Bacillus Thuringiensis Var. Aizawai HD-137 as a Potential Agent for Biological Control

Four strains of Bacillus thuringiensis were screened for their chitinolytic activity on colloidal chitin. B. thuringiensis var. aizawai HD-137 with the GenBank accession number HM173355 showed the highest chitinase activity, which was recorded after 2 days of incubation. The optimum condition for high chitinase production was Nutrient Yeast extract, Salt Medium, NYSM, with 0.2% colloidal chitin, two days of incubation, pH 6 and 30°C. The novel strain B. thuringiensis var. aizawai HD-137 is also considered as a powerful phytopathogenic control agent in which it showed inhibition of the mycelial growth of some phytopathogenic fungi, Alternaria solani, Rhizopus B1 and B2, Fusarium solani and Aspergillus flavus. The clear zones of mycelial inhibition ranged from 12 to 19mm. The partial nucleotides sequence of chitinase gene from B. thuringiensis var. aizawai HD-137 showed similarities to the chitinase producing bacteria in the GenBank, and it was more related to B. thuringiensis (AB699714, GQ921840 and GQ921842) and B. ehimensis chi60 (AB110081). It is obvious that the B. thuringiensis var. aizawai HD-137 is considered as a significant biocontrol agent against phytopathogenic fungi

Evaluation of Genetic Diversity and Heritability of Some Rapeseed (Brassica Napus) Genotypes Using Agronomical and Molecular Traits

High level of heritability and variability were estimated for all traits among genotypes. The genetic similarity of nine genotypes Brassica napus was estimated by random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD), which ranged from 69% to 94%. The phylogenetic tree resulted in two different clusters; the first including two genotypes which also showed high similarity in agronomic traits and the second included the rest of the genotypes. The genetic diversity was discussed in relation to molecular and agronomical traits. High and positive correlation were recorded for all traits. The high coupled of heritability and variability is considered as a powerful source for the selection of donors in the breeding program, where the genetic gain depends on the availability of genetic variation and high heritability

ANTIVIRAL AND IMMUNE STIMULANT ACTIVITIES OF GLYCYRRHIZIN AGAINST DUCK HEPATITIS VIRUS

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of glycyrrhizin as an immune stimulant against duck hepatitis virus (DHV). In vitro study was carried out to determine cytotoxic and antiviral effects of glycyrrhizin in VERO cells. In vivo study was performed on 40 one-day-old White Pekin ducklings. –and the birds weres divided into 4 groups: control, glycyrrhizin treated, vaccinated with live attenuated DHV vaccine and glycyrrhizin treated and vaccinated; to investigate the changes in immunity and challenge test. Blood samples were collected from each duckling for evaluation of cellular and humeral immunity. The in vitro results revealed that glycyrrhizin had antiviral and no toxic effects till 106 dilutions. Higher antibody titer was observed from the 5th week till the end of experiment in glycyrrhizin and vaccinated group. Treatment with glycyrrhizin alone or with DHV vaccine demonstrated a pronounced lymphocytic proliferation response after 4 days post-inoculation till the end of experiment, while vaccinated group revealed a pronounced proliferation response after 24 days post-inoculation. Treatment with glycyrrhizin alone or combination with DHV vaccine revealed good immune stimulant and antiviral effect against DHV

Morphological Formation, Fatty Acid Profile, and Molecular Identification of Some Landraces of Ethiopian Brassica as a Promising Crop to Support Breeding Programs

There has been an increased interest in oilseed crops for agro-industry research and development breeding programs to secure sustainable food and agriculture. The introgression of exotic genotypes of oilseed Brassica into cultivated relatives is inevitable in the genetic improvement of oilseed crops. This experimental attempt aimed to characterize the morphological and molecular basis for the identification and characterization of some Brassica genotypes. Fatty acid profile, yield, and morphology are under genetic control and can be used to identify genotypes. Characterization and identification were fulfilled for five accessions from Brassica spp. Plant height, height of first branch, number of branches and pods per plant, seed yield per plant, average pod length, number of seeds per pod, protein and oil contents (%), and fatty acid profile were examined. Besides, the relationship between seed yield and seed yield-contributing characteristics was estimated, as well as the phylogenetic relationship of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS). The genotypes varied significantly for all examined traits, taking into account the most important traits: seed yield per plant and oil content. For example, oil content in the samples ranged between 41.1 and 49.3%. Path analysis results showed a high and positive direct effect between each number of primary branches and the number of pods per plant with seed yield per plant (0.48). The morphological and molecular observations suggest that the Fay1, Fay3, Fay4, and Fay6 accessions belong to Brassica rapa, while Fay2 belongs to Brassica carinata. It can be concluded based on the present findings that the Fay3 genotype with the highest oil content and the lowest erucic acid content compared to the other genotypes can be proposed as a potential donor for future breeding programs for oil production and quality, while Fay1 can be utilized as donor to increase the seed yield per plant

Efficacy of using laser assisted adjustable suture in the management of residual angle exotropia

To assess the efficacy of using argon laser suture lysis of adjustable sutures used in strabismus surgery in the management of residual exotropia following surgery for intermittent exotropia. A prospective interventional study was conducted on 30 patients with basic type of intermittent exotropia. Sixty eyes were included from November 2018 to December 2019. All patients were operated on with Ripcord adjustable sutures under general anesthesia. On the first day postoperatively, if alignment was satisfactory (within 10 DP), the ripcord suture was kept in place. If there was residual exotropia more than 10 DP, suture can be cut in less than five applications by argon laser lysis and the muscle retracts posteriorly, producing additional recession of the muscle. Thirty patients were enrolled with ages ranging from 15 to 47 years and an average of 25.93±10.5 years. The mean preoperative angle was 44.3±8.8 DP, ranging from 25 to 60 DP. There was no postoperative significant residual angle in 12 patients (40%) immediately after the operation and throughout the follow-up period of 3 months but there were 18 patients (60%) with postoperative significant residual angle and argon laser suture lysis was done for them, then they were followed-up for 3 months

Inheritance of resistance to sunflower broomrape (Orobanche cumana Wallr.) in an interspecific cross between Helianthus annuus and Helianthus debilis subsp. tardiflorus

With 2 tables Sunflower broomrape (Orobanche cumana Wallr.) constrains sunflower cultivation in many areas of Europe and Asia. Populations classified as race G that overcome all known resistance genes have recently appeared. The objective of this research was to study the inheritance of resistance to broomrape race G in a resistant accession of Helianthus debilis subsp. tardiflorus. Heads of H. debilis subsp. tardiflorus were emasculated and pollinated with pollen of the Helianthus annuus-susceptible line HA 89. BC 1F 1, BC 1F 2, BC 1F 3, BC 2F 1, BC 2F 2 and BC 2F 3 generations were developed and evaluated for broomrape resistance. F 1 plants were resistant, indicating dominance of resistance. BC 1 populations segregated in a ratio of one resistant to one susceptible plant, whereas BC 1F 2 and BC 2F 2 populations segregated in a ratio of three resistant to one susceptible plant, which was confirmed in the evaluation of the BC 1F 3 and BC 2F 3 populations. The results indicated that resistance to broomrape race G in H. debilis subsp. tardiflorus is controlled by dominant alleles at a single locus. This mode of inheritance will facilitate the introgression of resistance into elite cultivars. © 2011 Blackwell Verlag GmbH.The research was funded by FEDER funds (European Union) and the Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria (INIA; research project RTA2008-00011-00-00).Peer Reviewe