SpringerIranian Journal of Science2731-809533120090212CHANGE OF SOME OSMOLYTES ACCUMULATION IN WATER-STRESSED COLZA (BRASSICA NAPUS L.) AS AFFECTED BY 24-EPIBRASSINOLIDE*111219710.22099/ijsts.2009.2197ENE. AHMADI MOUSAVI1International Center for Science, High Technology and Environmental Science, Kerman, I. R. Iran
2Department of Biology, Shahid Bahonar University, Kerman, I. R. IranK. MANOCHEHRI KALANTARIDepartment of Biology, Shahid Bahonar University, Kerman, I. R. IranS. R. JAFARIDepartment of Biology, Shahid Bahonar University, Kerman, I. R. IranJournal Article20070520Brassinosteroids are phytohormones possessing a wide spectrum of antistress activity. To see<br />whether this hormone is able to ameliorate the effects of water stress, the effects of 24-epibrassinolise on<br />plant growth, accumulation of osmolytes (proline, sugars and ions), lipid peroxidation and electrolyte leakage<br />were investigated in Colza (Brassica napus L. cv. Fusia) plants which were under water stress. The seeds<br />were sown in plastic pots containing sand, clay and peat (in a proportion of 1:1:1). Solution of 24-epibrassinolid<br />at 10-7 M concentration containing 0.01% Tween-20 (polyoxyethylene sorbitan) was sprayed on<br />leaves at intervals of 1, 2 and 3 weeks after sowing. Control plants were sprayed with 0.01% Tween-20, and<br />water treatment was applied 26 days after germination, withholding water for 3 or 4 days. One month after<br />sowing, plants were harvested. Lipid peroxidation and electrolyte leakage significantly increased under water<br />stress, but when plants were pretreated with 24-epibrassinolid and put under water stress these parameters<br />decreased, revealing that less oxidative damage occurred in this group. Proline and reduced sugars content<br />was increased when 24-epibrassinolide were applied. FW and DW were significantly decreased under water<br />stress. Water stress also increased the uptake of K and Ca, but the uptake of Na significantly decreased. 24- epibrassinolide considerably increased ions uptake by plants. Taken together, these results showed that 24- epibrassinolide alleviated the effects of water stress and increased the tolerance of plants to stress by<br />increasing osmolytes accumulation and therefore could be used to improve crops in harsh conditions.SpringerIranian Journal of Science2731-809533120090212EFFECT OF ASCORBIC ACID, DIKETOGULONIC ACID AND DEHYDROASCORBIC ACID ON BOVINE SERUM ALBUMIN ON STORAGE IN THE GLASSY STATE1322219810.22099/ijsts.2009.2198ENA. FARAHNAKYDepartment of Food Science and Technology, School of Agriculture,
Shiraz University, Shiraz, I. R. IranM. MAJZOOBIDepartment of Food Science and Technology, School of Agriculture,
Shiraz University, Shiraz, I. R. IranJournal Article20080109Showing the occurrence of glass/rubber transition in bovine serum albumin (a globular protein) at<br />low moisture levels and the occurrence of Maillard crosslinking in gelatin in previous works, the importance<br />of the state of glass or rubber of BSA on the rate and extent of polymerisation, protein solubility, colour and<br />SDS PAGE patterns in the presence and absence of ascorbic acid, diketogulonic acid and dehydroascorbic<br />acid was investigated. BSA on storage with Ascorbic acid and its degradation products at low moisture<br />contents (8.3% and 19.1%) at a relatively low temperature (40ºC) can undergo chemical changes resulting in marked increase in molecular weight, solubility decrease and formation of browning colour. The glassy state data established the occurrence of chemical changes (Maillard crosslinking and disulfide crosslinking) in the BSA system on storage below its glass transition temperature.SpringerIranian Journal of Science2731-809533120090212GEOGRAPHICAL, MORPHOLOGICAL AND TAXONOMIC STATUS OF PISTACIA KHINJUK STOCKS EX STOCKS IN IRAN*2329219910.22099/ijsts.2009.2199ENL. GHAEMMAGHAMI1Department of Botany, School of Biology, College of Science, University of Tehran, Tehran, I. R. Iran
2Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, I. R. IranF. ATTARDepartment of Botany, School of Biology, College of Science, University of Tehran, Tehran, I. R. IranA. GHAHREMANDepartment of Botany, School of Biology, College of Science, University of Tehran, Tehran, I. R. IranM. R. RAHIMINEJADDepartment of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, I. R. IranJournal Article20090420Geographical, morphological and taxonomic status of Pistacia khinjuk Stocks ex Stocks in Iran<br />was revised. A total of 181 accessions (herbarium materials or specifically collected for this study) were<br />examined geographically and morphologically. The chromosome number of 2n = 24, revealed among 15<br />accessions studied, was taken as evidence to lump the variability observed in P. khinjuk as one taxonomic<br />species. However the states of the leaflet number, i.e. 1 (rarely 3) and 3-7 were taken as the key character in order to subdivide the P. khinjuk material in Iran into two varieties: khinjuk (the autonym variety) with 3-7<br />and populifolia Boiss. with 1 (rarely 3) leaflet in number. The relative illustrations are prepared and<br />presented. Some nomenclatural corrections are also included.SpringerIranian Journal of Science2731-809533120090212THIRD VENTRICLE GHRELIN INFUSION EFFECT ON THE METABOLIC PARAMETERS UNDER DIFFERENT ENERGY LEVELS IN DIETS3142220010.22099/ijsts.2009.2200ENH. KHAZALICollege of Biological Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, I. R. IranJournal Article20080624The goal of this study was to determine whether ghrelin affects the mean plasma concentrations of<br />metabolic parameters such as thyroxine (T4), triiodothyronine (T3), growth hormone (GH), insulin, glucagon,<br />glucose, fatty acid and urea in the goats fed different energy content in diets. Sixteen goats were randomly divided<br />into 4 groups. Animals in groups 1 and 2 were fed 100 % and animals in groups 3 and 4 were fed a 50 % energy<br />content in their diet for 20 days. After 20 days, animals in groups 1 and 3 received a daily infusion of 1 ug ghrelin,<br />while groups 2 and 4 received a daily infusion of 2 ug galanin into their third ventricle for 5 days. Blood samples<br />were collected daily from the jugular veins before infusions on day 4 until 4 days after the last infusions of<br />ghrelin. Samples were assayed for plasma T3, T4, GH, insulin and glucagon concentrations by double-antibody<br />RIA. Glucose, fatty acid, and urea concentrations were also measured. Lower dietary energy intake and infusions of 1 and 2 ug ghrelin significantly (P<0.01) decreased the mean plasma concentrations of T3, T4, insulin, and glucose, and significantly (P<0.01) increased the mean plasma concentrations of GH, glucagon, fatty acid, and urea of the animals in groups 3 and 4. Different dosages of the ghrelin infusions did not change the plasma concentrations of the metabolic parameters in the animals fed a normal energy content in diets. The results of this experiment indicated that ghrelin may negatively affect the T3, T4, insulin, and glucose and increase GH, glucagon, fatty acid, and urea in the goats with a negative energy balance, but not in those with the positive energy balance.SpringerIranian Journal of Science2731-809533120090212ASSESSMENT OF HEAVY METAL CONTAMINATION IN WATER AND SURFACE SEDIMENTS OF THE MAHARLU SALINE LAKE, SW IRAN4355220110.22099/ijsts.2009.2201ENF. MOOREDepartment of Earth Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, Shiraz University, Shiraz, I. R. IranG. FORGHANIDepartment of Earth Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, Shiraz University, Shiraz, I. R. IranA. QISHLAQIDepartment of Earth Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, Shiraz University, Shiraz, I. R. IranJournal Article20080412Maharlu saline Lake is located in the SW of Iran. To assess the environmental pollution of the<br />lake, the total concentrations of As, Cr, Co, Cu, Cd, Pb, Zn, Ni, Fe, and Mn were determined in the surface<br />sediments and water of the lake. As and Cr were not detected in the water samples, however, the mean<br />concentrations of other dissolved metals in Maharlu Lake water were 0.28 mg/l for Cu, 0.28 μg/l for Cd, 5.17<br />μg/l for Pb, 0.37 mg/l for Zn, 2.36 μg/l for Ni, 2.88 μg/l for Co, 10.4 mg/l for Fe, and 1.5 mg/l for Mn.<br />Different water and sediment quality assessment approaches indicated that in this lake, metals can be divided<br />into three different groups: (a) Co, Pb, and Cd. These metals have the highest enrichment factors (the mean<br />values are 35.8, 76.9, and >36.6, respectively), geoaccumulation indexes (the mean values are >3), and<br />contamination factors (11.1, 29, and 8, respectively) compared with other studied elements; thus, the Maharlu<br />Lake is highly polluted with these metals, and they are mainly from anthropogenic sources; (b) Cu, Zn, and<br />Ni. Their mean enrichment factor values are 6.6, 3.4, and 6, respectively; their mean geoacumulation indexes<br />are <1, and their mean contamination factor values are 2, 1.1, and 2, respectively. The enrichment factor of<br />these metals is higher than 10 only north of the lake. The Maharlu Lake is moderately polluted with these<br />metals, and they are from both natural and anthropogenic sources; (c) Cr, As, Fe, and Mn. These elements<br />have the lowest mean enrichment factor (1, 3.5, 2, and 4.2, respectively), geoaccumulation indexes (≤0), and contamination factor (0.32, 0.91, 0.63, and 1.5, respectively) values; thus the Maharlu Lake is not polluted with these elements, and they are mainly from natural sources. Results indicated that the Maharlu Lake sediments have a high contamination degree (56.66). Comparisons with consensus-sediment quality<br />guidelines reveal that Ni and Pb pose the greatest environmental threat to aquatic organisms. In order to<br />protect the lake from further contamination, the treatment and recycling of wastewaters discharged into the<br />lake is needed.SpringerIranian Journal of Science2731-809533120090212ANALOGOUS TECTONIC EVOLUTION OF THE TETHYAN AND SE ASIAN REGIONS*5764220210.22099/ijsts.2009.2202ENJ. SHAHABPOURDepartment of Geology, Shahid Bahonar University,
P.O. Box 955, Post code 76135, Kerman, I. R. IranJournal Article20071203The study of tectonic evolution of the Tethyan and SE Asian regions indicates that these two<br />regions have each passed through southwardly progressing sequences of similar tectonic events. Both regions<br />have experienced a southward island-arc subduction and back-arc spreading leading to continental<br />detachment from Gondwanaland, with an earlier southward island arc subduction of Palaeotethys (Tethyan<br />northern ocean), and continental detachment (Early Devonian) which produced the Neo-Tethys Ocean and the<br />land masses of the Tethyan region, compared with a later southward island arc subduction of Tethys II, and<br />continental detachment (Permo-Triassic) which produced Tethys III, and the land masses of the SE Asian<br />region. The northward subduction of Neo-Tethys (Tethyan southern ocean) and formation of the Alpine<br />Orogeny (Late Paleocene-Pliocene) in the Tethyan region was accompanied by the opening of the Red Sea to the south of the Arabian Gondwanaland. Similarly, the northward subduction of Tethys III (SE Asian<br />southern ocean) (Late Oligocene-Present), and arc-continent collision in the SE Asian region was<br />accompanied by the opening of the Southern Ocean to the south of the Australian Gondwanaland. In both<br />regions, the younger oceans are formed sequentially southward. The later occurrence of the southward<br />progressing sequence of tectonic events in the SE Asian region compared with the similar sequence of<br />tectonic events in the Tethyan region indicates an eastward global migration of tectonic events.SpringerIranian Journal of Science2731-809533120090212PHYSIOLOGICAL RESPONSES OF DUNALIELLA TERTIOLECTA TO Hg2+-INDUCED OXIDATIVE STRESS6574220310.22099/ijsts.2009.2203ENN. ZAMANIDepartment of Biology, College of Sciences, Shiraz University, Shiraz 71454, I. R. IranF. RASEKHAbadeh Payam Noor University, Abadeh, I. R. IranA. MORADSHAHI1Department of Biology, College of Sciences, Shiraz University, Shiraz 71454, I. R. IranB. KHOLDEBARINDepartment of Biology, College of Sciences, Shiraz University, Shiraz 71454, I. R. IranJournal Article20090202Some species of the genus Dunaliella are the major primary producers in Maharlu salt lake, which<br />is polluted with different heavy metals including Hg2+. Short-term (48 h) and prolonged exposure (28 d) of D.<br />tertiolecta to 5, 10, 20, and 50 μM HgCl2 decreased Chlorophyll "a" content, but caused enhanced carotenoid<br />production and increased ascorbate peroxidase (APX) activity, both of which function as antioxidants,<br />buffering oxidative stress by scavenging reactive oxygen species (ROS). Increase in total carotenoids in terms of pictogram per cell (pg cell-1) was higher in prolonged exposure, whereas APX activity was greater in shortterm exposure to HgCl2. In both experiments, despite the increase in antioxidant capacity, algal growth in terms of cell number per ml of culture decreased relative to the control. It seems that generation of ROS in the presence of HgCl2 exceeds the total antioxidant capacity of the cells, which is evident from the increase in cell malondialdehyde (MDA) content and, as a result, reduced cell number. The SDS-PAGE profile of the extracted proteins showed enhanced synthesis of two protein bands of about 29 and 38 kD.SpringerIranian Journal of Science2731-809533120090212EFFECTS OF TEMPERATURE, GA3 AND CYTOKININS ON BREAKING SEED DORMANCY OF FERULA ASSA-FOETIDA L7585220410.22099/ijsts.2009.2204ENS. B. HASSANIDepartment of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Alzahra University, Tehran, I. R. IranA. SABOORADepartment of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Alzahra University, Tehran, I. R. IranT. RADJABIANDepartment of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Shahed University, Tehran, I. R. IranH. FALLAH HUSSEINIDepartment of Pharmacology, Institute of Medicinal Plants (ACECR), Karadj, I. R. IranJournal Article20090131Ferula assa-foetida L. (Apiaceae) is one of the most important endangered medicinal plants,<br />which is rare in nature due to poor seed germination. In an effort to improve and promote the cultivation of<br />this plant, the effects of two temperatures (23°C and 4°C), exogenous GA3 and cytokinins (kinetin and BAP)<br />were investigated on dormancy breaking and germination of F. assa-foetida L. seeds. Among the treatments,<br />cold stratification (4°C) significantly stimulated seed breaking dormancy. The highest mean germination<br />index (2.6 germinated seed per week) was obtained by treatment of seeds with 5 mg/L kinetin at 4°C. But,<br />under no hormone treatment, the highest final percentage germination (73%) was obtained when the seeds<br />were soaked in distilled water and then incubated at 4°C. Also, under this condition the germination index<br />was achieved to 2.5 germinated seeds per week. Treatment of the seeds by GA3 not only could not<br />significantly enhance the germination index and percentage at 23°C, but also the existence of GA3 caused a<br />marked decrease in those values at 4°C. This result demonstrated that GA3 was not effective to overcome<br />dormancy for this species.SpringerIranian Journal of Science2731-809533120090212IONIZATION OF A 1-D MODEL OF H2 + FROM DIFFERENT STATES IN INTENSE LASER FIELD*87102220510.22099/ijsts.2009.2205ENH. SABZYANDepartment of Chemistry, University of Isfahan, Isfahan 81746-73441, I. R. IranH. EBADIDepartment of Chemistry, University of Isfahan, Isfahan 81746-73441, I. R. IranJournal Article20070522Time-dependent Schrödinger equation for a 1-D model of hydrogen molecular ion H2<br />+ in intense<br />laser field linearly polarized along the molecular axis is solved. Ionization rates are calculated for different<br />initial states. The evolution of electronic wavefunction at fixed inter-nuclear separations are simulated and<br />analyzed. The results obtained for the ground state of this 1-D model of H2<br />+ show appreciable qualitative agreement with the results obtained previously in the 2-D and 3-D studies. The Ponderomotive energy effect on the beginning of ionization in different initial states is observed. The above threshold ionization has a large contribution in the ionization of electrons, except for the ground state and at equilibrium inter-nuclear separation. The ionization rates show that at some inter-nuclear separations larger than 4.0 au, resonance enhancement ionization by some higher excited states occur. At inter-nuclear separations shorter than 4.0 au, the ground state does not show any resonance with higher excited states.SpringerIranian Journal of Science2731-809533120090212GEOCHEMICAL INVESTIGATION OF NODULAR CHROMITES IN THE FORUMAD OPHIOLITE, NE OF IRAN103108220610.22099/ijsts.2009.2206ENH. SHAFAII MOGHADAMSchool of Earth Sciences, Damghan University of Basic Sciences, Damghan, I. R. IranM. RAHGOSHAYFaculty of Earth Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, I. R. IranV. FOROUZESHFaculty of Earth Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, I. R. IranJournal Article20060409The Forumad ophiolite in the northwestern part of the Sabzevar region has embraced the large<br />depleted harzburgites and dunitic bodies associated with podiform chromitites. In some deposits, chromite<br />grains have segregated as nodules. The stretched shape along with high Cr2O3 and TiO2 contents are the<br />characteristics of the nodules. Compared to the other Tethyan nodular chromites, the Forumad nodular<br />chromites show high Cr content. The nodules formation seems to be the result of turbulent picritic magma<br />flows accompanied by the water rich fluids.SpringerIranian Journal of Science2731-809533120090212THE OSTRACODAL RESPONSE TO THE CENOMANIAN-TURONIAN BOUNDARY EVENT AT WESTBURY (WILTSHIRE, UK)109119220710.22099/ijsts.2009.2207ENM. R. VAZIRIDepartment of Geology, Faculty of Sciences, Shahid Bahonar University, Kerman, I. R. IranJournal Article20070919A detailed study of Ostracoda changes against the stable isotopes of carbon and oxygen across<br />the Cenomanian-Turonian boundary mass extinction has been fully documented in one section, the South of<br />England. This section comprises the uppermost Cenomanian to lowermost Turonian strata. The comparison<br />between the results obtained in this research and two rival models for the Cenomanian-Turonian boundary<br />mass extinction, famine and high productivity, have been carried out. Low oxygen level has been proposed as<br />the main cause of the Cenomanian-Turonian boundary mass extinction.SpringerIranian Journal of Science2731-809533120090212ROTIFERS OF KEPEKTAS DAM LAKE (ELAZIG-TURKEY)*121126220810.22099/ijsts.2009.2208ENS. SALERFirat University, Faculty of Fisheries, 23119, Elazig, TurkeyJournal Article20060418With the aim of identifying the Rotifera fauna of Kepektas Dam Lake, samples were collected<br />monthly between January-December 2005. In total 11 rotifer species were identified. As a species-wise<br />percentage, Kellicttia longispina had the highest level with 57%. When the annual abundance of species was<br />taken into consideration Polyarthra vulgaris, Colurella uncinata, Asplanchna priodonta and Keratella<br />cochlearis were determined as dominant species. These species were observed in most months of the year and were well observed in their annual abundance. Notholca squamula was classified as cold steno-thermal<br />species, as this species was recorded only in February and March. Increases in Rotifer individual numbers<br />were observed in spring and summer months.