Isolation and identification of endophytic actinobacteria from Citrullus colocynthis (L.) Schrad and their antibacterial properties.

Background: Antibiotic resistance poses a major threat to human health globally. Consequently, new antibiotics are desperately required to discover and develop from unexplored habitats to treat life-threatening infections. Microbial natural products (NP) are still remained as primary sources for the discovery of new antibiotics.

Effect of three water-regimes on morpho-physiological, biochemical and yield responses of local and foreign olive cultivars under field conditions.

Background: Drought stress is among the most serious threats jeopardizing the economic yield of crop plants in Iran. In particular, in response to withholding irrigation, the reduction in performance and quality of a precious plant such as the olive tree is remarkable. Therefore, the selection of cultivars that are resistant or tolerant to drought has been recognized as one of the most effective long-term strategies for sustainably alleviating the adverse effects of this stress.

Evidence that miR168a contributes to salinity tolerance of Brassica rapa L. via mediating melatonin biosynthesis.

Melatonin is a master regulator of diverse biological processes, including plant's abiotic stress responses and tolerance. Despite the extensive information on the role of melatonin in response to abiotic stress, how plants regulate endogenous melatonin content under stressful conditions remains largely unknown. In this study, we computationally mined Expressed Sequence Tag (EST) libraries of salinity-exposed Chinese cabbage (Brassica rapa) to identify the most reliable differentially expressed miRNA and its target gene(s).

Susceptibility Assessment of Groundwater Nitrate Contamination Using an Ensemble Machine Learning Approach.

Groundwater pollution susceptibility mapping using parsimonious approaches with limited data is of utmost importance for water resource and health planning, especially in data-scarce regions. Current research assesses groundwater nitrate susceptibility by considering the various combination of explanatory variables. In this study, the novel machine learning models of weighted subspace random forest (WSRF) and generalized additive model using LOESS (GAMLOESS) are applied, and the results are compared with well-known machine learning models of K-nearest neighbors (KKNN) and random forest (RF).

Resistance of Almond () to : A Comparative Study on Cultivars.

Almond leaf scorch is a disease caused by , which is increasingly widespread globally in the main almond cultivation areas. Previously confined to America, in the last decade this disease has been reported in Iran and southern Europe. In this comparative study, the resistance to subsp.

Impact of 24-epibrassinolide, spermine, and silicon on plant growth, antioxidant defense systems, and osmolyte accumulation of maize under water stress.

The effect of triad application of the phytohormone 24-epibrassinolide (EBL), the polyamine spermine (Spm), and the element silicon (Si) has not yet been considered on plant growth and behavior in water-stressed conditions. We aimed to evaluate the impact of single/dual/triad application of 24-epibrassinolide (EBL), spermine (Spm), and silicon (Si) on the growth, photosynthetic metabolites, and antioxidant enzymes in the maize plant exposed to water stress. This study was conducted as a potential drought resistance system and plants' maintenance against oxidative damage.

Improved salinity and dust stress tolerance in the desert halophyte by halotolerant plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria.

Because of global warming, desertification is increasing. One of the best strategies for combating desertification is reforestation of forests and biological operations of vegetation. However, events like soil salinity and dust storms, as the most important manifestations of desertification, prevent vegetation from settling in these areas.

lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA ceRNA Network Involved in Sheep Prolificacy: An Integrated Approach.

Understanding the molecular pattern of fertility is considered as an important step in breeding of different species, and despite the high importance of the fertility, little success has been achieved in dissecting the interactome basis of sheep fertility. However, the complex mechanisms associated with prolificacy in sheep have not been fully understood. Therefore, this study aimed to use competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) networks to evaluate this trait to better understand the molecular mechanisms responsible for fertility.

sp. nov. a New Fungal Pathogen Causing Stem Cankers and Twig Dieback of Fruit Trees.

Stem cankers and twig dieback were the most serious disease of fig () and loquat () noticed in a survey of fruit tree orchards in the Fars Province, Iran. Isolates of were consistently recovered from symptomatic fig and loquat trees. Phylogenetic analyses of multiple nuclear loci, internal transcribed spacer regions (ITS) of rDNA, RNA polymerase II subunit 2 (), and translation elongation factor 1-α (), combined with morphological observations, revealed that isolates could be referred to a still unknown taxon, which was formally described as sp.

The "Molecular Biodiversity of Bacteria Isolated from Medicago sativa Rhizosphere in Hail District, Saudi Arabia.

Global biodiversity is affected remarkably by global climate change, which in turn its effect reflected on all life aspects. Identifying microorganisms in environmental samples, particularly soil could be a valuable interest to study their effect on soil quality and plant growth. Through this study, we conducted a molecular characterization of bacteria found in the rhizosphere of Medico sativa plants grown in Hail soil and we highlighted their main properties.

Growth performance and intestinal morphometric features of broiler chickens fed on dietary inclusion of yellow mealworm (Tenebrio molitor) larvae powder.

Background: Climate change and the lack of conventional feed ingredients have made edible insects a highly nutritious alternative to feed production. The use of insects as food may help solve socio-economic and environmental problems around the world and be in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

Objective: In this study, the growth performance and intestinal morphology of broiler chickens were evaluated under the influence of adding different levels of Tenebrio molitor larvae meal (TM meal) to their diets.

Synthesis of spirulina loaded chitosan nanoparticles from prawn, Macrobrachium nipponense shell for extending the shelf life of pike-perch (Sander lucioperca) fillet during refrigerated storage.

Background: This study was aimed to synthesize polymeric chitosan nanoparticles (CSNPs) from Macrobrachium nipponense shells using sodium triphosphate (TPP) as a crosslinker that was incorporated with spirulina extract (SPE) to improve the shelf life of pike-perch during refrigerated storage (4 °C).

Results: The encapsulation efficiency (EE) of SPE-loaded CSNPs decreased from 67% to 32%, and loading capacity (LC) was increased (10-14%) depending on their loaded SPE concentrations. The initial burst effect, followed by a slow-release at pH 7 (24 h), was observed.

Application of gamma irradiation on morphological, biochemical, and molecular aspects of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) under different seed moisture contents.

Nuclear technology is currently used as a tool in mutation breeding to improve crops by increasing genetic variation. The ionization of gamma rays produces large amounts of free radicals, simulating stressors in the natural environment. To avoid gamma-ray-induced oxidative stress, plants use antioxidant defense systems.

Identification of novel associations of candidate genes with resistance to Rhizoctonia solani AG-3PT in Solanum tuberosum stem canker.

To develop an understanding mechanism to define responding of potatoes to R. solani, we analyzed the expression of ten novel candidate gene-markers using reverse-transcription-quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) in resistant 'Savalan' and partially resistant 'Agria' in contrast to susceptible 'Sagita', and partially susceptible 'Pashandi'. In addition, oxidant-enzymatic-activity of catalase and superoxide-dismutase, as well as biomass-growth-parameters; shoot and root length, fresh and dry weight, and root volume were considered as complementary factors to the involving mechanism accordingly.

Ecological risk assessment of the riverine and deltaic environments (Rozechai River, Urmia Lake, Iran), using sediment quality indices.

Rozechai River is one of the tributaries of Urmia Lake (the nrthwest of Iran), which has experienced severe pollution and water level fluctuations in the coastal zone over the past four decades. The present study aimed to assess the ecological risk for aquatic life and human health. Research methods were designed for applying the sediment quality guidelines (LEL, PEL, SEL), sediment quality indices (C, C, E, RI), and enrichment factor (EF) based on the concentration of toxic metals in sediments.

Feeding corn germ instead of corn grain on the performance of Holstein dairy cows fed low-forage diet and human-edible feed conversion efficiency.

Using corn germ (CG) instead of corn grain could maintain dairy cow performance and might increase the efficiency of human food production. The primary objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of replacing corn grain with CG on the performance, nutrient intake, and digestibility of dairy cows. It also aimed to investigate the effect of CG on the efficiency of human food production in high-producing Holstein dairy cows in early lactation.

Identification of Candidate Genes for Pigmentation in Camels Using Genotyping-by-Sequencing.

The coat color of dromedary is usually uniform and varies from black to white, although dark- to light-brown colors are the most common phenotypes. This project was designed to gain knowledge on novel color-related variants using genotyping-by-sequencing (GBS). The association between the SNPs and coat color was tested using MLM (mixed linear models) with kinship matrix.

Seroprevalence of bovine viral diarrhea virus antibodies and risk factors in dairy cattle from the central desert of Iran.

Bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) infects cattle worldwide and causes one of the most important economic diseases of the dairy industry. BVDV infection reduces reproductive efficiency, suppresses the immune system, and causes gastrointestinal and respiratory diseases. A first cross-sectional study was conducted in the central desert of Iran (Yazd and South Khorasan provinces) to estimate the seroprevalence and identify BVDV-related risk factors in dairy cattle.

CRISPR/Cas9 in Planta Hairy Root Transformation: A Powerful Platform for Functional Analysis of Root Traits in Soybean.

Sequence and expression data obtained by next-generation sequencing (NGS)-based forward genetics methods often allow the identification of candidate causal genes. To provide true experimental evidence of a gene's function, reverse genetics techniques are highly valuable. Site-directed mutagenesis through transfer DNA (T-DNA) delivery is an efficient reverse screen method in plant functional analysis.

Comparison of Maize Genotypes Using Drought-Tolerance Indices and Graphical Analysis under Normal and Humidity Stress Conditions.

This study aimed to identify drought-tolerant genotypes and to evaluate and compare the response of genotypes under normal conditions and humidity stress. The experiment was conducted in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) on 12 commercial single cross hybrids of maize ( L.) with three replications in two separate experiments under normal and stress conditions.

Natural diversity in phenolic components and antioxidant properties of oregano (Origanum vulgare L.) accessions, grown under the same conditions.

Oregano (Origanum vulgare L.) is a rich source of biologically active components such as phenolic compounds. Here, seven pot grown O.

A systems biology study unveils the association between a melatonin biosynthesis gene, O-methyl transferase 1 (OMT1) and wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) combined drought and salinity stress tolerance.

Enhanced levels of endogenous melatonin in the root of wheat, mainly through the OMT1 gene, augment the antioxidant system, reestablish redox homeostasis and are associated with combined stress tolerance. A systems biology approach, including a collection of computational analyses and experimental assays, led us to uncover some aspects of a poorly understood phenomenon, namely wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) combined drought and salinity stress tolerance.

High Occurrence Among Calves and Close Phylogenetic Relationships With Human Viruses Warrants Close Surveillance of Rotaviruses in Kuwaiti Dairy Farms.

Rotavirus, one of the main pathogens causing morbidity and mortality in neonatal dairy calves worldwide, is responsible for 30-44% of cattle deaths. It is considered to be the most common etiologic agent of diarrhea in neonatal dairy calves and children, the dominant type being group A. Two hundred seventy animals from 27 farms from 2 regions of Kuwait were tested for the presence of Rotavirus serogroup A (RVA) using latex agglutination test (LAT) and reverse transcription-polymerase chain (RT-PCR) testing.

Reproductive efficiency of treated Karakul ewes with short-term progesterone and hCG injections during the non-breeding and breeding seasons.

The aim of this study was to evaluate reproductive efficiency of ewes following a short-term treatment with progesterone (P4) plus human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) injections. In Exp 1, ewes (n = 65) were used during the non-breeding season and received P4, three times every other day (n = 22, 3PHCG, IM) or a single dose of P4 (n = 21, PHCG). We injected hCG in all ewes 24 h after the P4 treatment, and distilled water in control group (n = 22).

Performance, structural growth, and digestibility by Holstein calves fed different amounts of milk through step-up/step-down or conventional methods.

Early life milk intake can influence the survival and future productivity of replacement heifers. The present study determined the effects of different amounts of milk through step-up/step-down or conventional feeding methods on the performance of dairy calves. Thirty-nine Holstein calves (18 male and 21 female) were used in a completely randomized design.