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Water stress is one of the most important factors limiting the growth and yield of plants in many parts of the world. In order to evaluate the effects of water stress on some morphological, physiological and antioxidant enzyme activity traits of lentil, four lentil cultivars (i.e. Gachsaran, Kimia, Ziba and Robat) in four water deficit treatments including 25%, 50%, 75% and 100% of the field capacity (control) were studied in a factorial experiment, based on a completely randomized design with three replications. Water stress at 25 and 50% field capacity significantly decreased morpho-physiological traits and significantly increased antioxidant enzyme activity, proline and protein contents of all genotypes in comparison with the control group. Gachsaran and Robat cultivars were superior in most traits in comparison with the Kimia and Ziba cultivars. Under severe stress, the amounts of  proline and protein contents, CAT and SOD enzyme activity were significantly higher in Robat and Gachsaran cultivars than those of the Kimiya and Ziba cultivars. Results showed that Robat and Gachsaran cultivars were probably affected less by water stress due to more stress tolerance using various mechanisms such as more antioxidant enzyme activity, increased proline, proteins and photosynthetic pigments contents. Studied traits were introduced as suitable markers for identification of drought tolerant genotypes. Accordingly, Robat and Gachsaran cultivars were introduced as tolerant cultivars for cultivation under rainfed conditions.

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The current investigations suggest the segregation of Jurinea cartilaginea from Jurinea, and its placement among Centaureinae. Molecular studies, based on the nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacers (nrITS), chromosome number data and pollen morphology, support the morphological results. Based on these results, J. cartilaginea is related to and, therefore, transferred to the genus Karvandarina. Due to the morphological characters differing from Karvanderina aphylla, a new subgenus, Pseudojurinea, is described. Molecular study also supports the monophyly of Jurinea.

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During a period from spring 2008 till fall 2010, Iranian Jerboa population abundance was estimated using distance (linear transect) and capture-recapture methods in the Mirabad plains near Shahreza city in Isfahan Province. In the study period, during the active time of the species except reproduction time, we tried to live-trap, mark, release and recapture individuals based on Schnabel method on different sampling occasions. Simultaneously, we also traversed line transects using motorcycle and spot-light by two observers in different habitat types. We tried to get uniform trapping nights in different lunar nights and different habitat types. The population abundance, using Schnabel and distance methods was estimated to be 226 and 402 individuals, respectively. With regard to the obtained results and species behavior, it seems that distance method yields more precise confidence limits of the estimation compared with capture-recapture method. However, capture-recapture method yields more precise estimates for closed populations because of its more limiting assumptions, but the confidence reliability of abundance estimation of a species depends on the species and its habitat selection behavior completely.                               
                            

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Cutin is a polymer that is constructed in plants by the condensation and oxidation of fatty acids and plays a key role in the protection of plants against pathogens. Cutinase is a hydrolase enzyme that breaks down the cutin. The purpose of this study was to extract cutin from red apples with oxalate buffer, cutinase enzyme activity assay in LB culture, and bioinformatic analysis. To attain these purposes the cutinase-producing strains that had previously been isolated were inoculated in culture medium containing cutin. After initial culture, the bacteria were cultured in LB medium and cutinase activity was measured using the p-Nitrophenyl butyrate. In order to execute bioinformatic analysis, the isolated sequences of six cutinase-producing bacteria were analyzed based on computational data bases and their phylogenetic trees were prepared. Then, the similarities in the sequences of a large number of cutinase-producing samples were analyzed by drawing the phylogenetic tree. The results showed the separation of cutinase-producing prokaryotes from cutinase-producing eukaryotes. Then, the sequence of 16S rDNA of these cutinase-producing samples as well as the samples we had prepared were evaluated and their phylogenetic relationships were determined. This analysis showed that the new sequence stood alongside the bacterial samples. Thus, our cutinases may be similar with these bacterial cutinases in structure and function.
 

 
 

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Polyploidy induction in German chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla L.) by herbicide trifluralin
 
Leila Karami¹, Mohammad Modarresi², Mohammad Amin Kohanmoo², Fatemeh Zahabi Ahmadi² & Saeed Irian^3
1Department of Horticulture, Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Persian Gulf University, Bushehr, 7516913817, Iran; ²Department of Plant Breeding, Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Persian Gulf University, Bushehr, 7516913817, Iran; ³Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Kharazmi University, Tehran, Iran.
Correspondent author: Leila Karami, leila.karami@pgu.ac.ir
 
Abstract. Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla L.) is a medicinal herb belonging to Asteraceae family. This study was conducted to investigate the effect of trifluralin on the induction of polyploidy in chamomile. Two independent full factorial experiments on seedlings and 2-leaf stage apical buds were performed.  Following morphological, biochemical and cytogenetic analysis, chromosome numbers of 18 and 36 were detected for diploid and tetraploid types, respectively. Morphological and biochemical examinations revealed that an increase in the number of full chromosome set results in a reduction in stomata number per unit area as well as an increase in stomata size, chloroplast number, and chlorophyll content. Induction of ploidy level increments also reduced plant height and increased the number of lateral branches, leaf size, and diameters of stems, flowers and receptacles. It is concluded that a concentration of 22.5 µM trifluralin in both methods is optimum for the production of tetraploid chamomile with the highest rate of polyploidy induction and the lowest percentage of abnormality.
 
 

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Atta Mouludi-Saleh¹, Soheil Eagderi¹, Keyvan Abbasi² & Manoochehr Nasri^3
1Department of Fisheries, Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran; ²Inland Waters Aquaculture Research Center, Iranian Fisheries Sciences Research Institute, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization, Bandar Anzali, Iran; ³Department of Fisheries Science and Engineering, Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Lorestan University, Khorramabad, Iran
Correspondent author: Soheil Eagderi, soheil.eagderi@ut.ac.ir
 
Abstract: Due to the presence of taxonomic ambiguity regarding Petroleuciscus ulanus and Alburnus atropatenae and the tendency to treat them as synonyms of each other, this study was conducted to validate these two species by comparing their morphometric and meristic characters in the Mahabad-Chai River, Urmia Lake basin. A total of 64 specimens of P. ulanus and 68 specimens of A. atropatenae were sampled and were then investigated for 17 morphometric and 7 meristic characters. Measurements were standardized to eliminate the effects of size due to allometric growth pattern, then their normality and abnormality were examined. Standardized data were analyzed using t-test, Mann-Whitney, principal component analysis (PCA) and discriminative function analysis based on P-value of Hotelling's t-test (DFA/Hotelling's T-test) methods. The results showed that the two species were significantly different in 11 morphometric and 2 meristic traits (P<0.05). DFA analysis also showed significance differences between the two studied species. Our results refute the synonymy hypothesis of Petroleuciscus ulanus and Alburnus atropatenae on the basis of morphometric and meristic traits. Therefore, based on the results of this study, the taxonomic identities of these two species are valid.
 

 

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Seaweed extract can improve the physicochemical properties of the soil and has a favorable effect on the plant growth and development due to having high nutrient content, high water holding capacity, plant growth regulators and beneficial microorganisms. The aim of this experiment was to investigate the effect of Ascophyllum nodosum extract, a brown alga, on the morphophysiological characteristics of bean plant (Phaseolus vulgaris) under water stress. The experiment was performed in a Completely Randomized Factorial Design with three replications. Experimental treatments included 4 concentrations of foliar application of seaweed extract (0, 0.2, 0.4 and 0.6%) and 3 levels of water stress including no stress, mild stress and severe stress (irrigation at 75, 50 and 25% of field capacity, respectively). The results showed that the interaction effects of stress and algal extract on the evaluated traits were not significant. However, the seaweed extract significantly increased the leaf area, number of the leaves, leaf length, surface and length of the roots, root dry weight, the content of chlorophyll a and b and the total chlorophyll content. Application of algal extract at levels of 0.2 and 0.4% caused a significant increase in the evaluated parameters as compared with the control plants. The evaluation of water scarcity stress effects showed a significant reduction in the all studied characteristics in accordance with increasing water stress level from 75% to 25% of field capacity. The results of this study showed that foliar application of seaweed extract significantly increased some morphological and photosynthetic properties, while water stress significantly reduced the investigated parameters.

 

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Gambusia holbrooki Girard, 1859 is considered as one of the non-native and invasive species in the inland waters of Iran. This species occurs in most inland basins and aquatic bodies of Iran and has even been found in brackish waters. Extensive adaptations of this species to its different habitats caused numerous changes in its biological characteristics and morphological traits. The present study was performed to investigate the sexual dimorphism of G. holbrooki in the Gamasiab River, Kermanshah Province, Iran. 59 fish specimens were collected from the river in September 2017. After taxonomic confirmation and sex determination, 29 morphological traits were measured in fish samples using a caliper and their meristic traits were recorded. In total, 37 characters (including 8 meristic traits and 29 morphometric traits) were examined. After obtaining morphological data, Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Discriminant Function Analysis (DFA) were utilized to compare morphological traits between male and female individuals. The results showed that the 59 specimens were comprised of 30 malea and 29 femalea. On the basis of the results, all morphological traits, except the caudal peduncle length, dorsal fin base length and a post-anal length, showed significant sexual dimorphism (p <0.05). The results of DFA and PCA analysis showed that males and females were completely different from each other in terms of morphometric traits. These findings indicate that there is a sexual dimorphism in G. holbrooki of the Gamasiab River. The sexual dimorphism observed in this fish species is due to the sexual selection and increase of reproductive success.

 

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The genus Ulva L. (Sea lettuce), one of the most valuable marine macroalgae, is found in shallow coastal areas and in brackish and fresh water around the world. Ulva species have nutritional and medicinal values in addition to other applications, and contain various compounds such as lipids, proteins and carotenoids. These species have high phenotypic plasticity and varied in response to different environmental conditions. In this study, 38 populations of 10 species of Ulva from the coastal areas of the Persian Gulf and Oman Sea, from different areas of Bushehr, Hormozgan and Sistan and Baluchestan provinces, were studied and identified on the basis of morphological and anatomical traits. Different populations showed variations in characteristics such as height, shape and color of thallus, number of pyrenoids and cell dimensions. Metabolites such as total protein, total oil, chlorophyll a, b and carotenoids contents were measured and compared among the different populations. The results should that the percentage of protein was highest in U. prolifera of Shif Island from Bushehr province as compared with the Ulva species studied, with about 26.5% of dry weight, and the percentage of total oil was lowest in U. flexuosa of Hakhamanesh region from Hormozgan province as compared with the species studied, with about 4.8% of dry weight. These results show that different environmental conditions affect the morphological and anatomical structure of species and the content of their metabolites. Due to the high-protein and low-calorie content of the Ulva genus and the importance of finding new and sustainable resources for food and pharmaceutical industries, the species of this genus have valuable potentials.
 

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Stachys sect. Satureoides includes four species characterized by being annual herbs having oblanceolate leaves, urceolate calyx in fruit and dense hairs at mouth and are distributed from Eastern and Southern Turkey, Syria, Northern Iraq to Western Iran. The main aim of present study is to determine the phylogenetic placement of S. sect. Satureoides based on Stachys melampyroides, as the only representative of this section in Iran. The present molecular study was conducted based on nuclear ribosomal ITS marker, using Maximum Parsimony and Bayesian Inference analyses. In total, 86 accessions (including nine outgroups and 77 ingroups) were included. Our results demonstrated that sect. Satureoides was placed in Olisia clade which is one of the most heterogenous and taxonomically challenging clades of Stachys as a paraphyletic genus. Moreover, not only sect. Satureoides was not found to be phylogenetically close to sect. Neurocalyx, as had been suggested by previous morphological studies, but also it was placed as a sister group of sect Fragilicaulis which was characterized by chasmophilus species with fragile stems and yellow flowers. Our results revealed that sect. Neurocalyx could be the closest group to the Satureoides+Fragilicaulis clade. In addition, based on the nrITS phylogenetic tree, annual species of Stachys showed affinity to perennial Stachys species. Hence, it seems that “Annual habit” have been evolved among their perennial ancestors, independently.