Morphometric and meristic variations in bream (Abramis brama orientalis, Berg, 1949) during larval development

This study was conducted to examine morphometric and meristic characteristics alongside pigmentation patterns of bream larvae, Abramis brama orientalis, in four stages of larval development. Morphological characters including total length (TL), standard length (SL), notochord length (NL), head length (HL), head depth (HD), eye diameter (ED) and mouth width (MW) were examined from hatching time through 30 days after hatching (DAH). The results showed morphometric variations in the different larval stages. Growth and development of fins occurred mainly at the Post Flexion stage with the completion of caudal fin at 9 mm TL and pelvic fin at 13.33 mm TL. At all larval stages, the highest concentration of pigments was seen on dorsal, ventral and somewhat on the lateral sides of body in descending order. The highest density of melanophores at larvae yolk sac stage was observed on the yolk sac and the back of head zone, while at preflexion and flexion stages melanophores were dominant on the back of head and on the skin folds which resulted from yolk absorption. At post flexion stage, high density of melanophores was found on the back of the head, bases of fins and caudal fin, while less concentrations of these cells were evident on the lateral sides of fish' body. In conclusion, a clear change in the growth and main morphological characters were observed in postflexion stage. This may be due to the main development of fins, which would suggest enhanced swimming capabilities and also prey capture efficiencies

Antioxidant enzyme changes in response to osmotic stress in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) seedling

In order to evaluate the effects of osmotic stress on behavioral responses of antioxidant enzymes including superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POX), catalase (CAT), glutathione reductase (GR) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX), a factorial experiment was carried out under laboratory conditions with three groups of wheat genotypes (tolerant, intermediate and susceptible) and three osmotic stress levels induced by PEG (control, mild and severe). Electrophoretic analyses were performed for three antioxidant enzymes SOD, POX and CAT in shoots of wheat seedlings using 7.5% slab polyacrylamide gels. The activities of GR and APX were determined spectrophotometrically. For SOD, POX and CAT, two, seven and one isozymes were observed, respectively. Statistical analysis showed that osmotic stress has a significant effect on enzymatic activities in wheat seedlings. POX, CAT, GR and APXactivities were increased significantly in the severe stress compared with control condition about 31, 61, 129 and 149 percent, respectively. Whereas, SOD activity increased significantly by 41% in the mild stress compared with control treatment. The highest enzymatic activity was belonged to tolerant group under severe stress conditions for almost all of isozymes and enzymes. Among the antioxidant enzymes, APX activity was increased most drastically in severe stress condition. The extent of damage to the wheat seedlings seems to depend on genotype and severity of osmotic stress

Knowledge and Attitude of Iranian Red Crescent Society Volunteers in Dealing with Bioterrorist attacks

Introduction: Bioterrorism is a worldwide problem and has been the focus of attention during recent decades. There is no precise information on the knowledge, attitude, and preparedness of Iranian Red Crescent volunteers in dealing with bioterrorism. Therefore, the present study aimed to evaluate the above-mentioned parameters in Mahabad Red Crescent Society volunteers. Methods: In this prospective cross-sectional study, the knowledge of 120 volunteers was evaluated and rated as poor, moderate, and good. In addition, attitude of the volunteers and preparedness of Mahabad Red Crescent Society was rated as inappropriate and appropriate using a questionnaire. Results: The mean age of volunteers was 32.0 ± 8.2 years (62.5% male). 2 (1.7%) volunteers had good knowledge while 94 (78.3%) had no knowledge regarding bioterrorist attack management. Only 1 (0.8%)  volunteer had appropriate attitude and 6 (5.0%) stated their preparedness for being sent out to the crisis zone. 116 volunteers (96.7%) indicated that Mahabad Red Crescent Society has an inappropriate level of preparedness to encounter bioterrorist attacks. Conclusion: The findings of the present study showed poor knowledge and inappropriate attitude of Mahabad Red Crescent Society volunteers in encountering probable bioterrorist attacks. Furthermore, the Red Crescent Society of this town had an inappropriate level of preparedness in the field of bioterrorism from the viewpoint of the studied volunteers

Nitrogen changes in the leaves and accumulation of some minerals in the seeds of red, white and Chitti beans (Phaseolus vulgaris) under water deficit conditions

Abstract Field studies were carried out using split-plot experiments in randomized complete block design with four replications. The objective of the studies was to determine the nitrogen (N) contents in the leaves and seeds in addition with some other mineral nutrients in the seeds of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) genotypes grown under contrasting water regimes. Two levels of irrigation (irrigation after 55-60 and 100-110 mm evaporation from class A pan as normal and water stress conditions, respectively) and eight genotypes of beans including Chitti (COS16, KS21486, and MCD4011), red (Akhtar, AND1007, and D81083) and white (WA4502-1 and WA4531-17) were investigated in main-and sub-plots, respectively. Total N content of leaves at two growth stages (pre-flowering and seed filling period) and total contents of seed iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), phosphorous (P), nitrogen and protein were measured at harvesting. Analysis of variance indicated significant differences between genotypes in the studied traits. Irrigation regimes had significant effect on all traits except to seed N and protein contents. The results indicated that white beans had lower leaf N and seed protein contents than red and Chitti beans under both irrigation regimes. Under drought condition, AND1007 and COS16 showed significantly (p≤0.05) higher levels of leaf N (1.88 and 1.83 in vegetative stage and 0.72 and 0.73 in R8 stage, respectively). Also, seed protein in water stressed plants was higher in Chitti beans. Water deficit reduced the mean leaf N by 19% and mean grain yield by 52.7% in all genotypes. Water deficiency significantly reduced seed Fe, Zn, and P contents, but the impact of drought on Fe and P contents was more than on Zn and N contents. Under stress condition, Chitti beans showed the lowest decrease (16.5%) in their seeds iron contents. Genotypes AND1007, COS16, MCD4011 and WA4502-1 were classified as efficient water users based on grain yield efficiency index (GYEI). Overall, genotypes that produce high grain yield under stress conditions and respond well to irrigation are the most desirable because they are able to express their high yield potential in a wide range of water availability

The Response of Rice Root to Time Course Water Deficit Stress-Two Dimensional Electrophoresis Approach

Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is the staple food of more than half of the population worldwide. Water deficit stress is one of the harsh limiting factors for successful production of crops. Rice during its growing period comes a cross different environmental hazards like drought stress. Recent advance in molecular physiology are promising for more progress in increasing rice yield by identification of novel candidate proteins for drought tolerance. To investigate the effect of water deficit on rice root protein expression pattern, an experiment was conducted in completely randomize design with four replications. With holding water for 24, 36 and 48 hours along with control constituted the experimental treatments. The experiment was conducted in growth chamber under controlled condition and root samples, after stress imposition, were harvested for two-dimensional electrophorese (2-DE). Proteome analysis of root tissue by 2-DE indicated that out of 135 protein spots diagnosed by Coomassie blue staining, 14 spots showed significant expression change under water deficit condition, seven of them at 1% and the other seven at 5% probability levels. Differentially changed proteins were taken into account for search in data bank using isoelectric point and molecular weight to identify the most probable responsive proteins. Up- regulation of ferredoxin oxidoreductase at first 24 hour after applying stress indicates the main role of this protein in reducing water deficit stress effects. On the other hand ribosomal proteins, GAP-3 and ATP synthase were down regulated under water deficit stress. Fructose 1,6-bisphosphate aldolase, glucose- 6-phosphate dehydrogenase and chitinase down regulated up to 36 h of stress imposition but, were later up- regulated by prolonging stress up to 48 h. It could be inferred the plant tries to decrease the effect of oxidative stress

The study of plant protein accumulation in gut of insect using proteomics technique: Wheat–sunn pest interaction

Sunn pest, Eurygaster integriceps, is a serious pest of wheat and barley in Iran. The gut and salivary glands are main parts of digestive system in sunn pest. The performance of these organs in digestion is related to its’ expressed proteins. The use of proteomics technique to study plant protein behaviors in gut of insects is new method in insect–plant interaction experiments. In this study, some of plant protein spots were traced in adult gut of sunn pest using 2 DE, mass spectrometry and NCBI database. Six proteins contain serpin, β-amylase, α-amylase inhibitor, dehydrosacorbate reducyase, triticin and α-l arabinofuranidose were identified using plant database. The study of sunn pest–wheat interaction and identification of effective proteins in stability of this relation can be helpful for finding of new target proteins in pest control