Drought tolerance in four-day-old seedlings of a drought-sensitive cultivar of wheat

Four-day-old seedlings of spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L. cv. Marvdasht) can tolerate severe dehydration and recover after re-watering. In order to clarify tolerance mechanism, in a completely randomized design, the seedlings were exposed to drought by complete water cessation for 10 and 20 days, followed by re-watering for 3 and 7 days. Upon dehydration, the activity of α-amylase increased whereas growth parameters; photosynthetic pigments; and the activities of lipoxygenase, indole acetic acid (IAA) oxidase, and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) decreased. The activity of APX and the expression of its gene, however, increased after re-watering. Prolonged dehydration was also accompanied by increase in sucrose, soluble proteins, fructans, and certain amino acids, e.g. proline, glutamine, and valine. The results indicated that during dehydration, 4-day-old wheat seedlings shifted their energy expenditure from basal metabolism to withstand water deficiency via lowering the activity of membrane-damaging enzymes and enhancing the production of osmoprotectants.     

Serosurvey of five viruses in chickens on smallholdings in Bangladesh

A serologic survey was undertaken in chickens in smallholdings in Bangladesh for avian influenza A virus (AIV), egg drop syndrome '76 virus (EDS'76V), infectious bronchitis virus (IBV), Newcastle disease virus (NDV) and reovirus (RV) in three phases: January 2002-May 2003, September 2003-August 2004, and August 2005-March 2006. Four hundred thirty-six sera collected in the 2nd phase, 295 in the first phase, 755 in the 1st plus 2nd phases and 295 in the 1st phase were investigated for AIV, EDS'76V, IBV and RV, respectively, using enzyme linked immunosorbent assays. All 854 sera collected in the three phases were screened for NDV using hemagglutination inhibition test. In chickens 20% were seropositive to AIV, 3% to EDS'76V, 74% to IBV, 88% to NDV, and 47% to RV. The seroprevalence in flocks was 23% to AIV, 6% to EDS'76V, 79% to IBV, 89% to NDV and 56% to RV. Twenty-five percent chickens had > or = 10log(2)HI titers to NDV.     

Tilapia Lake Virus was not detected in non-tilapine species within tilapia polyculture systems of Bangladesh

Sixteen countries, including Bangladesh, have reported the presence of tilapia lake virus (TiLV), an emerging tilapia pathogen. Fish polyculture is a common farming practice in Bangladesh. Some unusual mortalities reported in species co-cultivated with TiLV-infected tilapia led us to investigate whether any of the co-cultivated species would also test positive for TiLV and whether they were susceptible to TiLV infection under controlled laboratory experiments. Using 183 samples obtained from 15 farms in six districts across Bangladesh, we determined that 20% of the farms tested positive for TiLV in tilapia, while 15 co-cultivated fish species and seven other invertebrates (e.g. insects and crustaceans) considered potential carriers all tested negative. Of the six representative fish species experimentally infected with TiLV, only Nile tilapia showed the typical clinical signs of the disease, with 70% mortality within 12 days. By contrast, four carp species and one catfish species challenged with TiLV showed no signs of TiLV infection. Challenged tilapia were confirmed as TiLV-positive by RT-qPCR, while challenged carp and walking catfish all tested negative. Overall, our field and laboratory findings indicate that species used in polycultures are not susceptible to TiLV. Although current evidence suggests that TiLV is likely host-specific to tilapia, targeted surveillance for TiLV in other fish species in polyculture systems should continue, in order to prepare for a possible future scenario where TiLV mutates and/or adapts to new host(s).     

Investigating the CYP2B6 rs3745274 and rs3211371 Polymorphisms in Methadone-Responder and Non-Responder Addicts in Iran

Background:Methadone therapy is a major protocol in opioid addiction cases in many health care systems. Population-based studies have shown that in addicted people, the genetic profile affects their response to methadone therapy. Therefore, this study designed to examine the frequency of two SNPs of the CYP2B6 gene (rs3745274 and rs3211371) in addicted cases in two methadone-responders and methadone non-responders groups. Methods:A total of 199 opioid-addicted individuals and 117 unaffected control subjects were genotyped for rs3745274 and rs3211371 polymorphisms of the CYP2B6 gene using the tetra-primer ARMS-PCR. Results:Results of this study revealed the significant association of rs3745274 GG (p < 0.001; OR = 0.027; 95% CI = 0.14-0.49) and GT (p < 0.001; OR = 4.04; 95% CI = 2.26-7.21) genotypes with the risk of addiction in methadone-responders. Also, a significant association between rs3745274 GG (p < 0.001; OR = 0.28; 95% CI = 0.15-0.51) and GT (p < 0.001; OR = 5.1; 95% CI = 2.8-5.28) genotypes and addiction relapse was found in methadone non-responders. Conclusion:Based on our findings, we can conclude that rs3745274 variant of CYP2B6 gene could serve as a potential biomarker, to evaluate the prognosis of addicted people fate under treatment with methadone. Key Words: Addiction, Biomarker, Methadone, Single-nucleotide polymorphism     

Metabolism of metamitron in goat following a single oral administration of a nontoxic dose level: a continued study

Disposition kinetic behavior and metabolism studies of metamitron and its metabolite in terms of the parent compound were carried out in black Bengal goats after a single oral administration of a nontoxic oral dose at 30 mg kg(-1) of body weight. Metamitron was detected in the blood sample at 5 min (2.23 +/- 0.04 microg mL(-1)), maximum at 1 h (3.43 +/- 0.02 microg mL(-1)) and minimum at 12 h (0.41 +/- 0.01 microg mL(-1)), after a single oral administration. Metabolite [3-methyl-6-phenyl-1,2,4-triazin-5(4H)-one] in terms of the parent compound was detected in the blood sample at 5 min (0.47 +/- 0.006 microg mL(-1)), maximum at 6 h (5.12 +/- 0.02 microg mL(-1)) and minimum at 96 h (1.06 +/- 0.016 microg mL(-1)), after a single oral administration. The t(1/2 K) and Cl(B) values of metamitron were 3.63 +/- 0.05 h and 1.36 +/- 0.016 L kg(-1) h(-1), respectively, whereas the t(1/2K)(m) and Cl(B)(m) values of the metabolite were 38.15 +/- 0.37 h and 0.091 +/- 0.001 L kg(-1) h(-1), respectively, which suggested long persistence of the metabolite in blood and tissues of goat. Metamitron was excreted through feces and urine for up to 48 and 72 h, whereas the metabolite was excreted for up to 168 and 144 h, respectively. Metabolite alone contributed to 96 and 67% of combined recovery percentage of metamitron and metabolite against the administered dose in feces and urine of goat, respectively. All of the goat tissues except lung, adrenal gland, ovary, testis, and mammary gland retained the metabolite residue for up to 6 days after administration.     

Improvement in seed quantity and quality of spring safflower through foliar application of boron and zinc under end-season drought stress

Seed yield and quality are affected by water stress occurring at the reproductive stage of crops. Foliar application of micronutrients has been introduced as an agronomic approach to cope with such conditions. This study was undertaken to evaluate the effects of born (B) and zinc (Zn) on seed quantity and quality of spring safflower under late season water deficit. The experimental design was a split factorial in an randomized complete block (RCB) with three replications. The results showed that water deficit during flowering and seed-filling significantly decreased almost all traits compared to control only in 2014. Averaged over the 2 years, seedling length and vigor index were increased by Zn in all irrigation regimes. Germination rate and seed weight were increased by B and Zn in all irrigation treatments. It was concluded that foliar application of 350?ppm B and 1000?ppm Zn can considerably enhance seed yield and quality of safflower grown under terminal drought.     

The Bio-Functional Properties of Pigmented Cereals may Involve Synergies among Different Bioactive Species

This study was aimed at characterizing the anthocyanins and phenolics profile in different varieties of pigmented corn and wheat and in some of their milling fractions. Acid/ethanol extracts were used to assess total anthocyanins, overall antioxidant activity, the overall polyphenol profile, and for evaluating the inhibition of pancreatic α-amylase and of intestinal α-glucosidase. Both enzymes were inhibited in a dose-dependent manner by all extracts, but individual extracts had specific effects on each enzyme. Anti-inflammatory response was evaluated by using acid-free extracts and Caco-2 cells transiently transfected with a luciferase reporter gene responding to cytokine stimulation. The immune response of interleukin-stimulated cells decreased significantly in a dose-dependent manner in the presence of 20–50 μM/l anthocyanins from all grains extracts, again with a different efficiency. The inhibitory ability and the anti-inflammatory capability of these extracts are in most cases higher than in similar extracts from other sources, suggesting that activities in each extract may imply specific synergies between anthocyanins and other phenolics.

     

Survivability and causes of loss of broody-hen chicks on smallholder households in Bangladesh

We determined the flock sizes and rates of loss caused by different factors in broody-hen chicks (BHC) up to 60 days of age on 600 randomly selected smallholdings in Bangladesh. The smallholders were beneficiaries of a village poultry production chain called ‘Smallholder Livestock Development Project-2’ (SLDP-2) which was undertaken with the financial assistance of the Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA). For estimating survival time of BHC, we observed chicks in 80 smallholdings. SLDP-2 aims at ameliorating poverty among women by poultry rearing at village level; in total, 104,000 key rearers, constituting 96% of all of the beneficiaries of the SLDP-2 area, were enrolled in 26 upazilas (a lower administrative unit of Bangladesh). A key rearer is a smallholder who rears at least five ‘Sonali’ (RIR × Fayoumi) and some indigenous (desi) chickens in a semi-scavenging system. Sonali chickens are supplied from the development project, and have higher egg production while the broodiness of the desi hens is exploited to get chicks hatched for future stocks; thus, the chicks hatched and reared to 60 days old at key rearers’ households are called BHC. In this study 32% of the smallholders had BHC each month. At the beginning of a month, the median number of chicks in a flock was 8, and the mean survival time was 50.5 days. Incidence rates of loss of BHC from disease, predation, selling and slaughtering were 0.102, 0.086, 0.009 and 0.002 per chick-month at risk, respectively. The major predators were crows, mongooses and eagles with incidence rates of loss being 0.018, 0.016 and 0.010 per chick-month at risk, respectively. Colibacillosis (both single and mixed infections) contributed to the death of 21% of dead BHC collected; Newcastle disease and salmonellosis contributed to the next highest (14 and 12%) proportional mortalities.     

Salinity threshold value of Quinoa (Chenopodium Quinoa ‎Willd.) at ‎various growth stages and the appropriate ‎irrigation method by saline ‎water

Salinity is one of the major agricultural problems in arid and ?semi-arid regions. Considering the variation of plant’s ?sensitivity to salinity during growth, a greenhouse study with completely randomized design? was conducted to determine the relative salinity tolerance of Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) at different growth stages from seedling establishment to maturity (establishment, flowering and seed filling) by evaluating the Salinity Threshold Value (STV). Eight levels of EC_i (i.e., Non-saline, 2, 4, 8, 12, 15, 20, 25 dSm^?1) with four replications and five levels (i.e., Non-saline, 10, 15, 20, 25 dSm^?1) with three triplications were applied at first and two last growth stages, respectively. A ?comparison was performed on some growth and yield parameters of plants irrigated by considering STV (T) and ?plants irrigated permanently by mentioned salinity levels regardless of STV (P) to choose ?which method (P or T) is better at each salinity level. The STV was ?evaluated 8, 20 and 15 dSm^?1 at each growth stage, respectively. Seedling of Quinoa was more sensitive to salinity than the mature plant. Therefore, after establishment Quinoa has the ?feasibility of irrigation by high-saline waters. The (P) ?method was suitable only if the freshwater was available during all growth period of the plant; otherwise at higher salinities irrigation should be performed by considering STV (T method) to minimize the intensity of growth and yield reduction and to prevent yield loss at very high salinities. To achieve this, if high-saline water is available it’s possible to ?use plant propagation techniques or cultivating Quinoa simultaneously with seasonal rainfall.?