The effect of pesticide application on QTLs controlling traits in Barley

Among cereals, barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) ranks fourth in consumption worldwide. Among barley breeding goals, one can refer to gene mapping, studying their inheritance, and saturated genetic linkage maps. Problems with pesticide applications include reduced genetic diversity, reduced nitrogen fixation, and destruction of the habitat of especially endangered species. The effect of pesticide application on the emergence of QTLs expressing traits in experimental barley was investigated using 104 barley F2:4 families from Badia × Kavir cross. A total of 25 QTLs were mapped for all traits. In nonusing pesticides, 12 QTLs were identified for peduncle length, stem diameter, flag leaf length, and awn length. It was found that qFL-4 has major effects on flag leaf length. For using the pesticide, 13 QTLs were detected that QTLs related to stem diameter, grain weight, flag leaf length explained a high percentage of phenotypic variation. The results of this study showed that pesticide application affects the expression of some genes in barley. Besides, major-effect trait-controller QTLs and their associated markers can be used in marker-assisted selection (MAS) programs

Thiol-reducing agents abate cholestasis-induced lung inflammation, oxidative stress, and histopathological alterations

Cholestasis is not only influences the hepatic function but also damages many other organs. Lung injury is a critical secondary organ damage associated with cholestasis/cirrhosis. Pulmonary histopathological alterations, respiratory distress, and hypoxia are related to cholestasis/cirrhosis-induced lung injury. It has been found that oxidative stress plays a crucial role in this complication. The current study was designed to investigate the effect of N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) and dithiothreitol (DTT) as thiol-reducing and antioxidant agents against cholestasis-induced lung injury. Bile duct ligated (BDL) rats were monitored for the presence of inflammatory cells, TNF-α, and IgG levels in their broncho-alveolar fluid (BALF) at scheduled time intervals (3, 7, 14, and 28 days post-BDL surgery). These markers reached their highest level in the BALF of BDL rats on day 28 after the surgery. Therefore, in another set of experiments, the BDL animals were treated with NAC (100 and 300 mg/kg/day, i.p, for 28 consecutive days) and DTT (10 and 20 mg/kg/day, i.p, for 28 consecutive days). Meanwhile, a significant increase in the levels of TNF-α and IgG was detected in the BALF of BDL rats. The BALF level of neutrophils, monocytes, and lymphocytes was also significantly increased in cholestatic animals. A significant increase in lung tissue biomarkers of oxidative stress was detected in the BDL rats. It was found that NAC and DTT could significantly blunt pulmonary damage induced by cholestasis. The effects of these agents on oxidative stress biomarkers and inflammatory response seem to play a pivotal role in their mechanisms of protective properties