Association mapping of spot blotch resistance in wild barley

Spot blotch, caused by Cochliobolus sativus, is an important foliar disease of barley. The disease has been controlled for over 40 years through the deployment of cultivars with durable resistance derived from the line NDB112. Pathotypes of C. sativus with virulence for the NDB112 resistance have been detected in Canada; thus, many commercial cultivars are vulnerable to spot blotch epidemics. To increase the diversity of spot blotch resistance in cultivated barley, we evaluated 318 diverse wild barley accessions comprising the Wild Barley Diversity Collection (WBDC) for reaction to C. sativus at the seedling stage and utilized an association mapping (AM) approach to identify and map resistance loci. A high frequency of resistance was found in the WBDC as 95% (302/318) of the accessions exhibited low infection responses. The WBDC was genotyped with 558 Diversity Array Technology (DArT®) and 2,878 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers and subjected to structure analysis before running the AM procedure. Thirteen QTL for spot blotch resistance were identified with DArT and SNP markers. These QTL were found on chromosomes 1H, 2H, 3H, 5H, and 7H and explained from 2.3 to 3.9% of the phenotypic variance. Nearly half of the identified QTL mapped to chromosome bins where spot blotch resistance loci were previously reported, offering some validation for the AM approach. The other QTL mapped to unique genomic regions and may represent new spot blotch resistance loci. This study demonstrates that AM is an effective technique for identifying and mapping QTL for disease resistance in a wild crop progenitor

Narghile Smoking among Jordanian Educated Working Women: Attitudes and Beliefs

Aims: We estimated the number of users of tobacco, particularly narghile (water pipe) among a sample of women working at a higher education institute in Jordan. We also investigated the attitudes of narghile smokers to their habit, together with their willingness to stop NS; and finally their awareness to oral health and their perceptions about the harmful effects of NS. Study Design: The study was a cross-sectional survey whereby the sample was conveniently selected from all the faculties, institutes and centres of the University. Place and Duration of Study: University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan during July 2011. Methodology: Data were collected by allowing the participants to complete a preprepared questionnaire privately. Statistical analysis was performed using the SPSS program. Results: Among the (96) participants, 24 ladies (25%) were smokers mostly (79.2%) of narghile. Demographic and social data of age, marital status, education level and number of children did not seem to affect smoking status. Friends and relatives were the main introducers and companions in narghile smoking (73.7%), and home was the main setting for the habit (68.4%). Whereas the hygienic practices related to narghile smoking were below the required level, narghile smokers reported a satisfactory level of oral health practices and were aware of the health risks associated with this habit. Conclusion: Narghile smoking is showing popularity among Jordanian educated working women who invariably have children. Social influences seem to be the major player in shaping women's smoking behavior, whereby close family and friends are the introducers and home is the favorable place for practicing the habit. Specific measures are needed to educate women, their husbands and children of the health hazards of narghile especially that children are adversely affected on different levels

Microbiological analysis, antimicrobial activity, and heavy-metals content of Jordanian Ma'in hot-springs water

Ma'in hot springs are known as sites of balneotherapy. However, little is known about their microbiology and chemistry. In this study, we aim at evaluating the antimicrobial activity of Ma'in hot-springs water (MHSW), studying its microbiology, and determining its physicochemical properties including the heavy metals content. Therefore, water samples were collected from Ma'in hot springs and tested for antimicrobial activity using agar diffusion method. Water was then cultivated on nutrient agar to isolate and identify the dominant bacteria by chemical and molecular methods. The identified strains were tested by cross streak method to evaluate their antimicrobial activity against different clinical and standard strains. Finally, water samples were chemically analyzed and the heavy-metals content was assessed. Results revealed that MHSW was not active against any of the clinical isolates. Nevertheless, MHSW was found to be active against five standard bacterial strains, namely, Staphylococcus epidermidis ATCC 12228 (inhibition zone: 20 mm), Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 29213 (inhibition zone: 19 mm), Micrococcus luteus ATCC 9341 (inhibition zone: 15.3 mm), and Bacillus cereus ATCC 11778 (inhibition zone: 12.3 mm). After cultivation of MHSW, five bacterial isolates were obtained and identified based on 16S rRNA gene analysis as new strains of Anoxybacillus flavithermus (identity percentage ranges between 96–99%). Physicochemical analysis revealed that the in situ temperature was 59 °C, pH was 7.8, salinity was 1.6 ppt, and dissolved oxygen was 3.8 mg l−1. In respect to heavy-metals content in MHSW, the following metals were present in the order: Cr (0.571 ppm) > Mn(0.169 ppm) > Fe (0.124 ppm) > Zn (0.095) > Cu(0.070 ppm) > Ni(0.058 ppm) > Cd (0.023 ppm) > Pb (0 ppm). Cd, Cr, Ni and Mn were found to be higher than permissible levels set by international organizations and countries. This study highlights new chemical and microbiological data about Ma'in hot springs. Keywords: Ma'in hot springs, Antimicrobial activity, Heavy metals, Water microbiology, Thermophilic bacteria, Balneotherap