Use of hydrogen cyanamide for apple and plum thinning

Effects of various concentrations of Dormex (a.i. 49% hydrogen cyanamide) on fruit thinning of Rome Beauty apple (Malus domestica Borkh.), Friar and Simka plums (Prunus salicina Lindley) were studied. A full bloom application of Dormex at all tested concentrations decreased Rome Beauty apple fruit set and yield, and increased fruit weight. Dormex at 0.25% (v/v) resulted in adequate apple thinning, indicated by production of an optimum fruit weight (320 g). Prebloom and full bloom applications of Dormex at greater than 0.75% reduced plum fruit set and yield in Friar. Full bloom application of Dormex at 0.50% showed a satisfactory fruit set, yield, and fruit weight in Friar plum. Prebloom Dormex application had no significant effect on `Simka' plum fruit set or yield, but full bloom application decreased fruit set and yield.     

Investigation of the cell structure and organelles during autolytic PCD of Antirrhinum majus “Legend White” petals

Protoplasma - One of the classes of the plant developmental programmed cell death (PCD) is vacuolar cell death or autolysis. The results of the transmission electron microscope (TEM) studies...     

Recombinant M2e Protein-Based ELISA: A Novel and Inexpensive Approach for Differentiating Avian Influenza Infected Chickens from Vaccinated Ones

Available avian influenza (AIV) serological diagnostic tests cannot distinguish vaccinated from naturally infected birds. Differentiation of vaccinated from infected animals (DIVA) is currently advocated as a means of achieving the full control of H5N1. In this study, for the first time, recombinant ectodomain of M2 protein (M2e) of avian influenza virus (H5N1 strain) was used for the DIVA serology test. M2e was cloned into pMAL-P4X vector and expressed in E. coli cells. We used Western blot to recognize the expressed M2e-MBP protein by chicken antisera produced against live H5N1 virus. Also, the specificity of M2e-MBP protein was compared to the M2e synthetic peptide via ELISA. In M2e-MBP ELISA, all sera raised against the live avian influenza viruses were positive for M2e antibodies, whereas sera from killed virus vaccination were negative. Furthermore, M2e-MBP ELISA of the field sera obtained from vaccinated and non-vaccinated chickens showed negative results, while challenged vaccinated chickens demonstrated strong positive reactions. H5N1-originated recombinant M2e protein induced broad-spectrum response and successfully reacted with antibodies against other AIV strains such as H5N2, H9N2, H7N7, and H11N6. The application of the recombinant protein instead of synthetic peptide has the advantages of continues access to an inexpensive reagent for performing a large scale screening. Moreover, recombinant proteins provide the possibility of testing the DIVA results with an additional technique such a Western blotting which is not possible in the case of synthetic proteins. All together, the results of the present investigation show that recombinant M2e-MBP can be used as a robust and inexpensive solution for DIVA test.     

Genome annotation and comparative genomic analysis of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bacillus subtilis</Emphasis> MJ01, a new bio-degradation strain isolated from oil-contaminated soil

One of the main challenges in elimination of oil contamination from polluted environments is improvement of biodegradation by highly efficient microorganisms. Bacillus subtilis MJ01 has been evaluated as a new resource for producing biosurfactant compounds. This bacterium, which produces surfactin, is able to enhance bio-accessibility to oil hydrocarbons in contaminated soils. The genome of B. subtilis MJ01 was sequenced and assembled by PacBio RS sequencing technology. One big contig with a length of 4,108,293 bp without any gap was assembled. Genome annotation and prediction of gene showed that MJ01 genome is very similar to B. subtilis spizizenii TU-B-10 (95% similarity). The comparison and analysis of orthologous genes carried out between B. subtilis MJ01, reference strain B. subtilis subsp. subtilis str. 168, and close relative spizizenii TU-B-10 by microscope platform and various bioinformatics tools. More than 88% of 4269 predicted coding sequences in MJ01 had at least one similar sequence in genome of reference strain and spizizenii TU-B-10. Despite this high similarity, some differences were detected among encoding sequences of non-ribosome protein and bacteriocins in MJ01 and spizizenii TU-B-10. MJ01 has unique nucleotide sequences and a novel predicted lasso-peptide bacteriocin; it also has not any similar nucleotide sequence in non-redundant nucleotide data base.     

Review of the genus Laelaspisella Marais & Loots,with the description of a new species from Iran (Acari,Laelapidae)

A new species of mite is described from Iran, Laelaspisella elsae sp. n. (Acari: Laelapidae). The new species was collected from bark of elm trees in Isfahan province. A revised diagnosis for Laelaspisella, as well as a key to the world species of the genus, are presented. Two species groups of Laelaspisella are proposed: those with seta pd3 on genu I and those without pd3 on genu I. Pseudoparasitus (Gymnolaelaps) tonsilis Karg, 1989a is transferred to Laelaspisella, based on its hypertrichous holodorsal shield, metasternal setae st4 absent and genu IV with ten setae. The problems with Laelaspisella canestrinii are explained and Laelaspisella canestrinii sensu Berlese (1903), (1904) and Costa (1962) is provided with a new name, Laelaspisella berlesei Joharchi, nom. n.     

Antimicrobial activities of some novel thiazoles

2-(4-Phenylthiazol-2(3H)-ylidene)-malononitrile was synthesized by treating 1-phenyl-2-thiocyanatoethanone with malononitrile. Reaction of 2-(4-phenylthiazol-2(3H)-ylidene)-malononitrile with hydrazine hydrate afforded 4-(4-phenylthiazol-2-yl)-1H-pyrazole-3,5-diamine, reaction with benzylidenemalononitrile yielded 2-(5-benzylidene-4-phenyl-5H-thiazol-2-ylidene)-malononitrile, and coupling with benzenediazonium chloride gave 2-(4-phenyl-5-phenylazo-3H-thiazol-2-ylidene)-malononitrile. Diaminopyrazole reacted with enaminonitrile to yield the 3-(4-phenylthiazol-2-yl)pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine-2,7-diamine. All synthesized compounds showed significant antimicrobial activities with MIC range of 5–750 µg/mL. The results demonstrated a correlation of the hydrophobicity of the compounds with their antimicrobial activity. The most potent antimicrobial compound was 2-(4-phenylthiazol-2(3H)-ylidene)-malononitrile.     

Flow injection amperometric detection of insulin at cobalt hydroxide nanoparticles modified carbon ceramic electrode

Cobalt hydroxide nanoparticles were prepared onto a carbon ceramic electrode (CHN|CCE) using the cyclic voltammetry (CV) technique. The modified electrode was characterized by X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. The results showed that CHN with a single-layer structure was uniformly electrodeposited on the surface of CCE. The electrocatalytic activity of the modified electrode toward the oxidation of insulin was studied by CV. CHN|CCE was also used in a homemade flow injection analysis system for insulin determination. The limit of detection (signal/noise [S/N] = 3) and sensitivity were found to be 0.11 nM and 11.8 nA/nM, respectively. Moreover, the sensor was used for detection of insulin in human serum samples. This sensor showed attractive properties such as high stability, reproducibility, and high selectivity.