We evaluated Oryza glaberrima genotypes tolerance to complete submergence, and the environmental effects of its surrounding conditions at seedling stage. Six candidate genotypes (TOG6790A, TOG9266, TOG933, TOG9281, TOG9047, TOG7428) with submergence tolerant (SWARNA SUB1) and susceptible (TOG7943) checks were subjected to submergence stress 21 days after seeding for two weeks. Submergence tolerant genotypes showed reduced plant growth, with greater reductions in all morphological growth parameters. This implies a reduction in energy utilization thus conserving energy by maintaining low growth rate. However, genotypes showing rapid shoot elongation and leaf width expansion competed for energy required for the maintenance processes for survival by increasing plant photosynthesizing ability. Thus, elongation ability negatively correlated with submergence tolerance and survival percentage after de-submergence. Shoot elongation positively correlated with leaf number (r= 0.51*) and leaf width (r= 0.74*) and negatively with submergence tolerance and survival percentage after de-submergence. Environmental characterization of water conditions during complete submergence did not confer toxicity to the genotypes. Submergence tolerant Oryza glaberrima genotypes could be useful for growing in flood prone areas and can be used in conferring submergence tolerance in breeding programmes for plant advancement.

The rose tortrix, Archips rosana (L.) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), is a polyphagous pest of fruit crops and forest trees. A. rosana is attacked by a large number of natural enemies, including egg parasitoids in the genus Trichogramma (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae). There is interest in using these egg parasitoids in biological control, but a fundamental first step is correct identification of species. Trichogramma species were collected from the eggs of A. rosana in the Cankiri province of Central Anatolia Region, Turkey, and identified using established molecular methods. DNA was extracted from the wasps and a section of the ribosomal cistron (rDNA) spanning the second internal transcribed spacer (ITS-2) was amplified using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Sequencing of the amplification products revealed that parasitization of A. rosana eggs was the result of two Trichogramma species; T. dendrolimi Matsumura and T. euproctidis Girault. Both species warrant further consideration for use in biological control of A. rosana in Turkish fruit orchards.

Sorghum is among the most important forages used in arid and semi-arid regions of south-eastern Iran, but its growth and yield is often constrained by water deficit and poor productivity of sandy soil. Irrigation water is becoming scarcer and more costly. The addition of water-saving superabsorbent polymer (SAP) in soil can improve soil physical properties, crop growth and yield and reduced the irriga¬tion requirement of plants. This experiment was conducted on sorghum variety ‘Speedfeed’ in Zahedan, Iran during 2012 and 2013 seasons. The experimental design was a split-plot with two factors including four irrigation regime (providing 55, 70, 85 and 100% from consumptive (ET crop) of sorghum) as main plots and four amounts of SAP (0, 40, 80 and 120 kg ha-1) as subplots in a completely randomized block design with three replications. Irrigation level and SAP had significant effects on leaf area index, crop growth rate, leaf area duration and number of tillers per plant. Water stress decreased leaf area index, leaf area duration, crop growth rate and tillers per plant. Our results have shown that the applied SAP had an important effect on forage sorghum and increased leaf area index, leaf area duration, crop growth rate and tillers per plant. The results indicated with an increase in the LAI, LAD and CGR the number of tillers per plant increases.

We compared three DNA extraction methods; a Chelex resin (C100), Qiagen DNA extraction kit and Cethyl Trimethyl Ammonium Bromide (CTAB) protocol that obtained from Parachipteria willmanni van der Hammen, 1952 mite specimens preserved in ethanol. The aim of the study is to find the most efficient protocol for obtaining DNA from Parachipteria willmanni. All methods are successful in isolating DNA from P. willmanni, but among these three methods, maximum amount of DNA is obtained with Chelex-method. DNAs obtained by these three methods were successfully applied to RAPD-PCR.

This paper presents an overview of rat animal model of Alzheimer’s disease. Model is based on the toxicity, oxidative stress and neurodegeneration. The model is obtained by treatment of rats with intraperitoneal aluminum. Electrocortical group neuron activity describes changes in neurotransmission caused by different factors. Such changes could be qualitatively described by spectral and fractal analysis of electrocortical activity as a variation of the relative spectral power. Both animals and patients with Alzheimers demention have increased relative spectral power in delta range. By fractal analysis we described changes in electrocortical activity of aluminum intoxication animals compare to physiological control. We used change in delta range to calculate fractal dimension. Also we used fractal dimension to compare treated animals with control ones to quantitatively describe the degree of pathophysiological state. All changes are correlated with an increase in the relative spectral power in the delta range and can be quantitatively described by fractal dimension. Results are presented as the effect and can also be applied to the human model of neurotoxicity and neurodegeneration like Alzheimer’s dementia. The model itself may be used for diagnostic and prognostic purposes since it describes the parameters underlying Alzheimer’s disease. However in definition of disease should be consider a state of dementia and menthal activity.

The effect of aqueous leaf extract of Millettia aboensis on the liver of Wistar rats was investigated. The experimental animals were divided into six groups based on their body weight. Groups 1 - 5 were administered with 1000, 2000, 3000, 4000 and 5000mg/kg body weight of the extract respectively while the control group was given normal feed and water. The administration of the extract was for 7days and thereafter, the rats were sacrificed and the effects of the plant extract on the liver investigated. Liver function tests and histological examinations of the liver were carried out. Results for liver enzyme assay showed that aspartate aminotransferase (AST) activity significantly increased (p<0.05) in the different groups as compared to the control group (200.1 ± 3.12IU/L). It was observed that enzyme activity increased with increase in the concentration of the extract. Activities of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) for Groups 1 - 5 ranged from 53.13 ± 2.12IU/L to 80.67 ± 0.68IU/L. For alkaline phosphatase (ALP), activities of the enzyme for Groups 1 - 5 ranged from 150.5 ± 3.00IU/L to 483.2 ± 1.68IU/L. Photomicrograph of rats in Groups 1 and 2 showed normal liver architecture with preserved central vein and normal cytoplasm when compared to the control group. However, photomicrographs of the liver of rats in Group 3 showed moderate distortion and mild degeneration of the hepatocyte. Group 4 showed severe vacuolar degeneration while group 5 showed ballooning and vacuolar changes in the hepatocytes. The results of this study suggest that aqueous leaf extract of M. aboensis was hepatotoxic to Wistar rats, and toxicity was dose-dependent.