out of 16) whereas it was expressed in 94% of PBMC from RC patients (15 out of 16). A weak expression of ROR1 was observed in PBMC of 4 out of 22 healthy individual. A significant expression of ROR1 was observed in PBMC from RC patients when compared to that in PBMC from normal healthy individuals (P<0.001). The expression of ROR1 in PBMC may reflect a shedding of tumor cells into blood stream. Conclusion: We conclude that detection of a high level of ROR1 expression in blood cells might assist in early detection of renal malignancies, providing taking into consideration the clinical symptoms of the disease. Key Words: ROR1, Ectopic expression, Renal cancer     

Monitoring pyrethroid insecticide resistance in major malaria vector Anopheles culicifacies: comparison of molecular tools and conventional susceptibility test

BACKGROUND: Anopheles culicifacies is a main malaria vector in southeastern part of Iran, bordring Afghanistan and Pakistan. So far, resistance to DDT, dieldrin, malathion and partial tolerance to pyrethroids has been reported in An. stephensi, but nothing confirmed on resistance status of An. culicifacies in Iran. METHODS: In current study, along with WHO routine susceptibility test with DDT (4%), dieldrin (0.4%), malathion (5%), permethrin (0.25%), lambadacyhalothrin (0.1%), and deltamethrin 0.025, we cloned and sequenced segment VI of domain II (SII6) in voltage-gated sodium channel (vgsc) gene of An. culicifacies specimens collected in Sistan and Baluchistan province (Iran). RESULTS: A 221-bp amplified fragment showed 91% and 93% similarity with exon I and exon II of An. gambiae. The size of intron II in An. culicifacies is 62 bp, while in An. gambiae is 57 bp. The major difference within An. culicifacies specimens and also with An. gambiae is in position 29 of exon I, which led to substitution of Leu to His amino acid. CONCLUSION: This data will act as first report on partial sequence of vgsc gene and its polymorphism in An. culicifacies. A Leu to His amino acid substitution detected upstream the formerly known knockdown resistance (kdr) mutation site could be an indication for other possible mutations related to insecticide resistance. However, the result of WHO susceptibility test carried out in Baluchistan of Iran revealed a level of tolerance to DDT and dieldrin, but almost complete susceptibility to pyrethroids in An. culicifacies. We postulate that the molecular diagnostic tool developed for detection and identification of kdr-related mutations in An. culicifacies, could be useful in monitoring insecticide resistance in Iran and neighbouring countries such as Pakistan and Afghanistan. A phylogenetic tree also constructed based on the sequence of exon I and II, which readily separated An. culicifacies populations from An. stephensi, An. fluviatilis and An. gambiae.     

Response of broiler chickens reared at high density to dietary supplementation with licorice extract and probiotic

This study evaluated the effects of licorice extract and probiotic on performance, excreta characteristics and welfare‐related parameters of broiler chickens reared in high stocking density. Three hundred and thirty‐six 1‐day old broiler chicks (Ross 308) were used in a completely randomized design with five treatments and four replicates for 42 days. Treatments were as follows: (a) positive control (PC, 12 chicks/m²); (b) negative control (NC, 18 chicks/m²); (c) NC + 500 ppm licorice extract (LE); (d) NC + 200 ppm probiotic (P); (e) NC + ppm LE + ppm P. Body weight gain (BWG) was affected negatively by increased density in the growing period (p < 0.05). At high density, BWG was increased in the growing and whole period by adding LE and P separately and in combination (p < 0.01). Feed conversion ratio (FCR) was not affected by stocking density. Excreta weight (g/bird) and dry matter (DM, %) were reduced by increasing density (p < 0.01). Use of feed additives at high stocking density had no significant effect on excreta weight, but DM content of excreta was higher in NC + LE + P than NC. Gait problems and footpad and hock burns were increased by increased stocking density, but were not altered by feed additives. In conclusion, licorice extract and probiotic improved BWG of broilers reared at high stocking density; however, these birds had some disorders in footpad, hock and walking ability.     

Reproductive capacity of Heterodera schachtii on Thlaspi arvense,Capsella bursa-pastoris and varying populations of Chenopodium album

Journal of Plant Diseases and Protection - Weed management in field crops is based on threshold levels. Direct yield reductions by weeds can be quantified, but indirect effects by serving as...     

Effect of radiation on chemical composition and protein quality of cottonseed meal

This study was conducted to compare the effects of electron beam (EB) and gamma ray (GR) irradiation treatments at doses of 10, 20 and 30 kGy on chemical composition, protein quality and protein digestibility of cottonseed meal (CSM). GR irradiation in all doses significantly decreased the crude fiber of samples compared to raw CSM. Free and total gossypol content of CSM was decreased significantly by utilizing both types of irradiation in a dose‐dependent manner. Also, EB irradiation caused decrease in free and total gossypol content more than that of GR irradiation. GR irradiation at doses of 20 and 30 kGy, and EB irradiation at doses of 10, 20 and 30 kGy can significantly decrease protein solubility of CSM compared to that of a raw sample. GR irradiation at a dose of 30 kGy significantly increased apparent digestibility of protein compared to raw and EB irradiation of CSM at a dose of 10 kGy in Leghorn cockerels. Maximum increase in protein digestibility of CSM was observed in GR irradiation at a dose of 30 kGy. In conclusion, the present study showed that EB and GR irradiation reduced gossypol and crude fiber and increased protein digestibility of CSM but had no effect on protein quality of CSM.     

Deforestation impacts soil organic carbon and nitrogen pools and carbon lability under Mediterranean climates

Journal of Soils and Sediments - Deforestation is one of the ecosystem disservices associated with accelerated loss of soil organic carbon (SOC) and nitrogen (TN). The objective of our study was to...