Improving quality indices of Rosa ‘Yellow Finesse’ using methyl jasmonate and benzyl adenine

Plant growth regulators (PGRs) play a key role in regulating physiological and morphological development of plant species. Application of these PGRs can improve pre- and post-harvest quality and quantity of ornamental flowers and lessen the harmful effects of injury incurred at harvesting time. The objective of this study was to determine the appropriate spraying solution for improving pre- and postharvest quality indices of Rosa hybrida L. cv. ‘Yellow Finesse’. So, the effect of methyl jasmonate (MeJA) at 0, 50, 100, or 150 mg*l-1 alone or in combination with benzyl adenine (BA) at 0, 10, or 20 mg*l-1 was investigated. Plants were sprayed at a 15-day interval for two months and then harvested at a mature bud stage. The results showed that flower head diameter and leaf chlorophyll content were improved by applying 100 mg*l-1 MeJA + 20 mg*l-1 BA. The application of 100 mg*l-1 MeJA + 10 mg*l-1 BA or 10 mg*l-1 BA resulted in improving its petal carotenoid content. The plants treated with 150 mg*l-1 MeJA had the longest shelf life. The findings demonstrated that while 100 mg*l-1 MeJA + 20 mg*l-1 BA and 100 mg*l-1 MeJA + 10 mg*l-1 BA were the best preharvest spraying solutions due to the highest carotenoid content and largest flower head diameter. Particularly, 150 mg*l-1 MeJA was the best spraying solution for extending cut flower shelf life and had the potential to function as a postharvest treatment

A Review of the Effectiveness of Facing the Scientific Indicators of Depression Reduction among the Nurses Working in the Hospitals of Bandar Abbas

ABSTRACT This research was carried out with the aim of studying the effectiveness of facing the scientific indicators of happiness on reducing depression in nurses working at Bandar Abbas hospitals. The study is a quasi-experimental research conducted based on pretest-posttest design with control group. The statistical population of research consisted of 60 individuals (30 in experimental group and 30 in witness group) who were randomly selected by reduplication method. In order to conduct the research Beck depression inventory was administered as pretest to evaluate the extent of depression. In order to study the research hypotheses, 60 nurses scoring high on depression were randomly selected and placed in control and experimental groups. In the next stage, the questionnaires related to three scientific indicators of happiness, namely forgiveness, gratitude, and kindness were administered in experimental and control groups to assess these three indicators in both groups. In the fourth step, the experimental group received 2-hour training for 7 sessions on the three scientific indicators of happiness, i.e. forgiveness, gratitude, and kindness. Three sessions of free discussion were held in control group. The posttest of depression, forgiveness, gratitude and kindness was administered for both groups upon completion of training sessions. The analysis of mean differences using mean and covariance of pretest and posttest scores showed that giving unconscious visual and aural auditory stimuli to the subjects had no significant influence on reducing depression in the short term. Training on unconditional forgiveness, gratitude, and kindness had a significant influence on reducing depression in nurses (p=0.001)

Comparison of virulence factors between ESBL and non-ESBL producing Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates

Background and Objectives: Klebsiella pneumoniae is an opportunistic pathogen responsible for causing nosocomial and community-acquired infections. Its pathogenicity is associated with a variety of virulence factors and antibiotic resistance. The aim of the present study was to compare virulence attributes between ESBL and non-ESBL producing isolates. Materials and Methods: A total of 113 K. pneumoniae including 56 ESBL and 57 non ESBL-producers were collected in Bushehr province, Iran, from November 2017 to February 2019. Enzymatic profile, hypermucoviscosity and biofilm formation were investigated phenotypically. In addition, the presence of rmpA, aerobactin, kfu, allS, mrkD, ybtS, entB, iutA, fimH, wabG, wcaG, K1 and K2 genes were detected by PCR and sequencing. Results: There was no statistically significant difference in enzymatic profile between ESBL and non-ESBL producers. The prevalence of the hypermocoviscosity was lower among ESBL compared to non-ESBL producers but the intensity of biofilm was higher in the ESBL producers. Among the virulence genes, K1, rmpA, iutA, and aero were observed only in non-ESBLs. Moreover, the carriage of allS, K, K2, rmpA, iutA and aero genes was higher in hypermucoviscous in comparison with non hypermucoviscous isolates. Conclusion: The identification of potentially pathogenic isolates plays an important role in preventing their spread as well as the success of their treatment

Variations in the growth, oil quantity and quality, and mineral nutrients of chamomile genotypes under salinity stress

Understanding how plants respond to salinity, which severely restricts plant growth, productivity, and survival, is highly important in agriculture. Using three genotypes of Matricaria recutita L. (Shiraz, Ahvaz, and Isfahan) with different sensitivity to NaCl, the effect of long-term (about 110 days) NaCl treatments (2.5, 6, 9, and 12 dS*m-1) on crop growth, oil quality and quantity, and nutrient variations were investigated to underpin its agricultural management in the future. The adaptation strategy and plant responses were influenced by salinity level, genotype, and genotype × salinity interactions. With higher productivity compared to the Isfahan genotype, the Shiraz and Ahvaz genotypes had efficient Na+ exclusion at root surface as an avoidance strategy; however, under higher NaCl concentration, their higher performance were mainly attributed to the Na+ sequestration in root vacuoles and higher Ca2+/Na+, Mg2+/Na+, and root/shoot ratios as tolerance strategies. The higher oil yield and chamazulene percentage in the Isfahan genotype were not affected by salinity level and were only genotype dependent. Under 12 dS*m-1 NaCl, roots of the Shiraz and Ahvaz genotypes accumulated markedly higher Ca2+ (2.5% and 1.5% respectively) and Mg2+ (1.6% and 1.3% respectively), required for membrane stability and chlorophyll synthesis, respectively, more than the Isfahan genotype (0.2% Ca and 0.1% Mg2+) and considerably more than the control plants to keep low concentrations of ion toxicity of Na2+ and Cl- in shoots. Overall, greater salt tolerance found in the Shiraz and Ahvaz genotypes could be due to a variety of mechanisms, including higher efficiency of nutrient uptake (Ca2+, Mg2+, and Zn2+), utilization (N, P, Ca2+, and Mg2+), compartmentation (Na in roots), and maintenance of higher root/shoot ratios. Taking flower and oil yield as well as chamazulene percentage into consideration, the findings recommended cultivation of the Ahvaz genotype in the absence of salt stress (by 1.18 g*plant-1, 6.25 kg*ha-1, and 12.54% respectively), the Isfahan genotype under 6 dS*m-1 NaCl (by 0.73 g*plant-1, 4.84 kg*ha-1, and 11.66% respectively), and the Shiraz genotype under high salinity of 9 and 12 dS*m-1 NaCl (by 0.68 g*plant-1, 5.20 kg*ha-1, and 13.46% respectively under 12 dS*m-1 NaCl)

Variations in the growth, oil quantity and quality, and mineral nutrients of chamomile genotypes under salinity stress

Understanding how plants respond to salinity, which severely restricts plant growth, productivity, and survival, is highly important in agriculture. Using three genotypes of Matricaria recutita L. (Shiraz, Ahvaz, and Isfahan) with different sensitivity to NaCl, the effect of long-term (about 110 days) NaCl treatments (2.5, 6, 9, and 12 dS*m-1) on crop growth, oil quality and quantity, and nutrient variations were investigated to underpin its agricultural management in the future. The adaptation strategy and plant responses were influenced by salinity level, genotype, and genotype × salinity interactions. With higher productivity compared to the Isfahan genotype, the Shiraz and Ahvaz genotypes had efficient Na+ exclusion at root surface as an avoidance strategy; however, under higher NaCl concentration, their higher performance were mainly attributed to the Na+ sequestration in root vacuoles and higher Ca2+/Na+, Mg2+/Na+, and root/shoot ratios as tolerance strategies. The higher oil yield and chamazulene percentage in the Isfahan genotype were not affected by salinity level and were only genotype dependent. Under 12 dS*m-1 NaCl, roots of the Shiraz and Ahvaz genotypes accumulated markedly higher Ca2+ (2.5% and 1.5% respectively) and Mg2+ (1.6% and 1.3% respectively), required for membrane stability and chlorophyll synthesis, respectively, more than the Isfahan genotype (0.2% Ca and 0.1% Mg2+) and considerably more than the control plants to keep low concentrations of ion toxicity of Na2+ and Cl- in shoots. Overall, greater salt tolerance found in the Shiraz and Ahvaz genotypes could be due to a variety of mechanisms, including higher efficiency of nutrient uptake (Ca2+, Mg2+, and Zn2+), utilization (N, P, Ca2+, and Mg2+), compartmentation (Na in roots), and maintenance of higher root/shoot ratios. Taking flower and oil yield as well as chamazulene percentage into consideration, the findings recommended cultivation of the Ahvaz genotype in the absence of salt stress (by 1.18 g*plant-1, 6.25 kg*ha-1, and 12.54% respectively), the Isfahan genotype under 6 dS*m-1 NaCl (by 0.73 g*plant-1, 4.84 kg*ha-1, and 11.66% respectively), and the Shiraz genotype under high salinity of 9 and 12 dS*m-1 NaCl (by 0.68 g*plant-1, 5.20 kg*ha-1, and 13.46% respectively under 12 dS*m-1 NaCl)

Evaluation of Various Rosa Damascena Mill. Genotypes Grown under Rainfed Semi-arid Condition

Rosa damascena Mill L. also known as "Damask Rose" and "Gole Mohammadi" is a well-recognized high value ornamental and medicinal plant, which can be used in food, perfume and medicine industries. This study aimed to analyze the genetic diversity of 10 Rosa damascena genotypes by evaluating their morphological traits, flower yield and oil content to find the best genotype with high productivity under rainfed condition in Lorestan province, Iran. This study was conducted in a completely randomized design trial with three replications. The data analyses, using Pearson's correlation coef?cients, showed that flower dry yield per hectare was significantly and positively correlated with, flower dry weight per plant, flowering period, plant height, number of flowers per plant, fresh and dry weight of petals, average weight of each flower, and number of flowers per day. Principal component (PC) analysis revealed that the first three PCs, respectively, called as flower yield, receptacle, and flower size components accounted for 88.33% of the total variation. The genotypes were grouped into four clusters in which the highest genetic distance was observed between Kermanshah and Fars1 genotypes. Fars1 and Yazd1 genotypes had the highest productivity in terms of, respectively, flower yield and oil content and showed the high potential for cultivation under rainfed condition in Lorestan province.12 month embargo; published online: 18 September 2019This item from the UA Faculty Publications collection is made available by the University of Arizona with support from the University of Arizona Libraries. If you have questions, please contact us at [email protected]

Phytochemical Analysis and Cytotoxicity Evaluation of Kelussia odoratissima Mozaff.

Background: Kelussia odoratissima Mozaff. (Apiaceae) is an edible, indigenous, and ethnomedicinal plant that grows only in Iran. Although antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of K. odoratissima have been reported, cytotoxic activity of this plant has not been investigated previously. Objective: This study aims to evaluate the cytotoxicity of K. odoratissima leaf extract against a panel of human cancer cell lines. A secondary aim was to perform a phytochemical analysis of the plant’s leaf oil. Methods: To extract the plant oil, dried leaves were subjected to hydrodistillation using a Clevenger-type apparatus for up to 3 hours. For the phytochemical analysis, essential oil was subjected to gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Plant extraction was performed by macerating leaf powder of K. odoratissima (50 g) in 70% methanol (500 mL) at room temperature (25–28°C) for 24 hours. To perform cytotoxicity assays, methanolic extract of K. odoratissima was tested against a panel of cell lines including MDA-MB468 (human breast cancer cell line), K562 (human leukemia cell line), SKOV3 (human ovarian cancer cell line), Y79 (human eye cancer cell line), A549 (lung cancer cell line), and HEK 293 (normal human embryonic kidney cell line). Results: Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry analysis revealed that sesquiterpens are dominant volatile components of the plant, followed by phthalides comprising 3-butyldine phthalide and 3-n-butyl phthalide, the latter compound being the major component of the leaf oil (25.1%). The leaf extract showed selective and dose-dependent cytotoxicity against MDA-MB468, K562, SKOV3, Y79, and A549 cancer cell lines with IC50 values (concentration that inhibits cell growth by 50%) of 85 μg/mL, 70 μg/mL, 120 μg/mL, 82 μg/mL, and145 μg/mL, respectively. Conclusions: The present results suggest a direct cytotoxic activity of K. odoratissima leaf extract against human cancer cell lines. This activity of K. odoratissima may find application in combination with traditional herbal medicines to develop a new anticancer pharmacopuncture therapy