ابوالفضل جوکار

Salinity stress is a main restricting factor for plants’ growth and development, resulting from climate change. The ornamental tobacco (Nicotiana alata) from the Solanaceae family is a bedding plant with attractive flowers suitable for semi-arid and arid lands. In order to obtain salt tolerance, the Na+/H+ antiporter gene was transferred from the halophyte eelgrass (Z. marina) grown in saltwater lake Urmia to N. alata. For gene transformation, leaf explants were immersed in liquid medium containing Agrobacterium tumefaciens containing the vacuolar gene ZmNHX1. The explants were subcultured on MS medium supplemented with 1 mg L-1 benzyl amino purine, 0.1 mg L−1 naphthalene acetic acid, 200 mg L-1 cefotaxime and 10 mg L-1 kanamycin. After regeneration, salinity stress was applied by 0, 210, 230 and 240 mM NaCl in a completely randomized design with three replications. For the first time, vacuolar Na+/H+ antiporter gene ZmNHX1 was successfully transferred to ornamental tobacco. Compared to the wild type plants, the transgenic plants showed higher content of leaf chlorophyll, leaf carotenoid, fresh weight and dry weight of the whole plant, leaf proline content and leaf catalase activity. After salinity stress, the T revealed greater chlorophyll, carotenoid, anthocyanin, K+: Na+ ratio, fresh weight, dry weight, proline amount, catalase and ascorbate peroxidase activity. The T also demonstrated a lower decline in relative water content and a lesser increase of leaves electrolyte leakage, compared to the WT. The stable expression of ZmNHX1 obtained from eelgrass confer salinity stress tolerance in ornamental tobacco providing a new window for cultivation of this species in areas exposed to salinity stress and the resulting transgenic ornamental tobacco is suggested for garden flower cultivation in areas exposed to salinity stress.

Common stock (Matthiola incana L.) is an important cut flower, bedding and aromatic plant. Increasing its flower number and size is a desired objective among florists. Plant growth regulators including γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and spermine have proved beneficial for improving flowers’ characteristics. This study was designed on a completely randomized design with 4 replicates and 16 treatments. GABA (0, 2.5, 5 and 10 mM) and spermine (0, 1, 2 and 3 mM) were sprayed on six leaves seedlings. Increasing concentration of GABA and spermine significantly decreased the flowering time and conversely increased plant height, number of flowers, stem diameter, flower diameter, shoot and root dry weight, leaf relative water content, chlorophyll, and antioxidant enzymes activity. The highest number of flower shoot and root dry weight, chlorophyll, and antioxidant enzymes in addition to the lowest electrolyte leakage were obtained by 10 mM GABA in combination with 3 mM Spermine. Also, maximum plant height and earliest flowering time were gained using 3 mM spermine, while the greatest leaf relative water content was obtained by 10 mM GABA. Application of GABA and spermine could be suggested as a promising way to improve stock flower’s aesthetic characteristics and possibly enhance their stress tolerance.

Objective:

 Myiasis is caused by the invasion of eggs and larvae of some flies into living or dead tissues of the host. This study aims to determine the prevalence of human myiasis and its epidemiological aspects in Iran during 2013-2020.

Methods:

 This is a review study. A search was conducted in Google Scholar, Scopus, Scimago, PubMed, IranMedex, MagIran and ISC databases using the MeSH keywords for all studies reported the human myiasis cases in Iran during 2013-2020.

Results :

A total of 26 human myiasis cases were reported in Iran from 2013 to 2020. The most cases were reported in 2015 (n=5, 26.9%). Most of patients were at the age group >60 years (n=10, 38.5%); 50 %of patients were male and 50% were female; 88.5% lived in urban areas and 11.5% in rural areas. Oral myiasis (n=6, 23.1%) followed by ophtalmomyiasis and intestinal myiasis each with 5 cases (19.2%) were the most common types. The reported species were Megaselia scalaris, Sarchophaga Fertoni, oestrus ovis, Lucilia sericata, Chrysomia bezziana, Eristalis tenax, Lucilia illustris, Calliphora vicina, Sarchophaga argyrostoma, and two unidentified species from the Psychoda sp. and Sarcophaga sp. The species Lucilia sericata with 7 cases (26.9%) and Chrysomia bezziana with 5 cases (19.2%) were the most common species. The mean number of larvae removed from the patients was 21.5±5.4.

Conclusion:

  Human myiasis is an infectious disease. Therefore, it requires health interventions in the form of increasing public awareness to prevent the disease prevalence.

Rosa iberica Stev. is one of the 14 wild rose species native to Iran. This plant has fragrant flowers and leaves. Therefore, one of the most important objectives of this study was to investigate the of crossability of R. iberica with R. damascena and commercial cultivars of Dolce Vita, Avalanch and Red One, as well as embryonic germination and some morphological characteristics of their offspring. This study was conducted to investigate the possibility of crossbreeding of R. iberica with R. damascena and 3 commercial cultivars of Rose Avalanch, Red One and Dolce Vita in a completely randomized block design for hybridization and a completely randomized design for embryo rescue in 5 repeat performed. The results of this study showed that the highest percentage of hip formation and the highest average number of seeds per hip from the intersection of R. iberica with R. damascena was 34% and 13.40%, respectively. Also, R. iberica as a pollinating parent was different from R. damascena seed parent and produced few hip and seeds. The results of crosses showed that the highest height, average number of leaves and green leaf percentage and chlorophyll content were belonged to id5 genotype. The only cross between R. iberica as the pollinating parent and the Red One cultivar as the parent was not successful, and the hips dried up and fell off the plant a few days after the crossing. In the crossings of R. iberica with Avalanch cultivar and also R. iberica with Dolce Vita cultivar, the average number of seeds per hip was 10.20% and 6.80%, respectively, and in the crossings between R. iberica as the pollinating parent with Avalanch cultivar as mother parent and also R. iberica as pollinator parent with Dolce Vita cultivar as mother parent, a large number of seedlings produced in the early stages of growth on MS culture medium were died, and in crossing of R. iberica with Avalanch and Dolce Vita resulted in the highest number of offspring. It can be attributed to gametophytic incompatibility, meiotic abnormalities and accumulation of recessive genes or differences in the ploidy levels of the resulting offspring. Findings of this study showed that R. iberica with production of the highest number of hips and high average seed production is very suitable for selection as a parent and also the resulting genotype is superior to the parent in most parameters studied, which can be used in upcoming breeding program for the traits of flowers, the aroma of flowers and leaves.

The flowers of wild Rosa iberica are investigated to find the chemical constituents of its aroma and essential oil. The measurements were carried out by GC-FID and GC-MS analysis. The aromatic compositions emitted from the flowers revealed 11 constituents, among which phenyl ethanol (38.82%), benzyl alcohol (28.48%), and geraniol (12.57%) were the most abundant. The essential oil investigation detected 13 compounds, the most abundant ones being anethole (45.56%) and phthalic acid (32.23%). The scent and essential oil detected de novo in the petals of R. iberica are beneficial as natural ingredients in seasonings, therapeutic compositions, and an aromatic plant in breeding strategies of ornamental shrubs and flowers.

Papaver macrostomum Boiss. and A. Huet is a herbaceous ornamental plant that grows as a wild flower in different areas of Iran. It produces different medicinal compounds. Experiment was conducted to study the effect of ethyl methane sulfonate and gamma ray on physiological and phytochemical characteristics of papaver. The experiment was carried out as a factorial experiment based on completely randomized design with three replications in greenhouse conditions from 2017-2018. Experimental treatments included ethyl methane sulfonate at four levels (0, 0.1, 0.2 and 0.3%) and Gamma ray at four levels (0, 10, 50 and 100 Gy). Characteristics of chlorophyll, carotenoid, flavonoid, phenol, and sugar content as well as antioxidant activity were measured. The results showed that treatments had a significant effect on the studied factors. Mutation treatments increased the characteristics and the highest amount of chlorophyll, carotenoids, antioxidant activity, and sugar were belonged to the treatment of 0.1% ethyl methane sulfonate and the highest amount of phenol and flavonoid was observed in the treatment of 0.3% ethyl methane sulfonate. Overall, the results showed that the use of mutagenic agents can affect the physiological and phytochemical traits of P. macrostomum. However, the mutagenic agent of ethyl methane sulfonate alone was more effective than the other treatments.

Rose-scented geranium is a foliage pot plant which its indoor use is widespread. It also has an ever-increasing use in the perfume industry, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals. In order to improve the quantitative and qualitative characteristics of this house plant, the effect of salicylic acid and potassium sulfate was investigated. The factorial experiment was based on a CRD with four replications and conducted in the greenhouses of the department of horticultural sciences at Shiraz University. Foliar spray of salicylic acid and potassium sulfate were conducted at four concentrations of 0, 100, 200 and 300 mg/l, and 0, 0.5, 1 and 1.5 % respectively. The results showed that the interaction of salicylic acid and potassium sulfate on yield and quality of essential oils. According to the results, the treatment of 200 ppm salicylic acid and 1.5% potassium sulfate resulted in the greatest essential oil yield (1.01%). Geraniol and citronellol had the greatest abundance in the essential oils by 300 ppm salicylic acid application.

The use of nuclear technology in various industrial, medical, and basic science fields has been expanded over recent years. Since the Possibility of nuclear accidents and injuries is an inevitable fact, this study aimed to assess the knowledge and preparedness of the medical staff at teaching hospitals in the city of Arak, Iran, toward potential nuclear injuries.
This cross-sectional descriptive study was carried out in 2015 to assess the knowledge and preparedness of 700 medical staff at the teaching hospitals in the city of Arak, Iran, toward potential nuclear injuries and their diagnosis and treatment. Based on the protocols of International Atomic Energy Agency and World Health Organization, two separate questionnaires for physicians and nurses were devised and provided to them after verifying their validity and reliability. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS16.
A total of 630 nurses and 70 physicians participated in this study. The results showed that 50.8% of the participants had a basic knowledge of nuclear accidents and 45.6% of them had no information in this regard. More than 67.1% of the physicians and 77.6% of the nurses admitted that they knew nothing about the protocols for decontamination and treatment of nuclear injuries.
In this study, the preparedness of the hospitals and knowledge of the nurses and physicians were evaluated as poor. Since this project was conducted with experts, the results are striking. Therefore, considering the development of peaceful uses of nuclear technology and its localization in Iran, the authorities should pay special attention to this issue and take quick and serious measures and strategies to enhance knowledge and performance of medical staff

Electronic learning is a pre-constructed and programmed use of electronic system and computer for supporting the process of learning. This study aimed to investigate the effect of electronic education on cognitive learning of health pratitioners and compares this new education with traditional one in research methodology in Arak University of Medical Sciences in 2014.
This was a quasi-experimental study with a pre-and-post test design. All of health practitioners of Arak University of Medical Sciences (60 people) were chosen as the study sample, and randomly divided into two, conventional and web-based groups. The intervention method for the first group was a 3-days workshop on research methodology and for the second group it consisted of a web-based education course on same subject. The students’ knowledge in both groups was measured at the beginning and end of each course with pre and post tests and the scores was compared through paired T- test.
The cognitive learning is measured with 81% significance in pre and post-test processes (p=0.001). We use the descriptive statistics indexes and T-test to understand the data with purpose of statistics analysis and hypothesis test. The result shows that electronic education in cognitive learning is successful. There is significant different between students with electronic education and traditional one. In addition electronic education increases student’s knowledge (p=0.001) and understanding (p=0.001). Ability of analysis and assessment in students who pass electronic learning is very high in comparison with those who don’t pass it.
Using web-based education as a training method causes promotion of student’s cognitive learning and paves the way for using this method along with classic training methods in research methodology. A combination of the mentioned factors is effective on e-learning for higher education.

Semperflorens begonia (Begonia semperflorens) is an ornamental house-plant which for its optimal growth and development needs a proper nutrition. Currently, cyanobacteria are sought after by plant growers as a growth bio-stimulant. Spirulina (Spirulina platensis) is an important cyanobacterium which has a vast range of nutritional organic and inorganic substances. This green-blue algae could be a new option of bio-fertilizers for organic cultivation of plants, which merits further investigations in different plants. In this regard, a research with a completely randomized design and five replications was carried out in the greenhouse of the Department of Horticultural Science at Shiraz University, to increase the quality and yield of semperflorens begonia. Spirulina treatments were studied in two forms of soil fertilization and foliar spray (concentrations of 0, 500, 1000, 2000 and 4000 mg/L). Results showed that soil fertilization has greater effect on morphophysiological traits of begonia than foliar spray. Soil fertilization with 4000 mg/L spirulina was the best treatment and compared to the control, significantly increased the vegetative growth, phosphorus, potassium and chlorophyll content of leaves and visual quality of semperflorens begonia. Also, in the abovementioned treatment, the sugar content of leaves, petals’ anthocyanin content and number of flowers were 3, 2 and 2 times higher than control treatment.

Toward overcoming the seed germination problem of Iranian poppy, three experiments with a completely randomized design were conducted. The first experiment consisted of 5 ◦C cold stratification (10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90 & 100 days). The second experiment was composed of gibberellic acid (100, 150, 200, 250, 300, 350, 400, 450 & 500 mg/L), benzyl adenine (0, 25, 50, 100 & 200 mg/L) and strigolactones (0, 0.01, 0.1 & 1 mg/L). The third experiment was combined of the first and second experiments’ best treatments including 50 mg/L benzyl adenine 100 mg/L gibberellic acid, 200 mg/L benzyl adenine 400 mg/L gibberellic acid, 100 mg/L benzyl adenine cold stratification at 5 ◦C for 60 days and 100 mg/L gibberellic acid cold stratification at 5 ◦C for 60 days. Results of the first experiment showed that highest mean daily, rate and germination percentage was observed in 30, 60 and 70 days of cold stratification respectively, with amounts of 1.86, 3.4 and 81 percent. Results of the second experiment revealed that gibberellic acid had significant impacts on seed germination, in comparison with control, benzyl adenine and strigolactone. The maximum seed germination was observed using 100 mg/L of gibberellic acid. The third experiment demonstrated that combination of 100 mg/L gibberellic acid with cold stratification at 5 ◦C for 60 days increased germination percentage (81.25%), germination rate (5.23) and mean daily germination (1.35) for ten times, though its main effect could be attributed to 60 days of cold.

The climate of every region does not let to have year-round production of crops. Use of plant growth regulators allows to produce the flowers out of season and improve their quality and yield. Gibberellin is one of the plant growth regulators which can substitute cold requirement of plants, while cytokinin is another plant growth regulator to stimulate floral initials. Paclobutrazol is a triazole compound that inhibits gibberellin synthesis. Cineraria (Pericallis × hybrida) as a prominent flowering pot plant has a growing demand during the spring festivals especially Nowrouz, which needs further improvement of quality and yield. In this regard a study was designed to examine the morphological characteristics of cineraria using gibberellin, cytokinin, paclobutrazol and cold.
Seeds of cineraria (Pericallis × hybrida cv. Satellite( were sown in plug trays at the research greenhouse of college of agriculture, Shiraz University. A study was carried out with a completely randomized design and five replications. Control plants were transferred to incubators at eight leaves stage to receive six weeks of cold. Spraying treatments consisted of control (water), 100 mg/L gibberellin at three times (before cold, middle of cold and after cold), combinations of cold and/or gibberellin (100, 200 mg/L) with benzyl adenine (150, 300 mg/L) and/or paclobutrazol (250, 500 mg/L). In order to better understand the effects of paclobutrazol, its treatments were applied two weeks after gibberellin treatments. Data analysis was done by SAS 9.1 software and means were compared by LSD at 5 percent probability level.
Gibberellin can be used as a replacement for cold. The maximum acceleration of full flowering (32 days) and the greatest delay of full bloom (14 days) were observed in 100 mg/L gibberellin 250 mg/L paclobutrazol and 200 mg/L gibberellin 300 mg/L benzyl adenine, respectively. These results were consistent with other studies on iris, lily, tulip and hyacinth. The highest longevity of cineraria was observed in 100 mg/L gibberellin 250 mg/L paclobutrazol (31.8 days) which showed increasing of 24 days compared to control. Gibberellin and cytokinin lengthened the life of flowers, while paclobutrazol reduced the ethylene production and delayed the senescence. The greatest shoot fresh and dry weight was evaluated in 100 mg/L gibberellin 300 mg/L benzyl adenine, while paclobutrazol decreased the plant growth. Similar results have been reported in zinnia and geranium. Gibberellin and cytokinin increased leaf area, while paclobutrazol decreased it. The highest leaf area was detected using 100 mg/L gibberellin 300 mg/L benzyl adenine. . Maximum flower number was obtained using 100 mg/L gibberellin 300 mg/L benzyl adenine, while the lowest number was obtained by 100 mg/L gibberellin 500 mg/L paclobutrazol application. In addition, observations in orchid and jasmine were showed similar result. Gibberellin enhanced and paclobutrazol decreased plant height. plants Spraying with 200 mg/L gibberellin and cold 500 mg/L paclobutrazol showed the maximum and minimum height, respectively. Similar observations have been found in cyclamen and tuberose. number. . Also, Paclobutrazol application enlarged flower diameter. The greatest enhancement of flower diameter ( 1 cm) was found by cold 500 mg/L paclobutrazol spray. Flower diameter improvement is related to the severed growth, height and flower number by paclobutrazol. Flower diameter reduction in higher concentrations using gibberellin and cytokinin may be attributed to increasing translocation of carbohydrates to shoots and vegetative growth rather than flowers. Osteospermum and chrysanthemum showed similar and opposite results, respectively with this study. The effect of chemicals inhibitor depends on the number of applications, environmental conditions, plant sensitivity and how it is used. The bestvisual quality was detected in cold 150 mg/L benzyl adenine, 100 mg/L gibberellin 150 mg/L benzyl adenine and cold 500 mg/L paclobutrazol. Application of cold 500 mg/L paclobutrazol showed dwarf form, compact inflorescence and widened flower diameter. Additionally, minimumvisual quality was evaluated by cold 300 mg/L benzyl adenine which may be related to decreasing calcium uptake and subsequent lateral shoot bending.
Spraying with gibberellin, benzyl adenine and paclobutrazol had a positive effect on morphological traits of cineraria and increased its growth and development. Cineraria’s limited cultivation, due to its six weeks cold requirement, could be overcome by gibberellin application. Application of cold 500 mg/L paclobutrazol increased flowers and new compact form. Generally, 100 mg/L gibberellin 250 mg/L paclobutrazole spraying could reduce cineraria’s growth period for 32 days and make a new dwarf form. Overall, 100 mg/L gibberellin 300 mg/L benzyl adenine spraying reduced cineraria’s growth period for 21 days and also increased its fresh and dry weight, fresh root weight, leaf area, plant height, stem diameter, visual quality, flower number and flower longevity compared to other treatments.

Since appropriate and initial methods in trauma care have a crucial role in patients outcome, we evaluated the effect of advanced trauma life support (ATLS) program on nurses’ performance in ER in a simulated model.
A descriptive and analytical study before and after training as conducted in 30 ER nurses in shahid Madani Hospital, Karaj, Iran in (oct, 2016) on the first day, we assessed for nurses’ clinical Knowledge and practical skill performance in confronting a simulated trauma patient.
After two days of ATLS training we performed the same study and evaluated their performance again on the fourth day.
findings of the above evaluations pre and post ATLS training program were compared by spss software (version 15) and the p values significant.
The findings have shown that the ER nurses’ ability in all three tasks improved notably after the training course. On the fourth day fallowed by training, there was a statically significant increase in ER nurses’ knowledge of ATLS methods, the sequence of procedures and skill performance In trauma-facing situation ( p ATLS course has a crucial role in increasing clinical knowledge and practical skills on trauma care in ER nurses.

Improper seed germination is a serious challenge for medicinal herbs under drought stress conditions in semi-arid and arid regions. A new group of plant growth regulators known as karrikins have been proved useful to improve seed germination in some plants. In this regard, the effects of karrikin on seed germination and vigor of three medicinals under drought stress were examined. Seeds of Trachyspermum copticum (L.) Link, Foeniculum vulgare Miller, and Cuminum cyminum L. were sowed under drought treatments (-1, -1.5, -2 and -2.5 MPa of PEG 6000), with and without synthetic Karrikin GR24 (10µM). Results indicated increasing osmotic pressure seed germination characteristics were severely reduced; however, karrikin significantly increased the seed germination of the three herbs. The application of karrikin in all drought conditions significantly increased germination percentage, germination rate, germination index, seedling vigor, shoot length and radicle length of all herb seedlings. Ajwain (T. copticum) showed a greater drought tolerance compared to the other medicinal species.

A limiting factor for prodution of turf grasses in temperate regions is their low level of cold tolerance. In order to elucidate the cold tolerance, physiological and biochemical responses of two turf species, this study was conducted at a controlled environment greenhouse of Faculty of Agriculture in Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran by a factorial experiment in completely randomized design with three replicates. Factors consisted of two turf species including Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis) and seashore paspalum (Paspalum vaginatum) and four temperatures: 25, 15, 5 and -5 °C. Data analysis revealed that decreased temperature resulted in significant increases in proline, soluble sugars contents and activity of peroxidase, ascorbate peroxidase, catalase and superoxide dismutase enzymes, although seashore paspalum indicated a significant drop in antioxidant enzymes activity at cold stress of -5 °C. Furthermore, decreased temperature brought about a significant decline in visual quality, chlorophyll, starch and relative water content. Seashore paspalum exhibited a greater deterioration in visual quality, chlorophyll and relative water content at -5 °C compared to Kentucky bluegrass. The results showed that Kentucky bluegrass withstood cold stress with a better and more efficient defensive mechanism in comparison with seashore paspalum, thus it is considered more tolerant to cold stress and could, potentially, be used in temperate regions.

Fifteen populations of Pimpinellifoliaeae section from the species; Rosa pimpinellifolia، R. hemispherica، R. foetida and a new species، R. abrica، were collected from eight provinces of Iran and were studied on the basis of their morphological characters. In each population five plants were randomly selected and some branches were harvested in spring and autumn for studying their vegetative and floral characteristics. Sixty-three qualitative and quantitative characters were grouped using the most suitable method of cluster analysis (WARD) and their ordination diagram based on the most variable factors، were written for each species and the section. The results showed that the effect of ecological factors such as altitude influenced the intra-species variation. Cluster analysis illustrated high similarities between R. hemispherica and R. foetida. In the present research two unique populations of a new species (not recorded in K، W، E، G and Iranian herbaria)، named R. abrica، were also analyzed. Culster analysis separated the R. abrica as a different group compared to other species of this section. Traits such as curved prickles، high number of petals، truncate or seldom emarginated petals، indeterminate state of achenes and stigma were significant in classification of the new rose species. Although، R. abrica is very similar to R. foetida but in characters such as number of leaflets، corymbs inflorescence، entire edge of sepal or seldom with lobes، hairy style، glabrous hips and pedicels، it is significantly different from R. foetida.

Modern techniques have been developed to meet the ever increasing demands of global flower industry. Available methods could significantly shorten the breeding procedures and overcome some of the agronomic and environmental problems, which could otherwise not be achievable through conventional methods. Genetic variation is necessary in any plant breeding program for crop improvement. Natural and induced mutations are highly effective to enhance genetic resources and have successfully assisted in developing improved and new cultivars among both seed and vegetatively propagated ornamental plants. Haploidization dramatically reduces the time required to develop inbred parents for breeding F1 hybrids and facilitate the selection of recessive traits. Polyploids, both as individuals and as populations, generally maintain higher levels of heterozygosity than do their diploid progenitors, also most polyploids are polyphyletic, having formed recurrently from genetically different diploid parents. Haploid, doubled-haploid and polyploid plants are all new sources of germplasm which could be introduced as new cultivars or be used in breeding programs. The engineering of novel traits in a given variety depends on regeneration capabilities in plant transformation that are fortunately continue to expand at a rapid rate. Present paper summarizes the recent advances of methods used for breeding of ornamental plants including; induced somaclonal variation, induced mutation, haploid and polyploid production and genetic engineering for floral modifications, increased vase life and aroma of flowers and disease resistance