Effects of salicylic acid on the growth and pathogenicity of Zymoseptoria tritici

Introduction: Zymoseptoria tritici, is a species of filamentous fungus and causes the widespread wheat disease Septoria tritici blotch (STB). Salicylic acid has a key role in plant defence reactions and is also involved in the induction of systemic acquired resistance. However, the contribution of SA to the interaction of Z. tritici -wheat in STB is not entirely clear.In this study, it was shown that the Z. tritici mycelial growth and conidia germination were significantly inhibited the presence of increasing concentration of SA in both liquid and solid media. In addition, the effect of SA on pathogenicity of Z. tritici in wheat was investigated. Materials and methods: In this study, the inhibitory effect of SA on Z. tritici at different concentrations (1 to 20 mM) in vitro, and also, the efficacy of its exogenous application in the suppression of STB in wheat under the greenhouse condition were investigated. In vitro evaluation was done on YMDA and YMDB to determine the effect of SA on the germination of conidia and growth of mycelium, respectively.  Susceptible bread wheat cultivar was grown in pot and inoculated with fungus spores and SA in a three-leaf stage for green house experiments. Results: The results showed that the germination ofconidia was completely inhibited by 4 mM SA. Furthermore, in modified YMDA plates at over 0.8 mM, the colonies diameter was reduced significantly. The result of in planta assay indicated that the foliar application of 4 mM SA can significantly reduce the disease symptoms on the wheat leaves. Discussion and conclusion: Regarding our data, it seems that SA shows more inhibitory effect in in vitro experiments than in planta. Moreover, according to the positive effects of SA on STB, the survey results can be considered as a potential approach in the management of this disease

Lentinula edodes substrate formulation using multilayer perceptron-genetic algorithm: a critical production checkpoint

Shiitake (Lentinula edodes) is one of the most widely grown and consumed mushroom species worldwide. They are a potential source of food and medicine because they are rich in nutrients and contain various minerals, vitamins, essential macro- and micronutrients, and bioactive compounds. The reuse of agricultural and industrial residues is crucial from an ecological and economic perspective. In this study, the running length (RL) of L. edodes cultured on 64 substrate compositions obtained from different ratios of bagasse (B), wheat bran (WB), and beech sawdust (BS) was recorded at intervals of 5 days after cultivation until the 40th day. Multilayer perceptron-genetic algorithm (MLP-GA), multiple linear regression, stepwise regression, principal component regression, ordinary least squares regression, and partial least squares regression were used to predict and optimize the RL and running rate (RR) of L. edodes. The statistical values showed higher prediction accuracies of the MLP-GA models (92% and 97%, respectively) compared with those of the regression models (52% and 71%, respectively) for RL and RR. The high degree of fit between the forecasted and actual values of the RL and RR of L. edodes confirmed the superior performance of the developed MLP-GA models. An optimization analysis on the established MLP-GA models showed that a substrate containing 15.1% B, 45.1% WB, and 10.16% BS and a running time of 28 days and 10 h could result in the maximum L. edodes RL (10.69 cm). Moreover, the highest RR of L. edodes (0.44 cm d−1) could be obtained by a substrate containing 30.7% B, 90.4% WB, and 0.0% BS. MLP-GA was observed to be an effective method for predicting and consequently selecting the best substrate composition for the maximal RL and RR of L. edodes

Molecular insights into the compatible and incompatible interactions between sugar beet and the beet cyst nematode

Background: Sugar beet (Beta vulgarissubsp.vulgaris) is an economically important crop that provides nearly one third of the global sugar production. The beet cyst nematode (BCN),Heterodera schachtii, causes major yield losses in sugar beet and other crops worldwide. The most effective and economic approach to control this nematode is growing tolerant or resistant cultivars. To identify candidate genes involved in susceptibility and resistance, the transcriptome of sugar beet and BCN in compatible and incompatible interactions at two time points was studied using mRNA-seq. Results: In the susceptible cultivar, most defense-related genes were induced at 4 dai while suppressed at 10 dai but in the resistant cultivar Nemakill, induction of genes involved in the plant defense response was observed at both time points. In the compatible interaction, alterations in phytohormone-related genes were detected. The effect of exogenous application of Methyl Jasmonate and ET-generator ethephon on susceptible plants was therefore investigated and the results revealed significant reduction in plant susceptibility. Genes putatively involved in the resistance of Nemakill were identified, such as genes involved in phenylpropanoid pathway and genes encoding CYSTM domain-containing proteins, F-box proteins, chitinase, galactono-1,4-lactone dehydrogenase and CASP-like protein. Also, the transcriptome of the BCN was analyzed in infected root samples and several novel potential nematode effector genes were found. Conclusions: Our data provides detailed insights into the plant and nematode transcriptional changes occurring during compatible and incompatible interactions between sugar beet and BCN. Many important genes playing potential roles in susceptibility or resistance of sugar beet against BCN, as well as some BCN effectors with a potential role asavrproteins were identified. In addition, our findings indicate the effective role of jasmonate and ethylene in enhancing sugar beet defense response against BCN. This research provides new molecular insights into the plant-nematode interactions that can be used to design novel management strategies against BCN

The Diffusion Model of NFC Technology in the Mobile Payment System in Iran

This study aims to create a diffusion model for the diffusion of Near-Field Communication (NFC) technology in the mobile payment system in Iran. NFC technology is one of the technological applications that is spreading worldwide daily and being used in various industries. In recent years, the country's banking system has tried implementing it in electronic payments based on cell phones, but it has not yielded results. The study's statistical population is everyone over 18 who can use the banking system. It is an applied and mixed study (quantitative and qualitative) using a system dynamics approach. The results are summarized in four scenarios, with the fourth scenario providing the best results. By implementing this scenario, accompanied by an increase in contact rate, education and culture, and legal infrastructure, the growth of NFC technology among users of mobile phone-based payment systems in the country can be increased to an acceptable level

Culture-based diversity of endophytic fungi of three species of Ferula grown in Iran

A total of 1,348 endophytic fungal strains were isolated from Ferula ovina, F. galbaniflua, and F. persica. They included Eurotiales (16 species), Pleosporales (11 species), Botryosphaeriales (1 species), Cladosporiales (2 species), Helotiales (6 species), Hypocreales (31 species), Sordariales (7 species), Glomerellales (2 species), and Polyporales (1 species). F. ovina had the richest species composition of endophytic fungi, and the endophytic fungi were most abundant in their roots compared to shoots. Chao, Margalef, Shannon, Simpson, Berger–Parker, Menhinick, and Camargo indices showed that F. ovina roots had the most endophytic fungal species. The frequency distribution of fungal species isolated from Ferula spp. fell into the log-series model, and F. ovina roots had the highest Fisher alpha. The dominance indices showed that there are no dominant species in the endophytic fungal community isolated from Ferula spp., indicating community stability. Evenness values were 0.69, 0.90, 0.94, and 0.57 for endophytic fungi isolated from F. ovina roots, F. ovina shoots, F. galbaniflua roots, and F. persica roots, respectively, indicating a species distribution that tends toward evenness. The fungal species community isolated from each of F. ovina roots, F. ovina shoots, F. galbaniflua roots, and F. persica roots was a diverse species group originating from a homogeneous habitat. Their distribution followed a log-normal distribution, suggesting that the interactions of numerous independent environmental factors multiplicatively control species abundances. Principal component analysis showed that the highest species diversity and dominance were observed in the endophytic fungal community isolated from F. ovina and F. persica roots, respectively

High Creatine Kinase (CK)-MB and Lactate Dehydrogenase in the Absence of Myocardial Injury or Infarction: A Case Report

Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is a life threatening condition that needs emergency diagnosis and early treatment in the emergency room. Rapid laboratory testing for creatine kinase (CK)-MB greatly revolutionized the diagnosis and management of acute myocardial infarction. We report a case with chest pain that referred to the emergency department (ED). Laboratory data showed high serum levels of creatine kinase and lactate dehydrogenase. With diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction, he was hospitalized and angiography was performed which showed three vessels disease; the patient was referred to surgical ward for coronary artery bypass graft. Surgery was performed after one week; during the operation there was no sign of infarction over the heart. Our observation suggests that false positive laboratory result may be due to other condition which must be evaluated

On-Pump Beating Coronary Artery Bypass in High Risk Coronary Patients

Background: There are some conflicting results with Conventional Coronary Artery Bypass Grafts (CCABG) with arrested heart in coronary high-risk patients. Moreover, performing off-pump CABG in these cases may be associated with serious complications. The objective of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of the on-pump beating CABG (OPBCABG) in coronary high-risk patients in comparison with the conventional methods. Methods: In a prospective research study, 3000 off-pump CABG patients were considered during June 2003 to December 2011. Among these, 157 patients with one or more of the following risk factors were included for OPBCABG; severe left main stenosis, early post-acute myocardial infarction with ongoing chest pain, unstable angina, intractable ventricular arrhythmia, post complicated coronary intervention and severe left ventricular dysfunction. These patients were compared with 157 similar patients undergone CCABG with aortic cross clamp before 2003. Results: Preoperative patient characteristics revealed no significant differences between the two groups. The patients’ mean age and number of grafts were 57 years and 3 per patient respectively. Hospital mortality was 3.2% and 9% in OPBCABG and CCABG groups, respectively (P<0.001). Preoperative myocardial infarction, requirement of inotropic agents and intraaortic balloon pump, renal dysfunction and prolonged ventilation time were significantly higher in CCABG group. Conclusion: Our results suggest that OPBCABG is effective in coronary high-risk patients and significantly reduces mortality and the incidence of perioperative MI and other major complications

Journal of Bacteriology Research Characterization of bacterial strains associated with sheath rot complex and grain discoloration of rice in North of Iran (Mazandaran province)

In recent years, similar symptoms to sheath rot complex (SH C) and grain discoloration (GD) has been observed in paddy fields Pathogenic strains were often isolated from samples with the symptom of longitudinal brown to reddish brown necrosis 5 mm wide extending the entire length of flag leaf sheath. Over 800 strains were isolated from collected samples and tested for pathogenicity on rice and/or hypersensitivity on tobacco or pelargonium. Pathogenic strains were isolated from 20.28% samples which contained only 5.3%of total strains. Eighty two strains comprising 72 strains from plants showing symptoms of sheath rot and grain discoloration, five strains from diseased seedling and five standard strains were analyzed for phenotypic studies. Pseudomonas-specific primers were used to confirm identification of the genus.On the basis of phenotypic characters and genus specific primers, the strains belonged to genera Acidovorax and Pseudomonas. Cluster analysis of 67 biochemical characters grouped 70 selected strains into seven distinct cluster and six groups with one member. The results confirmed that pathogenic strains associated with SH C and GD in Iran (Mazandaran province) belong to Acidovorax avenae subsp avenae (2.32%), Pseudomonas putida (2.32%), Pseudomonas marginalis (6.65%), Pseudomonas syringae (76.7%) and two unidentified species of Pseudomonas (13.95%). Accordingly, the P. syringae was revealed that is the major causal tnega of SH C and GD in north of Iran

A new species of Raphidopus Stimpson, 1858, from the Persian Gulf (Crustacea: Decapoda: Anomura: Porcellanidae)

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