Impact of mycorrhizal fungi on P acquisition, yield and water use efficiency of onion under regulated deficit irrigation

An experiment was conducted during 2009 for evaluation the effect of mycorrhizalcolonization and regulated irrigation at different stages of growth on yield and water useefficiency (WUE) of onion. Pre-inoculated of onion (Red Azar Shahr cv.) seedling withtwo species of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal (AM) fungi (Glomus versiforme and G. etunicatum) and non-mycorrhizal ones transplanted at density of three plants per pot.Plants were subjected to four irrigation regimes, so at different growth stages including:vegetative growth period, bulb formation and ripening, onions were received differentamount of water based on ET, I1 (100,100 and 80% of ET) I2 (75, 100 and 80 % of ET), I3 (75,75 and 60% ET) and I4 (75, 60 and 80% of ET) at three growth stages respectively. After bulb maturation, bulb yield and dry weight and P concentration were determined and WUE was calculated. The results indicated that mycorrhizal plants had high Pconcentration, and produced greater bulb than non-mycorrhizal onions in all irrigationregimes. WUE was improved by mycorrhizal symbiosis regardless of irrigation regime;however G. versiforme was more effective in comparison with G. etunicatum. Among irrigation regime treatments only sever water stress in bulb formation stage (I4) led todrastic decrease in WUE. In aspect of interaction of mycorrhizal colonization andirrigation regime result indicated that onions inoculated by G. versiforme at I2 andtreatment by G. etunicatum at I2 and I3 led to highest WUE and control plants under I4 irrigation regime showed the lowest WUE

Metabolic profiling reveals reprogramming of lipid metabolic pathways in treatment of polycystic ovary syndrome with 3-iodothyronamine

Complex diseases such as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) are associated with intricate pathophysiological, hormonal, and metabolic feedbacks that make their early diagnosis challenging, thus increasing the prevalence risks for obesity, cardiovascular, and fatty liver diseases. To explore the crosstalk between endocrine and lipid metabolic pathways, we administered 3-iodothyronamine (T1AM), a natural analog of thyroid hormone, in a mouse model of PCOS and analyzed plasma and tissue extracts using multidisciplinary omics and biochemical approaches. T1AM administration induces a profound tissue-specific antilipogenic effect in liver and muscle by lowering gene expression of key regulators of lipid metabolism, PTP1B and PLIN2, significantly increasing metabolites (glucogenic, amino acids, carnitine, and citrate) levels, while enhancing protection against oxidative stress. In contrast, T1AM has an opposing effect on the regulation of estrogenic pathways in the ovary by upregulating STAR, CYP11A1, and CYP17A1. Biochemical measurements provide further evidence of significant reduction in liver cholesterol and triglycerides in post-T1AM treatment. Our results shed light onto tissue-specific metabolic vs. hormonal pathway interactions, thus illuminating the intricacies within the pathophysiology of PCOS. This study opens up new avenues to design drugs for targeted therapeutics to improve quality of life in complex metabolic diseases

Effect of Addition of Nutritional Supplements to Substrate on Yield and Protein Content of Oyster Mushroom (Pleurotu florida)

In order to investigate the effect of addition of nutritional supplements to substrate on yield of oyster mushroom (Pleurotus florida(, an experiment was carried out as completely randomized design in three replicates in 2010 . In this study, three types of nutritional supplements including alfalfa meal, soybean meal and vermicompost, each at three levels (2.5, 5 and 7.5% of wet substrate), were added to wheat straw substrate, and were compared to control. Traits such as preliminary and total yield, biological efficiency, protein content and mineral phosphorus and potassium concentrations were determined. Results indicated that all traits were significantly affected by nutritional supplements (P<0.01). Preliminary and total yields, biological efficiency and protein content were highest in the substrate of nutritional supplements containing 7.5% vermicompost (831.19 g/kg wet substrate), 2.5% soybean meal (1231.4 g/kg wet substrate), 2.5% soybean meal (171.1%) and 7.5% soybean meal (23.14%), respectively. While, the highest concentrations of phosphorus and potassium were obtained in the substrates containing 5% vermicompost (5.86 mg/g dry matter) and 7.5% vermicompost (24.05 mg/g dry matter), respectively

The Effect of Weed Interference Duration on some Morphologic Traits and Yield of Onion (Allium cepa L.)

To determine the effect of weed interference duration on morphological traits and yield of onion (Allium cepa L.), variety Ghermez Azarshahr, an experiment was carried out in an randomized complete block design in three replications at Agricultural Research Farm of Faculty of Agriculture, University of Tabriz in 2010. In this experiment, twelve treatments consisted of six initial weed-free periods in which plots were kept free of weeds for 0, 20, 40, 60, 80 and 100 days after crop emergence (DAE), and then weeds were allowed to grow until harvest. Six initial weed-infested periods in which, weeds were allowed to grow for 0, 20, 40, 60, 80 and 100 DAE, after which the plots were kept free of weeds until harvest. The effect of weed interference on plant height, leaves per plant, average diameter of bulb, biomass per plant, yield per plant and yield per unit of area was significant. All traits of the onion were reduced as the weed infested period was increased. Increasing the weed infested period more than 40 DAE, reduced significantly the plant height, leaves number per plant and bulb diameter of onion. Increasing the weed-infested period to 100 DAE, reduced the onion bulb yield per plant and per unit area in comparison with full weed-free treatment by 95 and 96%, respectively. Also increasing the weed free period up to 40 DAE had no significant effect on bulb yield per plant and per unit of area. Generally results indicated that in order to prevent bulb yield loss in onion, the weed control was essential from onion emergence to 100 DAE and after this period, the weed control or its presence did not affect onion yield