دکتر کمال قاسمی بزدی

Sheep are used as a genetic model to study the relationship between genetic diversity and ovulation rate. Previous studies have shown that ovulation rate and litter size can be controlled by a set of genes called fecundity genes . Three fertility genes have been identified in sheep called BMPR1B or FecB, GDF9 or FecG and BMP15 or FecX. Tetra-ARMS-PCR is a suitable alternative method in the context of expensive methods such as sequencing and PCR-RFLP to identify SNPs whose sequences are known. The entry of the Booroola allele into the Afshari breed increased the frequency of litter size. The aim of this study was to investigate the polymorphism of two fertility genes including FecB and FecG in Mughani, Afshari and Baluchi sheep in Khorasan Razavi province.Blood samples were taken from 95 Afshari, Baluchi and Mughani sheep. Two pairs of control (outer) and specific (inner) primers were used to amplify FecB and FecG gene fragments by the Tetra-ARMS PCR method. Temperature cycling of PCR amplification for FecB started at 94°C for 4 minutes, followed by 35 cycles consisting of 94°C for 25 seconds, annealing temperature at 54°C for 35 seconds, extension at 72°C for 20 seconds and a final extension at 72°C for 5 minutes. For amplification of the G1 point mutation on the FecG gene, the annealing temperature was 54°C for 35 s, extension was 70°C for 40 s, and final extension was 70°C for 5 minutes. The PCR products were electrophoresed on a 2% agarose gel.Three genotypes have been observed for the FecB gene in Afshari sheep; wild homozygous (++), heterozygous (B+) and homozygous mutant (BB). All Mughani and Baluchi sheep were homozygous for this gene. A 108 bp band was detected for mutant homozygotes. A band of 213 bp was observed in wild homozygotes. The frequency of wild homozygotes was high in the three breeds,. The frequency of the wild allele in this breed was 0.39 and that of the mutant allele 0.61, the overall frequencies for the three breeds being 0.8 and 0.2, respectively. The result of Tetra-ARMS-PCR for the G1 point mutation of the GDF9 gene showed polymorphism in all three breeds, however, the frequency of wild homozygotes was high. In the Balochi breed, only two animals (4%) were heterozygous and 96% of the animals showed the wild homozygous genotype. In the Mughani breed, 16% were heterozygous and only one animal was homozygous mutant. In addition, only one heterozygote was observed in the Afshari breed. Several studies have shown the association of the FecB, FecG and FecX genes with litter size in sheep. Due to the high frequency of wild homozygotes and the fact that Mughani and Baluchi ewes mostly gave birth to single lambs, the role of FecB mutation in litter size of Afshari ewes was observed. The ram used in this herd was heterozygous for FecB. In general, it can be concluded that the mutant FecB allele has a correlation with litter size in Iranian sheep. However, the statistical confirmation of this issue requires a dedicated study with a detailed record of reproductive traits.The results of this study demonstrated the presence of a Booroola mutation in the Afshari ewes that were offspring of heterozygous rams. In addition, all of these ewes had litter size in at least one of the two pregnancies. Hence, the Booroola mutation may potentially increase the litter size of ewes. However, a more comprehensive study measuring biological indicators such as sex hormone levels, ovulation rate and follicle size is needed to demonstrate the effect of these types of mutations on increasing fertility.

 Light is the main environmental factor for plant growth and development. Different attributes of light such as intensity, quality and duration affect plant growth and productivity. Light spectrum of growing environment is a determinant factor for plant growth and photosynthesis. The photosynthetic reactions are directly affected by various light parameters including its spectrum and intensity. Photosystem I and II (PSI and PSII) in the electron transport chain of photosynthetic apparatus are involved in converting solar energy to chemical compounds in plants. It has been found that the PSII is sensitive to light quality. Using The OJIP test, we can investigate the efficiency of various biological phases of the electron transport system. Light sources such as metal-halide, fluorescent, high-pressure sodium, neon lamps and light-emitting diode (LED) can be used for production of plants in closed environments instead of sunlight. Manipulation of the light spectrum of the lamps could trigger potential benefits by enhancing plant growth. Nowadays, by using the LED technology, it is possible to study the physiological effect of different light spectra for optimization of growth conditions and for increase the production of plants in controlled environments. This research was conducted to investigate photosynthetic apparatus, growth parameters, stomatal characteristics, transpiration rate and essential oil content of Salvia officinalis under different light spectra.
 
 In this study, the effects of different light spectra were implemented and performed as a pot experiment using soilless media in the plant growth chamber based on a completely randomized design with 6 lighting spectra including White, Blue, Red and three combinations of R and B lights (R30:B70, R50:B50 and R70:B30) with three replications. The light intensity in all growth chambers was adjusted to photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD) of 250 ±10 μmol m-2s-1 and light spectrum were monitored using a sekonic light meter (Sekonic C-7000, Japan). Growth condition was set at 14/10 h day/night cycles, 25/22oC day/night temperatures and 40% relative humidity. Three month following plant growth under different light spectra, the plants were evaluated for their growth parameters, stomatal characteristics (stomatal length, stomatal width, pore length or aperture) transpiration rate (E), relative water content (RWC), photosynthetic apparatus (evaluation of OJIP) and essential oil content. Data analysis of variance (ANOVA) was performed using IBM SAS software (Version 9.1) and the differences between means were assessed using Duncan’s multiple range tests at p≤ 0.05.
 
 The results showed that the stomata characteristics, photosynthetic performance, growth characteristics and essential oil content of Salvia officinalis were affected by different light spectra. Increasing the ratio of red light especially combined Red and Blue lights (R70:B30) led to the improvement of growth characteristics. Transient induction of chlorophyll fluorescence showed that the highest fluorescence intensities at all OJIP steps were detected in Red light. The lowest Fv/F0 and Fv/Fm were obtained in plants grown under Red light. Occurrence of leaf epinasty and decrease in Fv/Fm indicative of phenomenon of red light syndrome in the plants under Red treatment. Red light caused a reduction in performance index per absorbed light efficiency of (PIABS) and increase in quantum energy dissipation (ΦD0), light absorption (ABS/RC) and electron trapping (TR0/RC) per reaction center. The highest Fv/F0, Fv/Fm and PIABS were obtained under combination of Red and Rlue light. The highest ΦE0 was also detected in combination of Red and Blue light. The narrow and large stomatal apertures were detected under Red and Blue light, respectively. The highest transpiration rate was achieved in plants grown under Blue light LED. Increasing the ratio of Red light resulted in reduction in transpiration rate and improvement of leaf capacity to control water loss via reducing the opening of stomata. The highest amount of essential oil (1/75% v/w) was achieved in plants exposed to combination of Red:Blue light spectra (R70:B30).
 light spectrum during plant growth can change plant metabolism, LED can be used in favor of producing good-quality food in controlled environment agriculture due to their ease of application, waveband manipulation and limited heat production. Our result showed that photosynthetic apparatus, growth parameters, stomatal characteristics, transpiration rate, relative water content and essential oil content of plants were considerably influenced by light spectra. Using OJIP test confirmed that plants grown under monochromatic Red and Blue lights were less efficient to successfully transfer the excitons and most of the absorbed energy by the photosystems was dissipated as heat. In conclusion, combined Red and Blue lights (especially R70:B30) caused favorable growth, photosynthetic functionality and maximum essential oil content of Salvia officinalis. Therefore, combination of R and B lights (R70:B30) should be considered for production of Salvia officinalis under artificial light systems during commercial controlled environment production of plants.

 The Genus Thymus is one of the most important genera of the Lamiaceae family. According to Jalas (1971), Thymus is divided into eight sections: Micantes, Mastichina, Piperella, Teucrioides, Pseudothymbra, Thymus, Hyphodromi, and Serpyllum. About 18 species exist in some areas of Iran and most of them belong to Serpyllum Section and kotschiani Subsection. Chromosomal information is an important key for taxonomy, phylogeny, evolution, genetics and breeding in thyme. Therefore, this work was carried out to study the cytogenetic characteristics of genus Thymus belonging to the Subsection Kotschyani for breeding purposes and taxonomy.

Seeds were collected from 5 wild populations and germinated on wet filter paper at 20 oC. One cm long roots were pretreated with 8-hydroxyquinolin and then washed in distilled water and fixed in carnoy solution for 24 hours. Hydrochloric acid (1N) was applied for 7 min to hydrolyze the roots. Staining was done by orcein for 24 h at room temperature. Stained roots squashed in one drop of 45% acetic acid and examined by a ZEISS Axiophot compound microscope. Cells in metaphase stage were photographed with a D450; Canon Inc. Japan digital camera. Ten well prepared metaphasic cells were selected and some chromosomal characteristics such as total chromosomal length (TL), long arm length (L), short arm length (S), the arm ratio (AR) [LA/SA], and centromeric index (CI), were measured using Micro Measure ver. 3.3 software. The following karyological parameters were determined: total chromosome form (TF%), intrachromosomal asymmetry index (A1) and interchromosomal asymmetry index (A2). Karyotypic characteristics have been determined using the symmetry classes of Stebbins (SC). Karyotype formula was determined from chromosome morphology based on centromere position in accordance with the classification of Levan.

 This study reports the chromosome number and meiotic behavior of 31 populations belonging to 8 species of Thymus Subsect. kotschyani from Iran. In most species of this subsection, the base number of chromosome x = 15 and two diploid and tetraploid ploidy levels with chromosome number of 2n = 30 and 60 were observed. Only in T. migricus species, the base number of chromosome x = 14 was reported with two levels of diploid and tetraploid ploidy and chromosome numbers of 2n= 28 and 56. The chromosomes were mostly metacentric (m) or sub-metacentric (sm) in all species Among the various species with basic number of x= 15, the highest percentage of TF and the lowest amount of A1 were observed in populations belonging to T. eriocalyx (T7) indicating that this species has the most symmetric karyotypes. The lowest percentage of TF and the highest amount of A1 are in population of T. lancifolious (27) and T. fedtschenkoi (T28) species; this shows that the species has the most asymmetric karyotype among the species of this subsection. The highest amount of A2 was observed in T. eriocalyx (T7) species, indicated the asymmetry between chromosomes and chromosomal length. The difference in the number of chromosomes, ploidy levels and karyotype asymmetry in the populations and different species may be related to different environmental conditions in their habitat, pollination system (cross pollination) or polyploidy (Aneuploidy) in this genus.

 The results showed that basic chromosome number in most species is 15 (x= 15). Two ploidy levels (diploid and tetraploid) were observed among different species. Chromosomes in most species, were metacentric and sub-metacentric. Based on intra- chromosomal symmetry (A1 and TF) T. eriocalyx species (T7) has the most symmetric and most primitive karyotype and the species T. lancifolius (T27) and T. fedtschenkoi (T28) have the most complete and the most asymmetric karyotypes. Also based on inter- chromosomal symmetry, (A2) T. eriocalyx (T) species has the most asymmetric karyotype.

To study the effect of interval irrigation and growth regulators on morphophysiological traits of cotton cultivars, an experiment was conducted as a split factorial in randomized complete block design in 2017 and 2018 in Hashemabad Cotton Research Station in Gorgan, Iran. Treatments consisted of intervals of irrigation at two levels (two weeks and four weeks) as the main factor and six-level growth regulator treatments (control, benzyl adenine, abscisic acid, salicylic acid, brassinosteroid, and cycocel) and three cotton cultivars (Golestan, Kashmar, and Shayan) were also considered as sub-factors. The results of this study showed that proline content and relative water content of leaf decreased with water deficit stress. Maximum proline content (3.55 µg/g fresh weight) was obtained from Shayan cultivar with salicylic acid. Benzyl adenine and brassinosteroids increased relative leaf water content. The highest cell membrane stability (2.998%) was observed in Kashmar cotton cultivar and two-week interval irrigation, and Cycocel increased the membrane stability by 15%. Plant height, number of flowers, and number of bolls were affected by growth regulators, irrigation intervals, and cultivars. With increasing irrigation period, plant height, flower number, and boll number decreased in all cultivars, but under drought stress, Golestan cultivar had more flowers and boll number than other cultivars. Cycocel, salicylic acid, and brassinosteroids significantly increased flowering of cultivars at both years and both irrigation intervals. Benzyl adenine and brassinosteroids increased plant height more than 7% and abscisic acid, cycocel, and salicylic acid decreased plant height compared with control. Application of abscisic acid reduced the number of bolls by 22% compared with the control. Overall, growth regulators, especially cycocel and salicylic acid, increased the morphophysiological traits of cotton cultivars indicating their positive effect on drought tolerance and it could play a role in moderating stress effects under stress conditions.

In order to investigate the effect of growth regulators on a number of morphological characteristics of cotton cultivars, the present research was conducted as a factorial experiment in a randomized complete block design with 3 replications at Hashemabad Cotton Research Station, Gorgan in 2016 and 2017. Factors included growth regulators treatments with 6 levels (control, benzyl adenine, abscisic acid, salicylic acid, brassinosteroid, and cycocel) and three cotton cultivars of Golestan, Kashmar, and Shayan. Growth regulators affected most traits. Cycocel produced the highest number of bolls per plant (13.4) and abscisic acid reduced the number of bolls by 25% compared to the control. Salicylic acid increased, and abscisic acid and cycocel decreased the distance from the first sympodia to the ground. The highest number of fifth sympodia nodes, respectively, with an average of 7.17, 7.09 and 7.07, was allocated to foliar application with salicylic acid, brasinosteroid and cycocel, and the lowest with 6.07 and 6.13 belonged to abscisic acid and benzyl adenine. Overall, salicylic acid and benzyl adenine were able to increase the internodes length and abscisic acid and cycocel to reduce it. Therefore, with the aim of selecting cultivars with higher boll number, it is possible to use growth regulator of brasinosteroid or cycocel, and Golestan and Shayan cultivars, but to select a higher early maturity percentage, salicylic acid or cycocel, and Kashmar and Shayan cultivars can be used. In general, it is possible to recommend the cycocel growth regulator and Shayan cultivar.

Background and: Linden is one of threatened species in north of Iran that form very small percentage of the northern forests. Since the linden seeds are facing with germination problems such as with dual physiological (the embryo) and mechanical (hard cover pericarp) dormancy that application such as tissue culture can be effective in planting, restoration and conservation of genetic resources.
This study was carried out in order to determine the most suitable explants and the best hormone combination to optimize micropropagation of linden in vitro. Explants were collected and cultured randomly from the best individual of linden from Gorgan Touskaestan forest.
Findings: In light of results, from the eleven tested explants, stem containing terminal buds with scale were selected as the most suitable explants and IBA 0.1 mg/l was selected as the most appropriate medium hormonal combination in shoot regeneration.
Discussion and Obtained data were analyzed with a completely randomized design by MSTATC software. It is hoped that the achieved results can be reproduced and be helpful in tissue culture research and also the molecular basis studies.

Achievement to low-priced and short-term methods for obtaining of tolerant lines to abiotic stresses in plant breeding programs is one of the main applications of tissue culture. In present study, the callus formation potential of immature embryo, hypocotyl and root explants of Sahel, Sepid, No. 200, Barbadense and Khordad cotton cultivars were investigated on MS basal medium containing various hormonal combinations of 2, 4-Dichlorophenoxy acetic acid (2, 4-D) and 6-Benzylamino purine (BAP). According to analysis of variance, callus formation percent was significant at 1% level for cultivar, explant type, hormonal combinations of medium and explant × hormonal combinations of medium interaction. On the basis of the mean comparisons by Least Significant Difference (LSD) Test, the highest callus formation was related to immature embryo explant of No. 200 cultivar on the MS medium containing 0.5 mg/l 2, 4-D, whereas, the root explant of Sepid cultivar showed the lowest callus formation percent. By transferring the produced calli on MS medium containing different concentrations of sodium chloride (NaCl) and then studying the relative growth rate of calli, it was revealed that the tolerance of explants to different concentrations of NaCl was significant at 1% level affected to cultivar, explant type, NaCl density and all their interactions. The highest relative growth rate of calli on the salinity medium was related to immature embryo explant and Khordad and Sepid cultivars with 77.3% and 76.2%, respectively, while the root explant of No. 200 cultivar with 17.9% showed the lowest tolerance to NaCl. The relative growth rate of calli showed significant reduction in all explants and cultivars with increasing of NaCl densities, as, the control treatment (without NaCl) has been the highest relative growth rate with 51.6%, and the lowest relative growth rate with 20.6% was observed on MS medium containing 3 mg/l NaCl. By transferring of the selected tolerant explants to the media with higher concentrations of 3.5 and 4 mg/l NaCl, it was determined that none of the calli and explants could not tolerate the higher NaCl densities in the medium.