Journal of Applied Biology
Year:2019 | Volume:32 | Issue:1 |Papers Count:18

The Present study conducted during March-September 2015 on Ghabre Nakhoda Island in Khure Mosa Creek in Khozestan Province. Entrance of the Bridled Tern Onychoprion anaethetus (Scopoli, 1786) to Gabre Nakhoda Island started in mid-March and they leaved island after breeding in mid-September 2015. In 142 selected nests, breeding success rates, large and small diameter parameters, the shape, size, volume, and weight of eggs before hatching and chicks after birth were measured. Averages of large diameter, small diameter, and depth of nests were 23. 42± 0. 42, 19. 08± 0. 29, and 3. 07± 0. 17centimeter respectively. Averages of large diameter, small diameter, volume shape, and weight of eggs were 43. 43± 0. 23, 31. 11± 0. 15 mm, 20. 453± 1. 12 mm3, and 21. 98± 0. 35gr respectively. Average of incubation period was 28. 5± 1. 5 day. Average success of the nestling, post nestling, and fledging were 92. 60, 91. 44, and 73. 94 percent respectively. Most of the mortality was 12 percent at post-nestling and minimum was 5 percent at incubation period.

Chlorella is a unicellular green algae that produces the highest amount of chlorophyll among of organisms. Some of important metabolites in chlorella are astaxanthin, chlorophyll a and chlorophyll b. So far some of chemicals used as inducer for increasing algal metabolites which one of them is ethanol. Effect of ethanol on cell growth and lipid content of microalgae and plants has been studied. In this research, the effect of ethanol on astaxanthin, chlorophyll a and b production in chlorella sorociniana was investigated for the first time. The result of spectrophotometry showed that addition of 10 μ l of ethanol (in 100 ml) will enhance the astaxanthin for 1. 4 times. However, chlorophyll production changed a little in the presence of 100 μ l of ethanol. According to regulatory role of phytohormones in microalgae, it can be conclude that ethanol acts as a signal and regulates some of metabolites production.

In order to investigate effects of Cr stress on growth, photosynthetic indexs and the activity of antioxidant enzymes in Portulaca oleracea L. (Purslane), an experiment in the greenhouse of Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, was done in a completely randomized design with three replications of five levels (0, 25, 50, 75 and 100 ppm). The amount of Cr+6 in the soil, root and shoot at different levels of stress were measured. By increasing the chromium content in shoot and root were significantly increased. Chromium accumulation at root was more than shoot. Stomatal conductance, chlorophyll a, carotenoids, transpiration and efficiency of photosystem II decreased with increasing the amount of Cr. However, the Co2 assimilation, water use efficiency, growth, coefficient stability index (CSI) and chlorophyll b and total chlorophyll concentration in 100 ppm was significantly higher than 75 ppm. Also, the activity of catalase and peroxidase increased by increasing the amount of Cr+6. Based on the results, chromium in low concentrations possibly effected on biosynthesis of photosynthetic pigments and caused disorder of photosynthetic electron transport, decreased photosynthetic efficiency, thereby reduced the production of reactive oxygen species and growth. But at higher levels of chromium (100 ppm), purslane by activating defense mechanisms such as increasing the activity of antioxidant enzymes and prevent a sharp decline in total proteins could reduce somewhat the damage and maintained the water use efficiency. The purslane is likely to be as tolerant plants of chromium and it was effective in refining the contaminated soils with this heavy metal.

The aim of the present study was aimed to investigate the effect of drought stress on antioxidant defensive responses of three genotypes of Lolium perenne. This investigation was performed as factorial and a completely randomized complete design with three replications under field conditions. The results indicated that drought stress significantly decreased the relative water content (RWC), fresh and dry weight, chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b and carotenoid contents, while the concentration of H2O2 and proline increased. Also, compared to the control, the activities of catalase (CAT), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), guaiacol peroxidase (GPX) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) increased due to drought stress. Regarding results of the relative water content, the activity of antioxidant enzymes and proline content, it can be concluded that genotype 1 had more tolerance to drought compared to the two other genotypes.

Some nutritional characteristics of rainbow were examined in 355 specimens collected from Beheshtabad River. Total length of females and males ranged from 17. 1-40. 2 cm (26. 05± 4. 54SD) and from 15. 5-40. 3 cm (24. 9± 5. 93), respectively. Empty stomachs were about 39 (11%) of the total stomachs examined, and were not significantly different (P˃ 0. 05) throughout the year. The diet was composed of 45 different prey taxa, belonging to 10 main classes. The most important prey items were Annelida, Platyhelminthes, Arthropoda, Mollusca, Coelenterata and Teleostei. Crustacea, Insecta, Gastropoda and Teleostei were the most important prey items throughout the year. Gender did not appear to have any significant effects on the diet composition and on the main prey items consumed by the fish. Fish size showed significant effects on diet composition and the average size of prey increased with increasing fish size. In general, the rainbow trout could be considered a carnivorous fish, feeding on a wide range of prey items.

Catalase is an enzyme capable of catalyzing the alteration of H2O2 to O2 and H2O. It has acquired importance due to its application in the textile industries. In the textile industry, H2O2 is used as a bleach. This process is performed at high pH. Therefore, alkaline catalase is very suitable for H2O2 reduction. Kocuria ASB107 has a lot of alkaline catalase. In order to achieve the highest rate of bacterial growth and catalase production, sugar cane molasses, sugar beet molasses and whey were used as cheap carbon sources. Growth curves were plotted and at the late logarithmic phase, fermentation product was harvested. Catalase activity was measured spectrophotometrically by monitoring the decrease in absorbance at 240 nm affected by the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide. Bacterial growth was also estimated from the weight of dry biomass. The highest biomass (5. 19 g/L) and catalase activity (2136. 25 U/mL) were found in medium consisted 1% molasses and 2. 5 % yeast extract. In addition with the 4% whey as a carbon source, catalase activity and growth were 3032. 5 U/mL and 6. 16 g/L respectively. The results showed molasses and whey are suitable and inexpensive substrate. On the other hand inorganic nitrogen sources such as urea are not suitable for the production of catalase and cell growth.

In order to evaluate the effect of magnetically treated water on vegetative organs and stomata, lentil seeds were cultured in green house and were irrigated either with tap water (control group), or magnetically treated water. Investigation of vegetative organs was performed by cell-histological methods. Scanning electronic microscope was used to observation of stomata structure. Magnetically treated water cause bulkier and more drawn vegetative meristem. Also abundance and density of xylem in stem, root and petiole were increased in treated plants. Root diameter and extent of the central cylinder were increased. Density of spongy parenchyma cells in leaf of treated plants was more than control plants, whereas in comparison with control ones, cortex extent of root apex was decreased in treated plant. In general magnetically treated water improved lentil growth characteristics, which is of particular importance in reducing water consumption for irrigation.

Oxidation reactions endanger human health due to the production of free radicals. Additionally, by creating some compounds, reduce sensory and nutritional quality of food. Recently, more and more efforts are been made to find natural and effective herbal antioxidants. In this study, total phenolic and antioxidant activity of sour orange (Citrus aurantium) hydroethanolic and methanolic peel extract in compare with Butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) as a standard antioxidant examined. Total phenolic content of hydro-ethanolic and methanolic peel extract was59. 38± 0. 82 and 50. 96± 0. 51 mg Gallic acid/g extract, respectively. In testing percent of inhibition of free radicals (DPPH and ABTS), the extracts showed a significant inhibitory effect but there is a significant difference, between hydro-ethanolic and methanolic extract in ABTS test. Both extract also showed reducing effect. Our findings showed that orange peel extract had relatively good antioxidant activity in compare to standard antioxidant (BHT), so it has proposed as a potential source of natural antioxidants in food and pharmaceutical industries.

Myxobacteria are soil bacteria that move by gliding and have an astonishing life cycle culminating in fruiting body formation. The myxobacterial strain no. 118 was isolated from unexplored soil of Koohrang County, Chaharmahal-o-Bakhtiari Province and tested for potential antimicrobial activity against various human pathogens. On the basis of results, strain 118 significantly inhibited growth of E. coli and M. luteus therefore was used for further characterization. Analysis of morphological, biochemical and 16S rRNA gene sequence indicated that this strain belongs to the genus Myxococcus. In addition, neighbor-joining phylogenetic tree confirmed the relationships of this strain to other members of Myxococcus genera. In order to explore the potential bioactivities, extract of the fermented broth culture was prepared with organic solvent extraction method. The methanol extract was subjected to HPLC fractionation against sensitive pathogens. LC/MS analysis resulted in the identification of Myxothiazol and Althiomycin antibiotics in methanol extract of the strain no. 118.

Caffeine is one of the most important ligand of adenosine deaminase (ADA). In the present study, changes in adenosine deaminase activity were measured in Tris-HCl buffer 50mM, pH 7. 3 at 37oC in the presence and absence of caffeine in increasing concentrations of adenosine as a substrate (0-50μ M) and in various incubation times with caffeine. Regarding the analysis of the saturation curves, for the first time, their sigmoidal shape shows considerable differences with previous reports which can be referred to differences in concentration range of substrate and incubation time with caffeine. Based on the sigmoidal shape of saturation curve, mechanism of caffeine effect is explainable. Moreover, based on finding of this study, the effect of caffeine on ADA activity is a function of incubation time and stabilized after 6 hours incubation of enzyme with caffeine. This is noteworthy when interpreting the results of the studies on ADA and its ligands.

Great bustard as a globally threatened species faces extinction risk in Iran. Great Bustard’ s habitat is strongly destructed by agricultural activities and land use change. Urgent integrated activities are obligatory to save it from extinction vortex. Great bustard faces with different levels of threats that put it at the extinction risk like very low abundance, agricultural activities especially in the breeding season, waste mismanagement which attract wild and domestic predators, collecting and even touching the eggs. Stopping farm crops’ harvest for three consecutive years, or to postpone harvesting time while keeping Great bustard strips, phylogenetic study to determine the closest donor population, waste management, predators controlling, species ringing and satellite tracking are some of the high priority activities should be considered.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of aerobic training and cinnamon consumption on some cardiovascular risk factors in active women. 28 female students of physical education (ages 02/2 ± 36/22 years, weight 17/7 ± 80/59 kg, height 60/6 ± 40/162 cm) are recruited and randomized into 5 groups: 1) exercise 2) aerobic exercise combined with cinnamon 3) aerobic training with placebo 4) cinnamon 5) were assigned. Intensity aerobic exercise was for 6 weeks with 80-65% of maximum heart rate. Blood samples were collected at the beginning and end of the study. Data were analyzed using SPSS20 software and Kruskal Wallis test, Wilcoxon test was used at significant level (p <0. 05). lipid profile in the aerobic exercise group showed no significant difference with cinnamon consumption (P<0. 05). Based on the results of this study, exercise activity with intensity of 65-80% of maximal oxygen consumption over 6 weeks with cinnamon supplementation can improve lipid, glucose and BMI.

Desert rabbits are widely distributed in the world and have adapted to various weather conditions. Different environmental conditions and diet are two important factors in creating diversity in the family of rabbits. Various studies have shown that skulls are the only skeletal components in different environmental conditions to investigate species morphometric changes. Therefore, in this article the investigate morphometric variation was limited only to the rabbit’ s skull. The aim of this study was to investigate morphological diversity and grouping of morphometric traits measured in 50 rabbit’ s skull samples, in six western provinces of Iran with a random sampling. Totally, 40 morphometric traits were measured. Grouping the measured traits were carried out by the SPSS, Ward method, CA and CVA with PAST. Furthermore, we used Pearson correlation to study the correlations between measured traits at the level of 99%. Fitting dendrogram divided species into three groups (A, B, C) from a fifteen fitting the Euclidean distance. Therefore, from a ten fitting the Euclidean distance divided the studied species into four distinct groups (A، B، C1، C2) based on morphological traits. Group (A) consists of East Azerbaijan species and Western Azerbaijan species, group (B) consists of Kurdistan species which has the highest value measured between morphometric traits. Third group (C) from a ten continue fitting the Euclidean distance is divided into two sub-group C1 (Kermanshah) and C2 (Znjan and Hamedan). CVA test shows Kurdistan population difference is more than another one. Also, the population of Kermanshah, Zanjan, Hamedan, East Azerbaijan and Western Azerbaijan put on the first main axis.