Blooming phenology and self-incompatibility of some commercial cherry (Prunus avium L.) cultivars in Iran

Self-sterility in cherry (Prunus avium L.) is one of the most important problems in commercial cherry orchards in Iran and many other countries. The main objective of this research was to determine self-fertility rate and blooming phenology of 25 commercial cherry (P. avium L.) cultivars in Iran. This study was conducted during 2006–2007.Results revealed that the stage of bud swell in all cultivars began late second decade of March, which lasts 8–11 days. In all cultivars the duration end bloom to petal fall stage took 5 days. Cherry cultivars were classified into three groups considering their overlapping pollination. The cultivars each group had a great overlapped pollination toward each other. The results also showed that there was a significant difference among cultivars in respect of the fruit set (P < 1%). The fruit set of open pollination treatment among the cultivars varied in range of 7.36–41.58%. However fruit set was not observed in isolated pollination (artificial and natural self-pollination). In open pollination, the cultivars were also classified into four groups, i.e. weak fertility (Moreau and Ferracida), mean fertility (Siah Mashhad, Napelon, Proteva, Haj usefy, Lambert, Roshun, Sefid Ghermeze Baghno, Arak, Belamarka, Siah Shabestar, Ghermeze Rezaeyeh, Abardeh, Soraty Lavisan and Victoria), good fertility (Peshrase Mashhad, Dovoumras Mashhad, Bing, Shesheiy Mashhad, Siah Ghazvin and Sefid Rezaeyeh), very good fertility (Zarde Daneshkadeh, Dirrase Italia and No. 1 karaj). All cultivars were found to need cross-pollination and included in self-sterile group.     

丝胶茧蚕品种选育初报

利用家蚕资源库中的突变基因,初步育成了丝胶茧蚕品种。导入了与活性物质黄酮类产生有关的基因,使丝胶中含有特殊的功能性活性物质。为丝胶的保健食用和高档化妆品利用提供原料。     

蚕品种选育多用途化发展趋势

为了满足蚕桑生产发展多元化和提升改造传统蚕桑业发展需要开展的特殊用途蚕品种选育进展迅速,本文就以蚕丝生产为目的如雄蚕品种、细纤度蚕品种、粗纤度蚕品种、人工饲料育品种及广食性蚕品种、天然彩色茧蚕品种等的选育,以及非蚕丝生产为目的如吐平面丝蚕品种、吐丝胶茧蚕品种、生物反应器专用蚕品种、药食专用蚕品种等育种研究进展进行概述.     

二甲基甲酰胺对家蚕毒性试验

二甲基甲酰胺对家蚕的毒性较低，只有在很高的浓度食下时才表现出急性中毒死亡，并且随着龄期的增加，家蚕的耐毒性增加，3龄蚕比2龄蚕有更强的耐毒性。低浓度的二甲基甲酰胺（DMF）对家蚕生命率和经济性状都没有显著影响。DMF对家蚕的毒性有积累作用，3龄期连续添毒稀释10倍的DMF原液24h没有观察到急性中毒死亡，但连续添毒90h后，可最终导致家蚕中毒死亡。     

Effect of pre- and postharvest salicylic acid treatment on physio-chemical attributes in relation to the vase life of cut rose flowers

With the aim of extending the vase life of cut rose flowers, we investigated whether the application of salicylic acid (SA), pre- and postharvest, could improve this. For this purpose, two individual trials were conducted, using a completely randomised design, with three replications. In the first trial, aqueous solutions of 0, 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5 mM SA were sprayed on roses grown in a controlled greenhouse once the flower buds had appeared, and the second stage was performed two weeks before harvest. The preharvest SA application at 1.5 mM concentration prolonged the vase life of cut roses by improving membrane stability, and decreasing the lipid peroxidation properties. In the second trial, continuous exposure to (0, 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5 mM), and pulses of (0, 5, 10 and 15 mM), SA significantly extended the vase life. Flowers treated with 1.5 (continuous exposure) and 15 mM (pulse) SA showed a significant decrease in weight loss, and antioxidant activity increased, compared to the control solution, but the flowers in the control solution indicated an increase in weight loss. The results show that pre- and postharvest SA application prolonged the vase life of cut roses through improving CAT and POD activity, and decreasing lipid peroxidation.     

Nano titanium dioxide on wool keratin as UV absorber stabilized by butane tetra carboxylic acid (BTCA): A statistical prospect

Photo yellowing of wool is one of the most important problems which have negative impacts on various aspects of wool prompting scientists to find a solution over the past decades. In this research the protective features of nano-titanium dioxide particles against UV on wool fabric were discussed and the color variations of wool samples after UV irradiation were measured and reported. It was shown that nano TiO₂ is a suitable UV absorber and its effect depends on the concentration. Also, it was assumed that butane tetracarboxylic acid plays a prominent role as a cross-linking agent to stabilize the nano-titanium dioxide as well as a polyanion to maintain negative charges on the wool surface for higher nano particles absorption. Also the variables conditions were optimized using response surface methodology (RSM).     

Ameliorative Effects of Melatonin against Hydrogen Peroxide‐Induced Oxidative Stress on Boar Sperm Characteristics and Subsequent In Vitro Embryo Development

Melatonin, the major secretory product of the pineal gland, scavenges a variety of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species in vivo and in vitro, indicating that melatonin is a potent function as an antioxidant. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of melatonin in the presence or absence of hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) on sperm characteristics (motility, viability, survival rate, membrane integrity, lipid peroxidation (LPO) and mitochondria activity) and also to examine the developmental rates to the blastocysts stage of porcine oocytes fertilized in vitro with semen treated with or without melatonin (100 nm ) in the presence or absence of H₂O₂ (250 μm ). The sperm were treated with melatonin in the presence or absence of H₂O₂ for 3, 6, 9 and 12 h at 37°C and then analysed for the sperm characteristics. The porcine embryos were produced by in vitro maturation and in vitro fertilization (IVM/IVF) using semen treated with or without melatonin (100 nm ) in the presence or absence of H₂O₂ (250 μm ) for 6 h. The semen characteristics, including motility, viability, survival rate, membrane integrity and mitochondria activity, were higher in the groups that were treated with melatonin in comparison to other groups, irrespective of incubation periods. Malondialdehyde levels in control, melatonin and melatonin + H₂O₂ groups were lower than H₂O₂ only group. A positive correlation was shown among motility, viability, survival rate and membrane integrity, but a negative correlation was observed between LPO and the other evaluation methods. The developmental rates to blastocysts of IVM/IVF porcine oocytes fertilized by semen treated with melatonin were significantly increased compared with any other groups, with the cell number of blastocysts shown to have a similar trend to the developmental rates. These results demonstrate that melatonin can improve the semen characteristics during in vitro storage and support the developmental ability of IVM/IVF embryos in pigs.     

Effect of two separate fibre feed systems in rotor spinning on yarn properties

Opening of the fibres in all industrial rotor spinning units is being done by an opening roller, which intakes the fibres from one feed point. Increasing number of feed rollers from one to two may improve fibre opening on the opening roller by gradual loading of the opening roller, which may improve fibre orientation in the final yarn and yarn properties. In this research a modified SE-8 rotor spinning unit of Suessen was used in which two separate fibre feed systems were employed. Raw material used was 38 mm, 1.7 den viscose fibre, to spin a 40 tex yarn. Yarn properties produced with this unit, were compared with that of the original yarn. Yarn properties tested were tenacity, extension, work of rupture, mass irregularity and imperfections, abrasion resistance and hairiness, which were measured on Shirley (SDL) and keisokki yarn testing machines. Test results were analyzed by ANOVA for any difference between the means, and Tukey and Duncan for classification and ranking of the yarn properties. Test results showed that, tenacity, extension and work of rupture of the modified yarn increased in comparison to the original yarn. Its mass irregularity, number of thin places and neps, and hairiness decreased. Number of thick places and yarn abrasion didn’t change. According to the test results, it was concluded that increasing the number of feed rollers on the opening roller from one to two has improved yarn properties.     

Combined effects of guanidinoacetic acid,coenzyme Q10 and taurine on growth performance,gene expression and ascites mortality in broiler chickens

High levels of guanidinoacetate acid (GAA) deteriorate growth response in broiler chickens. We propose using coenzyme Q₁₀, an antioxidant, and taurine (TAU), a methyl donor, to cope with the situation when high level of GAA included in diet. GAA was supplemented at 0 (control), 0.75, 1.5 and 2.25 g/kg in isoenergetic and isonitrogenous diets and fed to broilers (Cobb 500) from 1 to 40 days post‐hatch. Three additional diets were prepared by adding CoQ₁₀ (40 mg/kg), TAU (40 mg/kg) or their combination (both CoQ₁₀ and TAU at 40 mg/kg) to the 2.25 g/kg GAA group. The experimental design used was a completely randomized design. While weight gain (p = 0.038) and feed conversion ratio (p = 0.024) improved when GAA added at 1.5 g/kg, higher supplementation (2.25 g/kg) deteriorated these responses. These responses, however, were significantly restored by using CoQ₁₀, TAU or their combination. Abdominal fat deposition was significantly decreased when TAU added to broiler diets by virtue of upregulating peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor alpha. Supplementing broiler diets with CoQ₁₀ and TAU or their combination significantly decrease ascites mortality. In conclusion, CoQ₁₀ and TAU have shown beneficial effects when high level of GAA included in broiler diets.     

Lemon,Citrus aurantifolia,peel and Bacillus licheniformis protected common carp,Cyprinus carpio,from Aeromonas hydrophila infection by improving the humoral and skin mucosal immunity,and antioxidative responses

The role of dietary lemon peel (LM) and/or Bacillus licheniformis (BL) on the growth, immunity, and resistance against Aeromonas hydrophila in common carp, Cyprinus carpio was investigated in this study. LM and BL were included in diets at 0% (T0), 10⁸ CFU/g BL (T1), 1.5% LM and 10⁸ CFU/g BL (T2), and 3% LM and 10⁸ CFU/g BL (T3). Fish fed with T1, T2, or T3 had higher weight gain, specific growth rate, white blood cells count, and blood total protein with lower feed conversion ratio than T0 group (p < .05). The albumin increased significantly (p < .05) in fish fed both BL and LM (T3). The serum superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, lysozyme, and bactericidal activities were significantly increased in fish fed both BL and LM (T2 and T3), while serum glutathione peroxidase increased in fish fed BL (T2) (p < .05). Fish fed T1, T2, and T3 diets displayed higher SOD and lower malondialdehyde than fish fed T0 (p < .05). After the A. hydrophila challenge, the mortality rate was significantly lower in T1, T2, and T3 groups than the T0 group (p < .05). The obtained results revealed that LM and BL could be used to increase resistance against A. hydrophila infection in carp. However, further field studies should be performed to confirm the obtained results.