The aim of this study was to determine the effects of Zn-methionine (Zn-Met) and Zinc sulfate (ZnSo4) supplementation on growth performance, carcass characteristics, serum zinc and copper and zinc concentrations in some tissue i. e. length, weight, internal and external offal items in Sanjabi lambs. All lambs were slaughtered at end of fattening period and biometry of carcass was determined, also zinc concentration in five carcass tissues were analyzed. The results showed that ZnSo4 supplementation reduced dry matter intake, final body weight, carcass weight without fat-tail and carcass length as compared to the control group (P<0. 05). The hind leg and fore leg length increased in the Zn-Met group (p=0. 001). The Zn concentration of Quadriceps femoris and Longissimus dorsi were not significantly affected by organic and inorganic Zn supplementations, however, pancreas, lounges and heart concentrations of Zn were higher (P<0. 01) in organic Zn groups as compared to other groups. The Zn concentration of feces showed that zinc sulfate bioavailability was lower compared to the Zn-Met group (p=0. 001). The concentrations of Zn and Cu of serum were not affected by Zn supplementation in treated lambs (P> 0. 05). The result of this study showed that zinc sulfate supplementation reduced lams growth and DMI, however feed efficiency ratio was not affect by treatments. The Zn-Met was not affected on growth of lamb, however the lounges and heart Zn concentrations increased.

Background and objectives: The polymorphisms in the major genes of Diacylglycerol OAcyltransferase 1 (DGAT1) and Leptin have drawn much attention from animal scientists during recent years, for their possible roles in the economically important traits. However, the association between these genes and milk production traits has been reported incompatible (sometimes significant and some other times without significant association) in dairy cattle. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the association between DGAT1 and Leptin genes and some economically important traits including milk yield, milk fat and protein content and percentages in dairy cows by using meta-analysis. Materials and methods: All researches published in the theses and peer-reviewed journals up to 2018 were used. Following quality control, 9 and 4 studies reported for the polymorphisms of K232A in DGAT1 and Sau3AI of Leptin gene were used, respectively. The analysis of the current study was carried out using the Stata v. 15. The Non-conformance index (I2) was significant for all parameters so that a random risk model was used. The effect size, 95% confidence interval, and statistical significance level of the measurements were calculated for each variable using this model. All variables were continuously in the current study. The measurement of the effect size for continuous data was carried out using the standardized mean difference (SMD) that was calculated for the polymorphisms of K232A and Sau3AI loci in DGAT1 and Leptin genes on the milk yield, milk fat and protein content and percentage. Results: The results of the present research showed that the polymorphism in the K223A locus of DGAT1 gene, has a significant effect on milk fat content and percentage, and can play an important role in their amounts, but its relationship with milk yield and protein content and percentage is not significant. Also, the results for Sau3AI polymorphism in the Leptin revealed that this locus had no significant effect on the traits investigated in this study. Conclusion: The results of the present study with identifying the overall effects of the studied genotypes of DGAT1 and Leptin genes on milk production traits in dairy cows can play an important role in planning the use of the polymorphisms of these genes in future researches.

Recently, the application of SA has increased to improve plants’ resistance to stresses such as drought. Hence to investigate SA effects on morphophysiological characteristics of Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Mill. ) under drought stress, a split plot experiment based on latin square design with three replications was carried out at the research farm of Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman in 2012. Three levels of drought stress (50, 75 and 100% of field capacity) and three concentrations of SA (0, 0. 5 and 1mM) were considered as main and sub-plot treatments, respectively. Foliar application of SA was performed at 3-to 4-leaf growth stage and before application of drought stress. Results showed that the drought stress reduced the number of fertile umbel/plant, the number of fertile umbellate/umbel, the number of grains/umbellate, relative water content, chlorophyll, carotenoids and grain yield, while increased electrolyte leakage when compared with control. Salicylic acid reduced electrolyte leakage, while increased the number of fertile umbel/plant, the number of fertile umbellate/umbel, the number of grains/umbellate, RWC, chlorophyll, carotenoids and grain yield when compared to control (No SA application). Interaction of drought stress × SA on the number of fertile umbel/plant, the number of fertile umbellate/umbel, RWC, carotenoids and grain yield was significant. Increasing photosynthetic pigments, RWC and decreasing electrolyte leakage indicates a reduction in oxidative damage and implies SA role in tolerance of fennel to drought stress.

This experiment was conducted during 2005 – 2006 in Agriculture Research centre of Jiroft and Kahnouj to determine the effect of water stress on morphological characters of alfalfa cultivars. Using a split plot design based on Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications. The three levels of water stress (A1=severely stressed, A2=moderately stressed and A3=least stressed) was main plot factor and five cultivars of alfalfa (B1=Yazdi, B2=Nikshahri, B3=Rangar, B4=Bami and B5=Baghdadi) were arranged in sub plots. In each cut, total fresh and dry forage weight, number of stem, LAI, number of internode, plant height, leaf stem ratio, leaf number, internode length and protein were measured. The results showed that the effect of water deficit stress for morphological characters especially internode length were significant. By inreasing water stress the fresh and hay forage, plant height, numbers of stem, LAI, internode length and number of node by increasing water stress were decreased.

In order to study the effect of different irrigation levels on yield and yield components of three wheat cultivars, a field experiment was conducted in Firoozabad, Fars in 2003-2004 growing season. The experiment design was a split-plot one arranged in randomized complete block of four replications. Main plots consisted of four irrigation levels ( I1=every 8, I2= 12 I3= 16, and I4= every 20 days) subplots consisted of three wheat cultivars (V1= Marvdasht, V2=Star, and V3=Darab-2 ). The results showed that Darab-2 with a higher number of grain per spike, and 1000 grain weight, produced higher dry matter as well as higher grain yield. Also, this cultivar exhibited a higher CGR than the other two cultivars. In a comparison between Marvdasht and Star cultivars, it was determined that Marvdasht was superior in a majority of traits. It was determined that the number of grain per spike as well as 1000-grain weight were more sensitive to limited irrigation than the number of spikes per square meter trait. Physiological growth indices decreased with increasing irrigation intervals. Interaction of cultivar x irrigation intervals showed that Darab-2 was superior at all irrigation levels and produced a higher grain yield than the other two. In total, it seems that Darab-2 is more tolerant to limited irrigation: it has a higher grain yield, and can be introduced as tolerant cultivar.