ScleROTinia BASAL STEM ROT is an important fungal disease of sunflower. It reduces growth and crop yield worldwide. The aim of this study is identification of resistant lines and confirmation of the accuracy of QTL analysis done for resistance to this disease in previous research in order for their use in sunflower breeding programs. In this study the expression of transcription factors (AP2 Domain, HD-Zip and MYB Family) responsible for resistance to disease was studied in susceptible (RHA265) and resistant (LC106-C) sunflower lines challenged with ScleROTinia fungal isolate (SSU53) using Real Time PCR. The results showed that the expression of the studied transcription factors is different in resistant and susceptible sunflower lines. In particular, expression of the AP2 domain and MYB Family increased significantly in resistant line LC106-C as compared to a susceptible one (RHA265). The results suggest a positive role of AP2 domain and MYB Family in resistance mechanisms of sunflower plant in response to ScleROTinia fungal disease. According to these results, the line LC106-C can be used as a resistant line for resistance to ScleROTinia disease. In addition, the highest expression level of genes in the resistant line compared to susceptible one confirmed the phenotypic data used in QTL analysis in our previous research. The findings of this study should be useful in sunflower breeding programs for producing cultivars resistant to disease.

Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L. ) from Asteraceae family is one of the most important crops grown mainly for edible oil. ScleROTinia is one of the fungi pathogens widely distributed in sunflower farms leading to totally yield losses under the favorable environmental conditions for the pathogen. The use of resistant genotypes is potentially one of the economically useful methods for its control. In this study, the expression pattern of genes PDF1. 2 (defence related gene), HaZFHD (transcription factor) and HaPP2C (effective in defence signal transduction) was investigated in sunflower susceptible (SDR19) and partially resistant (8A*/LC1064C) lines after inoculation with ScleROTinia fungal isolate A37 via Real Time PCR technique. Results revealed that the expression of studied genes has significantly increased in an earlier time in partially resistant (8A*/LC1064C) line compared to susceptible (SDR19) one. Increased expression level of studied genes proves their potential role in resistance of sunflower to ScleROTinia BASAL STEM ROT disease. The findings of this study can be useful in sunflower breeding programs for producing cultivars resistant to ScleROTinia STEM ROT disease.

Aims Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L. ) is mainly cultivated for the extraction of edible oil, and ScleROTinia scleROTiorum is a pathogen in sunflower fields. The aim of this study was to indetify markers associated with resistance to ScleROTnia Scleritiorum diseases in sunflower, using association analysis. Materials & Methods In the present experimental research, a population including 100 lines of oily sunflower was cultivated. Traits such as contamination progress after 4, 8, and 12 days, 100 seeds weight of contaminated and non-contaminated plants, contaminated and noncontaminated plant yield, 100 seeds weight loss, and yield loss were studied. The molecular profiles of germplasm were prepred with 30 microsatellite primer pairs. Genetic structure analysis of population was performed based on Bayesian model. Findings The highest coefficient of variation was related to the yield loss (86. 41%) and weight loss (78. 48%), and the lowest was contamination progression after 8 and 12 days (26. 47% and 20. 44%), respectively. Based on the mixed linear model (MLM), 6 microsatellite markers related to traits were identified at the level of p≤ 0. 01. The highest number of markers was associated with contamination progression after 8 days. The P733, P807, and P1256 markers were simultaneously associated with 3 traits. Conclusion Four lines including RHA274, H100A-83HR4, B45-03, and Iranian line with code 28 were identified with different genetic origins and high resistance levels. According to the general linear model (GLM) and MLM, 24 and 15 SSR markers are related to the traits, respectively. The P733, P807, and P1256 markers are simultaneously associated with 3 traits.

Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L. ) is an important crop that its oil has nutritional and high economic value. BASAL STEM ROT, caused by ScleROTinia scleROTiorum and S. minor, is one of the important and devastating disease of sunflower. The use of resistant cultivars is considered as the most important and effective method to control the disease. In this study, the reaction of 100 oily sunflower lines to three isolates of S. scleROTiorum and three isolates of S. minor was studied. Identification of gene loci associated with resistance to disease was done with markers produced with 30 SSR primers pairs. The results showed that some of sunflower genotypes had well resistant to ScleROTinia disease. Population structure analysis using Structure software identified 2 subpopulations (K=2). Association analysis using TASEEL software with general and mixed linear models (GLM and MLM) identified 14 and 12 loci, respectively that have significant association with resistant genes related to ScleROTinia. ORS617 locus was commonly related to genes associated with resistance to M1 from S. minor and J1 from S. scleROTiorum. The common markers are important in sunflower breeding programs making possible simultaneously selection for several traits and producing resistant cultivars to ScleROTinia disease.

ScleROTinia STEM ROT (SSR), caused by ScleROTinia scleROTiorum, is the most important disease of canola (Brassica napus). This disease has been observed in different regions of Golestan province since the first years of canola planting. In order to study of infection situation of the fields in the province, disease evaluating was carried out in 80 fields in four locations (Gorgan, Ali Abad, Kalaleh and Gonbad) during 2006 and 2007. Statistical analyses of disease data were performed based on disease incidence (I) and mean severity (S) of the fields. The results revealed that the incidence (P=0.05) and severity (P=0.02) are significantly different in the four locations. Minimum and maximum of average incidence was observed in Kalaleh (10.7%) and AliAbad (22.11%), respectively, but Minimum and maximum of mean severity was recorded in Gonbad (5.6%) and Ali Abad (17.2%), respectively. Minimum and maximum of disease incidence was observed in Gorgan in 2006 (1%) and Ali Abad in 2006 (81.5%), respectively, that were equivalent to 0.6% and 66.75% disease severity.

Several Fusarium species cause important diseases such as wilting and onion BASAL and scale ROT all over the world lead to significant losses in the production. During the visits that were done from onion fields in Isfahan in the middle of the plant growth period, wilt symptoms were observed in the field as spots. Sampling of onions showing yellowish symptoms or leaf necrosis and wilting was done randomly. Also, during harvesting time of white onions in the fields and some onions in warehouse, symptoms such as watering and color changes were seen on several outer scales of onion in the neck area. A total of 60 Fusarium isolates were isolated from onion included; 35 isolates of Fusarium proliferatum, eight isolates of F. acuminatum, seven isolates of F. solani, four isolates of F. oxysporum, four isolates of F. falciforme and two isolates of F. sambucinum. Pathogenicity test was carried out on external scales of onions at 25 ° C and 65% relative humidity and onion plant in greenhouse conditions. Two species of F. sambucinum and F. falciforme were isolated as causal agent of plant wilting from onions with root and crown color changes for the first time. In the present study, the symptoms of ROT, discoloration and soft tissue formation on the scales around the white onions neck by Fusarium species are reported from Iran. Also, F. acuminatum was isolated from the onion as a causal agent of ROT and color change of the scales for the first time.

Objective (s): In the past few decades, variety of foetal, embryonic and adult STEM and progenitor cells have been tried with conflicting outcome for cell therapy of central nervous sySTEM injury and diseases. Cellular characteristics and functional plasticity of Globose BASAL STEM cells (GBCs) residing in the olfactory epithelium of rat olfactory mucosa have not been studied in the past by the neuroscientists due to unavailability of specific markers for GBCs. In the present research, we standardized some techniques to isolate GBCs from rat olfactory epithelium in pure form using a highly selective GBC-III antibody passaged through fluorescence activated cell sorter (FACS). We also characterized these cells immunohistologically using various pluripotent STEM cell markers. This work also throws some light on ionic channels present on these STEM cells which are responsible for their neuron induction potential.Materials and methods: Globose BASAL STEM cells were isolated from rat olfactory epithelium using GBC-III antibody and were characterized as multipotent STEM cells using various neural progenitor markers. Ionic channels on GBCs were studied with voltage clamping.Results: GBCs could be isolated in pure (99% purity) form and were found to be stained positive for all neural progenitor cell markers. Voltage gated Na+channels were completely absent, which proves the unexcitable nature of GBCs. Leaky K+ channels were found to be present on the GBC which was of no significance.Conclusion: This research work can be helpful in understanding the nature of these STEM cells and utilising them in future as potent candidates for neuro-regenerative therapies.

An experiment was carried out using 0, 50, 100 and 300 μM melatonin in onion cultivar to investigate its effect on induction of resistance to Fusarium BASAL ROT caused by Fusariumoxysporum f. sp. cepae. In this experiment, traits such as total phenolic content, hydrogen peroxide, malondialdehyde, antioxidant enzymes (catalase (CAT) and guaiacol peroxidase (GPX) and disease-related enzymes (phenylalanine ammonialyase (PAL), chitinase and β-1, 4-glucanase) were measured. The results showed an application of exogenous melatonin caused an increase in the total phenolic content and activity of antioxidants and disease-related enzymes, resulting a decrease malondialdehyde (MDA) and in the hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) level in Fusariumtreated plants. Although all concentrations of melatonin altered some biochemical and physiological traits in onions under Fusarium BASAL ROT stress, the best overall result regarding induction of resistance to Fusariumoxysporum f. sp. cepae in these plants was observed on days 12 and 16 by applying 100 μM melatonin.