نشریه دانش زیستی ایران
سال هفدهم شماره 3 (پاییز 1401)

Hawthorn whose scientific name is Crataegus spp.</em> belongs to the genus Rosacea and the shape of its fruit is spherical to oval in yellow, orange, red, purple and black colors. One of the main centers in which the genetic diversity of this genus can be found is from Turkey to Iran. More than one thousand species of hawthorn have been identified in the world, including 22 species in Iran from which 9 species can be found in East Azerbaijan.

Evaluation and verification of digital colorimetric technology (RGB model) as a new method in studying hawthorn plant phenotypic diversity and the generalization of this technology in studying the phenotypic diversity of other plant communities in Iran.

Digital colorimetric technology is a branch of biology that uses quantitative and statistical methods to evaluate color differences in a plant. Qualitative studies produce a detailed descriptive image; however, colorimetric technology produces tables with a list of analytic data so precise that the naked eye is unable to visualize the color differences. This research was performed by digital colorimetric technology from a total of ten thousand numerical data extracted from 300 fruits (with 900 image samples) from 60 populations of hawthorn trees by computer software Image pro plus (RGB model) and based on the scatter diagrams and hierarchical clustering, high and reliable phenotypic diversity was obtained in the sixty studied populations. The second method was carried out by examining the external characteristics by photographing the three lateral parts, the gill and the junction of the fruit tail in 900 fruits (with 2700 image samples).

The Visual evaluation of the shape and color of the photographed fruits obtained a relatively low phenotypic variation and with low accuracy compared to the previous method in the sixty studied hawthorn populations.

Evaluation of phenotypic diversity by digital colorimetric technology can be a suitable alternative in comparison with the method of molecular markers with low cost and saving time with accurate and reliable results. This digital colorimetric technology was generalized and recommended for the field study of phenotypic diversity of hawthorn plant to advance botanical goals in Iran.

Since the synthesis of some chemical compounds is difficult and expensive, it is necessary to find ways to increase their production in plants. One of these materials is color compounds. Chlorophyll, as a natural pigment, plays an important role in the green appearance of plants. This color is used in food, cosmetics, etc industries.

The purpose of this project is investigation of different methods of chlorophyll extraction for more chlorophyll content in alfalfa plants

To carry out this project, alfalfa cultivated and then the aerial part was harvested for biochemical analysis and kept at different temperatures (-20 and 4). chlorophyll was extracted using acetone and ethanol solvents by grinding method and methanol, DMSO and DMF solvents by soaking method and then its amount was measured by spectrophotometer at the respective wavelengths.

Based on the obtained results, it can be said that acetone solvent with high ability and producing more extractable chlorophyll concentration than other solvents was chosen as the appropriate solvent. Also, samples kept at minus 20 temperature showed more chlorophyll due to less possibility of destruction.

maintaining of the aerial part of the plant at -20 keeps more chlorophyll than at 4°C and extracting chlorophyll by grinding in acetone has a better performance compared to other solvents.

During heat stress, the animal body requires more antioxidant compounds and activity of antioxidant enzymes. Zinc plays a role in the structure and activity of antioxidant enzymes. One of the ways to supply the zinc requirement, is to use organic zinc supplements, which zinc combined with methionine, and have more intestinal absorption

This study was done to evaluate the effects of different doses of zinc-methionine supplementation on the blood antioxidant status and the expression of interleukin 4 and 6 genes in rats exposed to heat stress.

In a completely random design, 20 female rats were divided into four treatment groups with five replicates. Rats were kept at a temperature of 31±2 °C for 20 hours and at a temperature of 38±2 °C for 4 hours per day (to create heat stress). The rats in the control group were fed standard pellets without additives, and the three experimental groups were fed standard pellets plus 15, 30 and 45 mg zinc-methionine supplement per kilogram of dry matter for 30 days. At the end of the experiment, a blood sample was collected from the inferior vena cava. Total antioxidant capacity, malondialdehyde concentration, antioxidant enzymes, liver enzymes in the serum and the expression of interleukin-4 and interleukin-6 genes were measured.

Serum zinc concentration increased linearly with increasing zinc dose in the diet (P<0.05). The serum activity of two enzymes, alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase decreased linearly with increasing zinc-methionine dose in the diet (P<0.01). The highest activity of glutathione reductase and glutathione peroxidase was observed in the group receiving 30 mg/kg, and the lowest activity of these enzymes was observed in the control group. In general, the relative expression of the interleukin-4 gene was increased, and the relative expression of the interleukin-6 gene was decreased (P<0.05). The highest expression of interleukin-4 gene belonged to the group receiving 30 mg, and the highest relative expression of interleukin-6 gene belonged to the control group and the group receiving 15 mg/kg.

The results of this study showed that the dose of up to 30 mg of zinc-methionine per kg of diet used in this study increases the activity of superoxide dismutase enzyme and glutathione peroxidase enzyme activity, decreases the activity of liver enzymes in the serum, increases the expression of the anti-inflammatory gene (Interleukin-4) and decreases the expression of inflammatory gene (Interleukin-6), which indicates the reduction of oxidative stress and the reduction of the effects of heat stress in the body of the rat.

This study was performed to investigate the effect of growth regulatory treatments on the activity of tryptophan decarboxylase (TDC) which is a cytosolic enzyme and a key enzyme in the secondary metabolites Pathway with two subunits,115-118 KDa, molecular mass and dependent on pyrodoxal phosphate (B6), Km75µmole for typtophan with optimal activity at alkaline pH of 7.5 in V.major hypocotyl. Some of simultaneous use growth regulators KIN, BA, NAA and IAA in three concentrations (0.1, 0,5, 1,0 mg/L) as well as various treatments of sucrose, fructose and glucose in 3 concentrations (2% , 4% , 6%) and also the amino acid tryptophan in concentrations (100 and 200 mg/L) were used to measure the amount of enzyme TDC activity, which was performed in three replications as a factorial in a completely randomized farm design of Karaj Seed and Plant Breeding Research Institute. In both of IAA and NAA at concentrations of 0.5 mg/L increases the amount of enzyme TDC in It has become about 10%. But in cytokines, KIN and BA at 1,0 mg/L had the greatest effect of about 40%. Sugars such as Sucrose in concentrations 6%, fructose and glucose in 4% and amino acid tryptophan in concentration 100 mg/l had the best effect on the activity of enzyme TDC in three replications as Factorial in the form of a completely randomized design in some cases.

Echinoderms are among the most abundant benthos possessing various economic, ecological and nutritional importance.

Studying and investigating the biodiversity and spatial distribution of echinoderms in the rocky shores of Qeshm.

Biodiversity and distribution of Echinoderms in eight stations (Toola 1, Toola 2, Aftab, Dafari, Tango, Havafaza, Biotechnology, and Naz Island) and three intertidal zones (high, middle and low) on the rocky shores of Qeshm island in summer and winter seasons (August and January 2018) were investigated. At each station, one to two transects oriented perpendicular to shore were determined. Echinoderms were counted with 3 replications in each station and inertidal zones.

Results:

 In this study, 12 echinoderms from 9 families were identified. The maximum and minimum frequency  were observed in winter with an average of 17 ind/m2</sup> in the mid tide zone of the Havafaza station and in the summer with an average of 1 ind/ m2</sup> in the low tide zone of the Naz Island station, respectively. Ophiocoma scolopendrinae was the dominant species (21.39%) in all stations. The results of the three-way permutational multivariate analysis of variance (PERMANOVA) showed that the  community structure of echinoderms is different in the different stations and sampling seasons. The highest and lowest Shannon index, Margalef index and Pielou index were compared among sampling stations and different seasons. According to the results of Simper test,Ophiocoma scolopendrina, Astropecten hemprici, Holothuria leocospilota Holothuria scabra, Astropecten phragmorous, Diadema setosum accounted for the highest percentage of participation in Bray-Curtis dissimilarity in terms of species density, between summer and winter seasons and in different sampling stations.

Conclusion:

 The population structure of Echinoderms in the studied stations is influenced by various factors such as seasonal changes, tourists and residential areas.

Urinary tract infections are one of the medical and health problems. This type of infection is more common in women than in men due to the anatomy of the urinary tract and lack of hygiene. The aim of the present study is to investigate the drug resistance of urinary pathogens in women with urinary tract infection in Savojbolagh city.

The current study is descriptive-cross-sectional, which was collected by examining 5100 urine samples from women suffering from and suspected of urinary tract infection, and after culturing in general-pourpose media and selective media and biochemical tests, the type of pathogenic microorganism was determined; then, the level of resistance in the strains was reported with antibiogram. Microsoft Excel 2022 software was used to draw graphs.

Out of a total of 5100 urine samples, 302 samples were considered positive, and the most infectious pathogens were Escherichia coli (%60.93) and group B streptococcus (%16.56). The age group of 31-40 years (%17.55) was recognized as the high-risk group, and the highest frequency of drug resistance in Escherichia coli to cefazolin (%60.87) and in group B streptococci to tetracycline (%88) was observed.

The amount of drug resistance of microorganisms is increasing day by day, and this issue is a threat to all humans and animals. In this study, the highest rate of drug resistance to cefazolin and tetracycline was observed in two pathogens, which are main causes of urinary tract infection.