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Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), a class of organic pollutants, have been observed to exert deleterious effects on plant growth and various physiological processes. In this study, the effect of different concentrations of phenanthrene (0, 25, 50, 75, and 100 ppm) on growth parameters, photosynthetic pigments, some antioxidant enzymes, and some biochemical compounds of the maize plant were investigated. The experiments were conducted as pot cultures of plants under controlled conditions using a completely randomized design (CRD) with three replications for each treatment. Increasing phenanthrene concentration reduced all studied growth parameters and significantly increased photosynthetic pigment contents. Phenanthrene led to the increase in catalase, peroxidase, and superoxide dismutase activities in the roots but in shoots, only the peroxidase activity was increased. Moreover, higher phenanthrene concentrations were associated with elevated levels of malondialdehyde and hydrogen peroxide, coupled with a marked reduction in soluble sugar content in both shoot and root tissues (p<0.05). Also, increase in phenanthrene concentration in the shoots decreased the total phenol and flavonoid contents compared to anthocyanin. Phenanthrene treatment led to a significant reduction in the concentrations of lauric acid, meric acid, palmitic acid, and oleic acid in maize shoots. In conclusion, it seems that high concentrations of phenanthrene induce oxidative stress in the maize, and plants improve their enzymatic antioxidant system to moderate the stress condition. In addition, damage of cell membranes by phenanthrene leads to weakening of plants root system as well as disordering in water and nutrient uptake and finally reduction in the plant growth.
 

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Species diversity is an index for sustainability of rangeland ecosystems. We studied the effect of environmental factors (soil properties and aspects) on plant species diversity in Zagros mountainous rangelands (vegetation type: Festuca ovina-Astragalus parrowianus) in the west of Hamadan in March–July 2009. For this purpose, four aspects were defined in the study area. Vegetation types were studied by physiognomic-floristic method in the field. The factors of vegetation were measured by transects using a systematic-randomized method. Five transects (100 m) and five plots along each transect were used. One soil sample (composition, 0–40 cm) in each plot was collected by a randomized method and assessed the following factors: pH, OM, N, EC, P, K and texture in the laboratory. The multiple regression method was used to investigate the relationship between species diversity (dependent variables) and soil and topographical factors (independent variables). Results showed that soil characteristics and aspects had significant effects on diversity in which north, east and west aspects as well OM, N, EC and clay were the most prominent factors influencing diversity.

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Reproductive performance and life expectancy of the two-spotted spider mite (TSSM), Tetranychus urticae Koch were determined on seven eggplant cultivars (Isfahan, Dezful, Shend-Abad, Neishabour, Bandar-Abbas, Jahrom and Borazjan) at 25 ± 1°C, 60 ± 5% R.H. and a photoperiod of 16:8 (L:D) hours. The results revealed that the TSSM gross hatch rate varied from 59% on Bandar-Abbas to 83% on Dezful. The gross fecundity rate was 59.726, 31.430, 31.443, 14.461, 19.328, 16.035 and 20.560 eggs/female and the net fecundity rate was 25.804, 17.496, 15.139, 7.620, 5.931, 7.526 and 11.947 eggs/female on the above-mentioned cultivars, respectively. The highest and lowest value of the net fertility rate was 20.735 eggs/female on Isfahan and 3.495 eggs/female on Bandar-Abbas, respectively. Also, the gross fertility rate was the highest on Isfahan (47.994 eggs/female) and the lowest on Bandar-Abbas (11.390 eggs/female). The values of the mean eggs per day varied from 2.040 to 6.560 eggs/female, which was minimum on Neishabour and maximum on Isfahan. The life expectancy of one-day-old adults of the TSSM was estimated to be 7.550, 8.380, 5.820, 4.850, 5.440, 5.330 and 3.950 days on the above-mentioned cultivars, respectively. Comparison of the reproductive parameters of the TSSM on the examined cultivars revealed that Isfahan was the most susceptible cultivar and Neishabour was the most resistant cultivar to this pest. Using resistant host plants is one of the most important components of an integrated pest management program.

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This study was carried out to investigate alternative instead of corn gluten meal in diets and the effects of this substitution on blood biochemical and hematological parameters of common carp juvenile. Juvenile's carp with an average 11.5 ± 0.5g, 9 ± 1cm weight and length respectively, were fed with experimental diets for 8 weeks. Diets with 31% crude protein and 3100 kcal kg-1 raw energy alternative levels of 150, 270 and 490 (gr kg-1) and a control diet without corn gluten was made. At the end of the experiment, blood biochemical parameters, including glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides, and hemoglobin, hematocrit, white blood cells (WBC) and red blood cells (RBC) in juveniles fed the experimental diets compared with the control group showed a significant difference (P0.05). Also with replacement value of corn gluten in experimental diets, it was concluded that growth and nutritional factors treatments compared with control group significantly decreased (P

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This study was conducted to choose the best species for plantation on a poor drainage soil in southern coast of Caspian Sea, Iran. Nutrient concentrations in live and senescent leaves and soil properties were compared among Alnus subcordata C.A.Mey (N-fixing tree), Populus deltoides­ Marsh. (Non N-fixing tree)and Taxodium distichum (L.) Rich. (Coniferous tree) plantations. In each of these plantations and an adjacent natural forest, six 20×20m plots have been selected according to a 100m × 100m randomly systematic grid. Leaf samples of green trees were collected from the bottom one-third of the tree crown by clipping two small twigs located on opposite sides of the crown (six representative trees were sampled in each plot). Senescence leaves have been collected inside wooden trap-based in each stand. Results revealed different effects of species on soil nutrients. Alnus subcordata increased soil N (%) whereas Populus deltoides­ and Taxodium distichum reduced it.The results of nutrition, litter quality, retranslocation and soil properties indicated that Alnus improve soil quality in comparison with the two others.

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The potato tuber moth (PTM), Phthorimaea operculella Zeller (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae), is an important pest of potato and other solanaceous plants. It is cosmopolite and oligophage that exists in most countries where potatoes are grown. Because of chemical treatment adverse effects, there is a necessity to find safe alternatives to synthetic insecticides. So, medicinal plants are promising since they are safe, inexpensive and effective. In this direction, potato tubers were dipped in 1 ml of 5% methanolic extracts of fumitory, licorice, lavender and oregano. The percentage of first larval penetration to tubers and oviposition-preference of mentioned medicinal plants was investigated on PTM. Subsequently, fumigant toxicity of essential oils of basil, european pennyroyal, lavender, mint and savory were investigated on P. operculella. Treated potato tubers by methanolic extract of lavender elicited the lowest percentage (19.3) of first larval penetration. Studying of oviposition-preference demonstrated that the largest number of eggs were laid on control and fumitory with 28 and 10 eggs after three days, respectively. Probit analysis of essential oils showed that the most effective oil was savory which exhibited LC₅₀ value on adults of PTM equivalent to 0.048 µL/L air.  

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The influence of leaf pubescence of three wheat cultivars (Pishtaz, Ghuds and Falat) on preference and biological parameters of Sipha maydis (Passerini) was investigated under greenhouse conditions (25 ± 2 °C, 70 ± 10% RH and 14: 10 h (L: D) photoperiod). The results showed that Pishtaz had a greater density of trichomes compared to the other cultivars. In the preference test with whole plant, the number of aphids on Pishtaz was significantly greater than that on other cultivars at 48 hrs after infestation. Similarly, in the preference test on leaves, the numbers of attracted aphids per leaf was highest on Pishtaz. In the life table study, there was no significant difference of intrinsic rate of natural increase (r_m) among the three studied cultivars but it was highest on Pishtaz (0.187 /day). Aphids’ net reproductive rate, doubling time, mean generation time and finite rate of increases did not show significant differences between the tested cultivars. According to our results, leaf surface pubescence of wheat is not an effective resistance mechanism against S. maydis.

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Medicinal plant powders have traditionally been used as grain protectants against stored-product insect pests. In this study, insecticidal activity of Carum copticum L. and Cuminum cyminum L. powders was assessed on adults of Sitophilus granarius L. and Tribolium confusum Jacquelin du Val. Experiments were carried out on wheat at 27 ± 1 ºCand 55 ± 5% r. h. The mortality increased with increasing concentration level and time exposed to each concentration. For S. granarius, 7 days and in case of T. confusum 14 days exposure time was sufficient to obtain considerable mortality. For example, 3500 mg/kg of C. copticum 7 days after treatment caused 80% mortality in S. granarius; while for T. confusum 29% mortality was achieved and increased to 100% after 14 days. Therefore, it can be concluded that adults of S. granarius were more susceptible than T. confusum to plant powders. Also, according to the findings, C. cyminum powder had more insecticidal efficacy than C. copticum on both insects’ species. For S. granarius, 950 and 2700 mg/kg powders of C. cyminum and C. copticum was enough to cause ca. 50% mortality after 5 days, respectively. In case for T. confusum, 3200 and 4400 mg/kg of the plant powders caused the same mortality after 7 days. Findings of the present study show that the plant powders could be applied for grain protection in small-scale storage facilities.  

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In order to investigate the Effect of different levels of nitrogen and plant density on yield, and some morphological sunflower cultivars, experimental farm in 2009 in the College of Agriculture University researcher Ardebili A split plot factorial design based on a randomized complete block with three replicates was carried out. Nitrogen treatments included (zero, 75 and 150 kg per ha) assigned to main plots and levels of plant density (8, 10 and 12 plants per square meter) and two varieties were Urofelor and Armavirsky in sub plot. Head and stem diameter, plant height, number of kernel per disk, number of leaves at the final of harvesting and grain yield measured. Sunflower cultivars was significant difference on the stem diameter, plant height and number of kernel per disk but different levels of nitrogen and plant density were significant difference on the for all traits measured. The highest grain yield was obtained, 262 gr /m2 in 150 kg N/ha× Armavirsky. Increasing plant density by increasing the number of heads per unit area, will affect performance. Considering the excellence level of 80 thousand plant density and fertilizer level of 150 kg ha compared to other treatments in terms of grain yield, the amounts of nitrogen and planting density to achieve adequate performance in the test area and similar areas is advisable.

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  Background: The innate immunity plays an important role in the host response to transplantation by Toll-like receptors and results in development of acute allograft rejection. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association of TLR2 and CD14 (co-receptor) gene polymorphisms with acute rejection in kidney transplant recipients.   Methods : The study was conducted in a population of 239 subjects consisting of 71 patients with acute rejection, 71 patients without acute rejection (SGF) and 97 Healthy Control (HC). The allele and genotype frequencies of TLR2 (R753Q, rs5743708) and CD14 (-159 C>T, rs2569190) polymorphisms were genotyped by Real-time PCR in the study groups. Results : Genotype distribution of CD14 -159 polymorphism was significantly different in AR vs. SGF and HC. CD14 -159 TT genotype was more prevalent in rejection than SGF and HC (P<0.0001, P<0.007, respectively). Also Graft loss, defiened as need of dialysis after acute rejection, was occurred in 24 patients (33.8%) from AR group. The frequencies of three genotype in CD14 (TT, CT, CC) in rejection With Graft loss were 75.0%, 20.8% and 4.1% respectively, While 25.5%, 31.9% and 42.5% in rejection without Graft loss (P<0.0001 for TT vs. CT, CC). Many recipients with AR were involved with graft loss had CD14 -159 TT genotype, whereas only a few recipients without graft loss had TT genotype (p<0.0001). Conclusion : Therefore, due to the importance of CD14 polymorphism (-159 C/T, rs2569190) in disease progression and also as a biomarker, could be considered as a crucial therapeutic target in early prognosis of acute rejection

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Medicinal plants were used from past to present. Different small arthropods such as Acari were found on these plants. Therefore a study on the Acari fauna associated with some medicinal plants (Family: Asteraceae) in Hamedan region was carried out during 2008–2009. In this survey, 23 species belonging 18 genera from 15 different families of the subclass Acari were collected and identified. Two spotted spider mite (Tetranychus urticae Koch) was determined as an abundant phytophagous mite species in this study.

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The effect of various host plants including chickpea (varieties Arman, Hashem, Azad and Binivich), common bean (variety Khomein), white kidney bean (variety Dehghan), red kidney bean (variety Goli), cowpea (variety Mashhad), and tomato (variety Meshkin) on the reproductive performance and growth indices of the cotton bollworm, Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) was determined under laboratory conditions (25 ± 1°C, 65 ± 5% RH and a 16:8 h light:dark photoperiod). The highest rate of gross fecundity, gross fertility, net fecundity, net fertility, mean daily eggs and mean daily fertile eggs were observed on chickpea Arman (2947.8 ± 7.8, 2933.0 ± 7.8, 2404.2 ± 7.1, 2392.2 ± 7.1, 170.9 ± 0.4, and 170.1 ± 0.4 eggs female^-1, respectively), whereas the lowest values of these parameters were on tomato Meshkin (847.5 ± 9.2, 673.8 ± 7.3, 225.5 ± 2.6, 179.3 ± 2.1, 67.9 ± 0.7 and 54.3 ± 0.5 eggs female^-1, respectively). The development index of overall immature stages varied from 1.10 to 1.57, with the minimum on tomato Meshkin and the maximum on chickpea Arman. Also, the fitness and standardized insect-growth indices were highest (0.349 ± 0.009 and 0.058 ± 0.001 gr day^-1) and lowest (0.052 ± 0.001 and 0.013 ± 0.000 gr day^-1) on chickpea Arman and tomato Meshkin, respectively. The Weibull model sufficiently described the shape of the survivorship curve of adult H. armigera from life-table data. A significant fit was obtained with the Weibull model for H. armigera in all experimental host plants. The results of reproductive performance, growth indices and the cluster analysis showed that tomato Meshkin was partially resistant to H. armigera.

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Cabbage leaf miner Scaptomyza flava (Fallen) (l)iptera: Drosophilidae) is a native and oligophagous leaf miner insect on cruciferous plants (Brassicaceae). It occurs in many parts of the world and throughout Khuzestan. The relationship between feeding and ovipositional preferences of insect, and host plant suitability on seven host plant species (cauliflower Brassica oleracea var. botryds, green cabbage B. oleracea var. capitata, hedge mustard Sisymbrium officinale, brussels sprout B. oleracea var. germmifers, turnip Brassica rapa, cucumber Cucumis mtivits, wheat Triticum aestivum and rice Oryza saliva) was evaluated. Ovipositional preference of 5. flava was determined by measuring feeding punctures and egg density after ndult female flies were given a simultaneous choice and non-choice of all host plants for feeding and oviposition. Studies were performed under greenhouse conditions. The experimental design was a randomized complete block one with 8 treatments and 5 replications of each treatment. S. jlava showed distinct hierarchical ordering in its ovipositional preference, with turnip, green cabbage, and hedge mustard being preferred over all others. Approximately 1.05 and 5.8 times more eggs were deposited on green cabbage than on turnip and cauliflower respectively. When the percentage of punctures with eggs was calculated for each species, cauliflower had by far the highest value at 10% and 19.7% in choice and non-choice tests respectively. For all other species on which eggs were laid it was less than half this. In non-choice tests, females laid more eggs on green cabbage and turnip than other brassicas.

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In a field experiment the effect of five planting densities (100, 175. 250, 325 and 400 plants in"2 ) with or without foliar application of chlormequat chloride (2-till o methyltrimethyl uminonion chloride, CCC) on growth, development and grain yield of winter barley (cv Valfajr) was studied. The results indicated that Increasing plant density hastened the rate of apical development and stem elongation. This pattern continued up to the beginning of rapid stem elongation phase (Zadoks growth stage 32). However, during the rapid stem elongation and ear growth, the pattern was reversed i.e. it had become slightly in favor of the lower densities. Increasing plant density up to 25(1 plants in"2 increased the grain yield, however, from 250 to 400 plants m"2 there was no significant change in grain yield. It appeared that the higher planting densities, i.e. 250 to 400 plants m~- were in a range around the supposed "optimum" density. Foliar application of CCC slowed down the rate of apical development and stein elongation in all plant densities, hut without any significant effect on its spikelet initiation rate. Such retardation of development in CCC-treatecl plants was initially associated with lower dry weight accumulation. However, this trend was reversed before anthesis, as the CCC- treated plants had accumulated more dry matter by anthesis, and gave a higher grain yield. The interactive effect of CCC and plant density is worthy of further exploration.