Aloe vera long-term saline irrigation increases contents of hydrogen peroxide,lipid peroxidation and phenolic compounds

Salt stress is more and more becoming a serious problem in the world especially if we consider its damaging effect on the plant growth and yield. The cultivation of medicinal plants, such as Aloe vera, might be an alternative for the saline water use and salt-affected soils occupation. Aloe vera, commonly known as aloe, is one of the primary medicinal plants with multipurpose applications going from pharmaceutical to cosmetic aspects with a promising economic return. Aloe plants were cultivated and irrigated, for 14 months, with drinking water (C0) and with two levels of salt (C1 and C2). Changes in growth, hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), lipid peroxidation and phenolic compounds were examined in leaves at harvest. Depressive effects of salt irrigation on the plant growth parameters and a perturbation in inorganic ion contents were found especially with a high level of salt in the irrigation water. The intracellular oxidative stress was evaluated with the H₂O₂ production. Our results showed that the H₂O₂ content increased with the accumulation of the toxic ion (Na) in the leaf tissues. In addition, lipid peroxidation, measured by the malondialdehyde (MDA) level, increased as well with salt augmentation in the irrigation water. In response to salt stress, Aloe leaves showed a significant increase in the levels of phenolic compounds too. These results suggest that Aloe can be planted in soils affected by salinity and irrigated with salt water at least at a moderate concentration used in the present study.     

Downregulation of male-specific cytochrome P450 by profenofos

The health hazards of individual organophosphorus insecticides have been characterized by their acute toxicity, mainly by investigating their cholinesterase inhibition. However, the chronic effects of most of these toxicants on the drug-metabolizing enzymes have not been investigated. Profenofos (O-4-bromo-2-chlorophenyl O-ethyl S-propyl phosphorothioate) is an organophosphorus pesticide widely used in cotton cultivation. In the present study, we investigated the effect of profenofos on male-specific cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes in adult Wistar rats. We orally administered 17.8 mg/kg body weight, twice weekly for 65 days. Profenofos downregulated levels of hepatic and testicular CYP2C11 and CYP3A2 mRNA and protein expression. Testicular aromatase (CYP19A) mRNA was decreased in the profenofos-treated rats compared to controls. Overall, the present study suggests that profenofos acts as an endocrine disruptor of male-specific CYP enzymes and affects testosterone concentration, which implicates its deleterious effects on animal or human males chronically exposed to organophosphorus pesticide.     

Precipitation as the most affecting factor on soil–plant environment conditions affects the mycorrhizal spore numbers in three different ecological zones in Turkey

Mycorrhizal symbiosis is the one of the most important relationship between microbiota and plants to sustain plant nutrition in relatively unfavourable conditions. Somehow this relation is threatened by time, therefore, definition of the factors effecting mycorrhizal symbiosis has become essential. The aim of this study was to determine the differences in specific mycorrhizal parameters such as sporulation and soil–plant environment conditions in three different regions of Turkey. During 1996?2002, 53 soil series were selected from natural and agricultural plant communities in three different agro-ecological zones of Turkey: Central Anatolia (CA), the Southeastern Anatolian (SA) project area and the Coast of Mediterranean (CM). The arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus (AMF), spore numbers and mycorrhizal root colonization were related to the annual average precipitation, soil characteristics and host plant identity.

In the CM zone (average annual precipitation of 650?mm), soils found under natural vegetation contained a maximum value of 108?spores?g^?1, with bare soils containing a minimum number of 0.1?spores?g^?1. In the CA zone (330?mm annual average precipitation), the maximum number of spores in the soil samples was 46.5?spores?g^?1 with a minimum of 6.8?spores?g^?1 and in the SA soil samples (380?mm annual average precipitation), a maximum of 48.4?spores?g^?1 and a minimum of 14.2?spores?g^?1 were recorded. The overall mean number of mycorrhizal spores g^?1 soil was 15.5?±?14.4, 22.2?±?8.6 and 27.9?±?25.4 for the CA, SA and CM zones, respectively. Mean spore numbers differed in only two of the three zones, with the third zone being intermediate. Precipitation was the most affecting factor on the sporulation of AMF. Also host plant species and certain soil parameters, such as positive correlations with CaCO₃ and N-min and a negative correlation with organic matter, have an influence on sporulation.

The key finding is that the cropping system has a large impact on spore numbers/abundance. Seventeen standing crops as well as bare soil, fallow and natural areas were compared. There are a large number of factors which can affect mycorrhizal development; in the present work, it seems that soil and crop management, and environmental factors (such as precipitation) affect sporulation and root colonization. Covering land surface with mycorrhiza-dependent cover crop, irrigation and less soil till may increase indigenous mycorrhizal spores.     

Interactive effects of biochar and micronutrients on faba bean growth,symbiotic performance,and soil properties

Leguminous crops are significantly involved in the global symbiotic biological N₂ Fixation (BNF), an eco‐friendly process in the agriculture system. Biochar is considered as a vital amendment in improving growth and quality of crops and soils. Few investigations have been conducted to determine the combination effect of biochar with microelements on growth of legumes and soil properties. This study was designed to study the effect of soybean straw‐derived biochar (SSDB) with or without microelements on soil microbial and chemical properties, growth, yield, and seed chemical composition of faba bean (Vicia faba L.). Results revealed that dehydrogenase (DHA) and phosphatase (P‐ase) activities were markedly improved with the increase of SSDB rates under addition of microelements and their highest values were recorded after 90 d. Significant increases were noticed in nodulation activities, nodulation numbers (30.1–72.8), concentrations of N (1.62–1.93%), P (0.15–0.21%), and K (0.53–0.67%), and seed chemical constituents due to the addition of SSDB in the presence of microelements. Moreover, the combination of biochar with microelements caused significant changes in microbial counts. Overall, this investigation shows the potential and role of SSDB in enhancing the growth quality of faba bean seeds as well as an improvement of soil characteristics.     

Anti-inflammatory activities of cucurbitacin E isolated from Citrullus lanatus var. citroides: role of reactive nitrogen species and cyclooxygenase enzyme inhibition

The in vivo and in vitro mechanistic anti-inflammatory actions of cucurbitacin E (CE) (Citrullus lanatus var. citroides) were examined. The results showed that LPS/INF-γ increased NO production in RAW264.7 macrophages, whereas L-NAME and CE curtailed it. CE did not reveal any cytotoxicity on RAW264.7 and WRL-68 cells. CE inhibited both COX enzymes with more selectivity toward COX-2. Intraperitoneal injection of CE significantly suppressed carrageenan-induced rat's paw edema. ORAC and FRAP assays showed that CE is not a potent ROS scavenger. It could be concluded that CE is potentially useful in treating inflammation through the inhibition of COX and RNS but not ROS.     

Assessment of the accuracy of testicular dysfunction detection in male donkey (Equus asinus) with the aid of colour-spectral Doppler in relation to plasma testosterone and serum nitric oxide levels

This study aimed to determine the usefulness of colour and pulsed Doppler modes for the accurate diagnosis of donkeys suffering from subfertility to determine whether testicular vascularity assessment could be an indicator for sperm functionality. The study sample was composed of 10 male donkeys with normospermia (control group) and 10 donkeys with hypospermia. Animals underwent scrotal circumference measurement, testicular Doppler examination, seminal evaluation, blood sampling and hormonal assay. Semen volume and concentration were significantly (p ≤ .05) lower in the subfertile group (30.25 ± 1.22 ml and 89.44 ± 2.55 × 10⁶/ml) as compared with the control group (82.76 ± 1.65 ml and 452.78 ± 1.25 × 10⁶/ml), and total sperm/ejaculation was significantly (p ≤ .05) higher in the normal donkeys (28.30 ± 2.32 × 10⁹/total ejaculated) as compared with the subfertile group. Intratesticular coloured area showed a marked decline in the hypospermic males. There was no significant difference between the two groups in testosterone level, although the normal group showed an increase in nitric oxide metabolites. Both Doppler indices of the three branches of the testicular artery were elevated significantly (p ≤ .05) in abnormal donkeys, whereas Doppler peak systolic and end-diastolic velocities were increased in the normal group. Male donkeys with subfertility demonstrated lower arterial vascularity parameters in the form of intratesticular coloured area and blood flow rate; therefore, the most optimal parameters for differentiating subfertile hypospermic from normospermic donkeys were found to be the two Doppler indices, velocities parameters, testicular blood flow rate and nitric oxide levels.     

Multiplex real-time PCR for the detection and differentiation of equid herpesvirus 1 (EHV-1) and equid herpesvirus 4 (EHV-4)

A multiplex real-time PCR was designed to detect and differentiate equid herpesvirus 1 (EHV-1) and equid herpesvirus 4 (EHV-4). The PCR targets the glycoprotein B gene of EHV-1 and EHV-4. Primers and probes were specific to each equine herpesvirus type and can be used in monoplex or multiplex PCRs, allowing the differentiation of these two closely related members of the Alphaherpesvirinae. The two probes were minor-groove binding probes (MGB) labelled with 6-carboxy-fluorescein (FAM) and VIC for detection of EHV-1 and EHV-4, respectively. Ten EHV-1 isolates, six EHV-1 positive clinical samples, one EHV-1 reference strain (EHV-1.438/77), three EHV-4 positive clinical samples, two EHV-4 isolates and one EHV-4 reference strain (EHV-4 405/76) were included in this study. EHV-1 isolates, clinical samples and the reference strain reacted in the EHV-1 real-time PCR but not in the EHV-4 real-time PCR and similarly EHV-4 clinical samples, isolates and the reference strain were positive in the EHV-4 real-time PCR but not in the EHV-1 real-time PCR. Other herpesviruses, such as EHV-2, EHV-3 and EHV-5 were all negative when tested using the multiplex real-time PCR. When bacterial pathogens and opportunistic pathogens were tested in the multiplex real-time PCR they did not react with either system. The multiplex PCR was shown to be sensitive and specific and is a useful tool for detection and differentiation of EHV-1 and EHV-4 in a single reaction. A comprehensive equine herpesvirus disease investigation procedure used in our laboratory is also outlined. This procedure describes the combination of alphaherpesvirus multiplex real-time PCR along with existing gel-based PCRs described by other authors.     

Molecular characterization of the equine herpesvirus 1 strains RacL11 and Kentucky D

The pathogenicities of RacL11 and Kentucky D strains of equine herpesvirus 1 in the hamster infection model are different from those of Ab4p and the Japanese isolates. Virus genome restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis and sequence comparison of an intergenic region, glycoproteins and tegument genes showed higher conservation but with some strain-specific differences. These results indicate that point nucleotide differences in RacL11 and Kentucky D might be responsible for their pathogenicity in rodent models.     

Alleviation of alternate bearing phenomenon in mango (Mangifera indica L.) trees using boron and nitrogen fertilization

Abstract

This investigation was conducted during two successive seasons (2014/2015) and (2015/2016) using 15?years old productive mango (Mangifera indica) trees cv. Zebda. The trees were grown at AlMalak Valley Farm, El-Sharkeya Governorate- Egypt (30–51° North; 32–53° East). Trees were planted 8?×?8 meter within and between rows in sandy soil under drip irrigation system using the Nile water. The objective of this study is to alleviate alternate bearing in cv. Zebda using mineral nutrients (nitrogen in the on year and boron in the off year). Treatments included three concentrations of nitrogen (1000, 1250, 1500?g/tree/year) and three concentrations of boron (0.0, 250, 500?mg L^?1). Nitrogen was applied to the soil as ammonium sulfate and boron was applied as foliar spray of boric acid. The extra amount of nitrogen fertilizer (250 and 500?g N/tree) was applied at three installments in (May, June and July). Treatment was arranged in a factorial Completely Randomized Block Design with three replicates for each treatment. Results show that the on-year nitrogen fertilization significantly increased mango tree vegetative growth (number of shoot/branch, shoot length, shoot thickness, number of leaves/meter and leaf area) and yield. The average yield in the on year is 85.5?kg/tree at 1250?g N/tree but 67.4?Kilogram/tree at 1000?g N/tree (the control treatment). While in the off year boron foliar application resulted in a significant increase in flowering, initial fruit set, final fruit set and fruit yield. The average yield in the off year is 47?kg/tree at 250?mg L^?1 boron but 9?kg/tree at 0.0?mg L^?1 boron rate (the control treatment).The interaction treatment of 250?mg L^?1 boron + 1500?g nitrogen/tree is the best treatment as it resulted in the highest values for all the tested parameters. The average yield of this treatment is 53.5?kg/tree. This treatment helps alleviate alternate bearing phenomenon by 41% and obtain the highest economic yield in the off-year, i.e. increased yield by 5.9 fold.