Effects of naphthaleneacetic acid, indole-3-butyric acid and zinc sulfate on the rooting and growth of mulberry cuttings

The mulberry tree (Morus alba) is a perennial and fast-growing tree distributed worldwide under different climatic conditions. Most of the world’s silk production (>90%) is facilitated by the feeding of silkworm larvae on the leaves of mulberry (Morus alba L.) varieties. Therefore, exploration of the protocol for improving the propagation efficiency and increasing the reproductive capacity of M. alba varieties could be of great significance. This study aimed to determine the effect of four concentrations (0, 100, 200 and 400 mg L−1) each of naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA), indole-3-butyric acid (IBA), and zinc sulfate (0, 100 and 200 mg L−1), supplied separately or combined, on the rooting and growth of mulberry cuttings. M. alba cuttings were immersed for 5 s in each solution using the quick-dip method and subsequently, the cuttings were dried and planted in plastic pots and maintained in a greenhouse for 60 days. The number of leaves (NL), longest root size (LRS), longest stem size (LSS), number of rooted cuttings (NRC), number of stems per tree (NSP), rooting percentage (RP), wet root weight (WRW), dry root weight (DRW), wet stem weight (WSW), dry stem weight (DSW), wet leaf weight (WLW) and dry leaf weight (DLW) were evaluated. The results obtained showed an increase in all growth parameters of the mulberry cuttings. Treatments of hormones (IBA and NAA) and Zn sulfate were effective on LSS, LRS and WSW. The highest values of LSS were obtained for the treatments T5, T6, T14, T15, T16 and T18. Moreover, T5, T12 and T10 showed the highest values of LRS. The highest value of WSW was observed for T18, T5, T14, T15 and T16. The highest values of WLW and DLW were observed in T20 and T14. Dry stem weight (DSW) was high in T18 and T14. The application of NAA (at 200 mg L−1), IBA (200 and 400 mg L−1) and Zn sulfate (200 and 400 mg L−1), either alone or in double combination, can be a suitable and reliable method for mulberry propagation

Relationship between LAI of Quercus persica and Pistacia atlantica with Field Spectroscopy

Leaf area index (LAI) is a key variable in primary production and carbon cycling in ecosystems. It is used as an important predictor to explain the processes of forest ecology, forest management, and remote sensing studies. Most of the remote sensing instruments such as LAI-2000 and Fisheye photography are based on three-dimensional space and they consider the geometry of the crown to estimate LAI. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between spectral behaviour of Quercus persica and Pistacia atlantica with two-dimensional and three-dimensional LAI. To estimate LAI, a box (0.5× 0.5× 0.5 meters) was placed in the four directions of the crown and all the leaves were harvested. In situ spectral measurements of leaves were done with ASD Fieldspec spectroradiometer. The results of partial least squares regression to model LAI form spectral data of Quercus persica showed maximum regression coefficient at visible and near infrared wavelengths for both LAI3D and LAI2D. The coefficient of determination (R2) between the measured and estimated LAI2D and LAI3D values for Quercus persica was 0.16 and 0.23 respectively, and for Pistacia atlantica was 0.15 and to 0.42, respectively. Generally, LAI3D showed better relationship with spectral reflectance for both species

An optimum level of nano-selenium supplementation of a broiler diet according to the performance, economical parameters, plasma constituents and immunity

An optimum nano-Se content in a diet of highly productive broilers has not been defined yet. Meanwhile, there are contradictory reports regarding effects of nano-Se on production traits and the etiology of possible positive effects. The aims of the present study were to test the hypothesis that low levels of nano-Se can improve productivity and metabolic functions during a 42-day-long broiler production cycle, to determine an optimum nano-Selenium (nano-Se) concentration of the diet, and finally to explore the etiology of these effects. One-hundred-eighty 1-day-old, male, Ross 308 broiler chicks were used in a completely randomized experiment, where the birds were placed in experimental pens, in three replicate pens of 10 chicks each, making a total of 18 experimental units. They were assigned diets with different nano-Selenium levels. All birds were fed an almost identical diet from 1 until 42 d, different only in the nano-Se content, namely: 1) control (CON) group 0.0 nano-Se, 2) NS1 group 0.1 mg kg-1 dietary nano-Se, 3) NS2 group 0.2 mg kg-1 dietary nano-Se, 4) NS3 group 0.3 mg kg-1 dietary nano-Se, 5) NS4 group 0.4 mg kg-1 dietary nano-Se, 6) NS5 group 0.5 mg kg-1 dietary nano-Se, supplied from 1 to 42 day of life. The significance level was declared at P<0.05. The final bird weight was higher and production cost was lower in NS3 and NS4 groups compared to CON, NS1 and NS5. The weight of an eviscerated carcass was lower in CON group compared to the other groups. The serum blood parameters as well as the weight of organs related with the immune system were not significantly different between groups. Nano-Se supplementation positively affected body weight gain (BWG) and feed conversion ratio (FCR). Higher BWG was achieved owing to better FCR rather than higher feed intake. The supplementation of 0.3-0.4 mg nano-Se kg-1 is the optimum level to be added as a feed additive in broiler diets, increasing animal productivity and diminishing environmental impac

Influence of dietary fat source on growth performance responses and carcass traits of broiler chicks

This study was conducted to determine the effects of three different fat sources and their combination on growth performance, carcass traits and intestinal measurements of broiler chickens reared to 42 d of age. Two hundred day-old male broiler chicks (Ross 308) were randomly assigned to one of five treatments with four replicates of 10 chicks based on a completely randomized design. The dietary treatments consisted of 4% added fat from three different sources and their combination as follows: T, diet containing 4% tallow; CO, diet containing 4% canola oil; SFO, diet containing 4% sunflower oil; TCO, diet containing 2% tallow+2% canola oil; TSFO, diet containing 2% tallow+2% sunflower oil. Dietary fat type affected significantly BW and gain as well as feed efficiency in birds fed the TCO diets compared with those fed the other diets. Dietary fat type also modified meat yield, resulting in a higher breast and drumstick yields in the birds fed TCO and TSFO diets, respectively. Most of internal organ relative weights and small intestine measurements were not influenced by dietary treatments, except for the abdominal fat pad weight that was lower in birds fed SFO and for small intestinal length that was influenced by fat source. Results from the current study suggested that the supplementation with a combination of vegetable and animal fat sources in broiler diet supported positively growth performance and carcass parameters