Molecular Characterization of Phytoplasmas Related to Apple Proliferation and Aster Yellows Groups Associated with Pear Decline Disease in Iran

Pear trees showing pear decline disease symptoms were observed in pear orchards in the centre and north of Iran. Detection of phytoplasmas using universal primer pair P1A/P7A followed by primer pair R16F2n/R16R2 in nested PCR confirmed association of phytoplasmas with diseased pear trees. However, PCR using group‐specific primer pairs R16(X)F1/R16(X)R1 and rp(I)F1A/rp(I)R1A showed that Iranian pear phytoplasmas are related to apple proliferation and aster yellows groups. Moreover, PCR results using primer pair ESFYf/ESFYr specific to 16SrX‐B subgroup indicated that ‘Ca. Phytoplasma prunorum’ is associated with pear decline disease in the north of Iran. RFLP analyses using HaeIII, HhaI, HinfI, HpaII and RsaI restriction enzymes confirmed the PCR results. Partial 16S rRNA, imp, rp and secY genes sequence analyses approved that ‘Ca. Phytoplasma pyri’ and ‘Ca. Phytoplasma asteris’ cause pear decline disease in the centre of Iran, whereas ‘Ca. Phytoplasma prunorum’ causes disease in the north of Iran. This is the first report of the association of ‘Ca. Phytoplasma asteris’ and ‘Ca. Phytoplasma prunorum’ with pear decline disease worldwide.     

Focus: Preventive Medicine: The Impact of the Social Distancing Policy on COVID-19 Incidence Cases and Deaths in Iran from February 2020 to January 2021: Insights from an Interrupted Time Series Analysis

Background: In December 2019, a viral outbreak occurred in China, and rapidly spread out worldwide. Due to the lack of immediately available vaccines and effective drugs, many policy- and decision-makers have focused on non-pharmacological methods, including social distancing. This study was aimed at assessing the effects of the implementation of this policy in Iran, one of the countries most affected by COVID-19. We conducted a quasi-experimental study, utilizing the interrupted time series analysis (ITSA) approach. Methods: We collected daily data between February 20, 2020 and January 29, 2021, through governmental websites from 954 public hospitals and healthcare settings. The Iranian government launched the social distancing policy on March 27, 2020. Statistical analyses, including ITSA, were carried out with R software Version 3.6.1 (London, UK). Results: During the study period, 1,398,835 confirmed incidence cases and 57,734 deaths occurred. We found a decrease of -179.93 (95% CI: -380.11 to -20.25, P-value=0.078) confirmed incidence cases following the implementation of the social distancing policy, corresponding to a daily decrease in the trend of -31.17 (95% CI: -46.95 to -15.40, P-value=0.08). Moreover, we found a decrease of -28.28 (95% CI: -43.55 to -13.01, P-value=0.05) deaths, corresponding to a daily decrease in the trend of -4.52 (95% CI: -5.25 to -3.78, P-value=0.003). Conclusion: The growth rate of confirmed incidence cases and deaths from COVID-19 in Iran has decreased from March 27, 2020 to January 29, 2021, after the implementation of social distancing. By implementing this policy in all countries, the burden of COVID-19 may be mitigated.     

Occurrence,distribution and seasonal changes of viruses infecting common bean in northwestern Iran

Many surveys were conducted during 2003–2005 to study the identity, prevalence and fluctuation of bean infecting viruses in northwestern Iran. In total, 649 bean samples with virus- like symptoms were collected and analysed by double antibody sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (DAS-ELISA) and tissue-print immunoassay to detect infectious viruses. Serological tests revealed the presence of Bean common mosaic virus (BCMV), Bean common mosaic necrosis virus (BCMNV), Bean yellow mosaic virus (BYMV), Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV), Alfalfa mosaic virus (AMV), Bean leaf roll virus (BLRV), Bean pod mottle virus (BPMV) and Southern bean mosaic virus (SBMV), with some co-infection occurred, with prevalence of BCMV, BCMNV and BYMV (17–29% infection rate). The incidence of viruses showed variation in over 3 years of research including more than double increase in CMV from 2004 to 2005 and obvious one-third decrease in AMV from 2003 to 2005. SBMV and BPMV were detected sporadically in the fields and the response of some differential test plants was analysed by mechanical inoculation. Western immunoblotting analysis of SBMV infected bean leaf total proteins using SBMV-specific polyclonal antibody revealed viral CP with molecular mass of 28.5 kDa which confirmed the presence of SBMV as a new threat for bean production.     

Two new species of Linaria section Linaria (Scrophulariaceae‐Antirrhineae) from Iran

Linaria azerbaijanensis and Linaria shahroudensis are described as new species from the Azerbaijan and Semnan provinces of Iran, respectively, belong to section Linaria.The new species are compared to their closest relative Linaria lineolata. Linaria azerbaijanensis differs from L. lineolata in having shorter bracts, a shorter corolla, shorter spur and smaller capsules and a different microsculpturing pattern of the testa cells. Linaria shahroudensis differs from L. lineolata in having shorter stems, shorter calyx‐lobes, a longer spur, a smaller capsule and a different microsculpturing pattern of the testa cells. © 2008 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2008, 158 , 734–742.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Linaria khalkhalensis</Emphasis> (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Linaria</Emphasis> sect. <Emphasis Type="Italic">Linaria</Emphasis>, Scrophulariaceae), a new species from Iran

Summary   Linaria khalkhalensis Hamdi & Assadi is described as a new species from Azerbaijan and Guilan provinces (northern Iran), belonging to Linaria sect. Linaria. It is close to Linaria lineolata Boiss. and L. elymaitica (Boiss.) Kuprian., which it resembles in habit and vegetative features. However, floral and seed characters together with a distinctive geographical distribution, warrant recognition at the species rank. An illustration of the new species, a distribution map, scanning electron micrographs of seed and capsule surfaces, and an identification key are also included.     

Precocious sexual dimorphism and the Lilliput effect in Neo‐Tethyan Ostracoda (Crustacea) through the Permian–Triassic boundary

The Elikah River section spanning the Lopingian (Late Permian) to the Griesbachian (Early Triassic) time interval in the Central Alborz Mountains (north Iran) was sampled for ostracod analysis. We report 79 species distributed among 38 genera. Four new species are described: Acratia? pervagata Forel sp. nov., Microcheilinella alborzella Forel sp. nov., Basslerella superarella Crasquin sp. nov. and Cavellina nesenensis Crasquin sp. nov. The ontogeny of 13 species is described and sexual dimorphism in the genus Microcheilinella is here undoubtedly recognized for the first time. Six species show precocious sexual dimorphism of their carapace as early as A‐5 juvenile. The Lilliput effect is for the first time recorded and quantified for two species. Rare long‐time span Palaeocopida species, known throughout the entire Permian, document relatively long‐term evolution, including the size and growth rate modifications associated with the earlier appearance of carapace sexual dimorphism through time. These patterns might be related to the Guadalupian–Lopingian events and/or to climatic modifications occurring during the Permian interval.     

"Fewer children, better life" or "as many as God wants"? Family planning among low-income Iranian and Afghan refugee families in Isfahan, Iran

In the West it is often assumed that religion (esp. Islam) and contraception are mutually exclusive. Yet, the Islamic Republic of Iran has one of the most successful family-planning programs in the developing world, and is often looked to as a potential model for other Muslim countries. Although Iran's family-planning program has been extremely successful among Iranians, it has been far less successful among Afghan refugees and other ethnic groups. Afghans and Iranians both seek services in Iran's public health sector for family health care, treatment of infectious disease, and childhood vaccinations. On these occasions, all adult married patients are strongly encouraged to use family planning to reduce the number of offspring. In this article, we explore how Iran's family-planning program is differentially perceived and utilized among low-income Iranian and Afghan refugee families in rural and urban locations. Particular attention is given to how different interpretations of Islam may or may not influence reproductive health-related behaviors and how cultural factors influence reproductive strategies.     

Mycoflora of Iranian Maize Harvested in the Main Production Areas in 2000

Maize is one of the most important cereals produced in, and imported into, Iran. The incidences of seed-borne fungi were determined in Iranian maize harvested in 2000 from four major production areas with different climatic conditions, namely Fars, Khuzestan, Kermanshah and Mazandaran provinces. This is the first study to compare the mycoflora of maize in the aforementioned areas. Mycological analyses showed a predominance of Fusarium species (38.5%), followed by Aspergillus species (8.7%), Rhizopus species (4.8%), Penicillium species (4.5%), Mucor species (1.1%), and four other fungal genera. Fusarium verticillioides was the most prevalent species (83% of Fusarium isolates and 52% of the total isolations), with the highest incidence in Mazandaran (59%), a region of Iran with the highest rainfall and relative humidity, high rate of esophageal cancer (EC) and high levels of fumonisins in maize. Aspergillus flavus was the most widely recovered Aspergillus species and 38% of samples were contaminated with this potentially aflatoxigenic fungus. The incidence of A. flavus was highest in Kermanshah, the province with lowest mean minimum temperature. Penicillium species were seen in all the samples and Fars had the highest incidence, with highly significant differences when compared to the other three provinces. Diplodia species were not isolated from any of the samples examined.     

Permethrin resistance ratios compared by two methods of testing nymphs of the German cockroach, Blattella germanica

For the German cockroach, Blattella germanica L. (Dictyoptera: Blattellidae), the permethrin resistance ratio (RR) was assessed by topical application and by tarsal contact tests, using first-instar nymphs of five strains from Tehran, Iran. Each test was replicated three or four times with 10 nymphs aged 2-3 days; mortality was scored 24h post-treatment. The reference susceptible strain showed LD50 permethrin 0.0175 microl/nymph from topical application, KT50 of 8.41 min and LT50 of 12.82 following tarsal contact with permethrin 15 mg/m2. In four wild strains (F1 generation) the RR varied from 4.14 to 4.7 for mortality after topical application, from 4.2 to 6.45 for mortality and 17-27 for knockdown following tarsal contact tests. Hence, overall knockdown results gave much higher RRs than for mortality data. Resistance ratios based on both methods of treatment were very similar: one strain showed a slightly higher value by topical application (RR 4.6 vs. 4.2, i.e. 1.1-fold difference) whereas the other three strains gave slightly greater RR (1.2-1.4 fold) by tarsal contact. Resistance was abolished by cotreatment with the synergist piperonyl butoxide plus permethrin (ratio 3:1 required for full efficacy), indicating that mixed-function oxidases were inhibited as a major metabolic pathway in all four resistant strains.     

Un nouvel horizon à vertébrés dans la coupe-type de la formation de Khush-Yeilagh (Dévonien Moyen), Alborz oriental,Mazenderan, Iran

Some vertebrate remains, referred to an arthrodire, a ptyctodont, a struniiform, and an actinopterygian respectively, have been discovered in a marine horizon of the type section of the Khush-Yeilagh Formation, in eastern Alborz (Mazenderan, Iran). An arthrodire skull-roof fragment from this horizon may be referred to a buchanosteidae, a group known hitherto only from the Lower Devonian of Australia and China.