Biocontrol activities of gamma induced mutants of trichoderma harzianum against some soilborne fungal pathogens and their DNA fingerprinting

Background: Random induced mutation by gamma radiation is one of the genetic manipulation strategies to improve the antagonistic ability of biocontrol agents

Objectives: This study aimed to induce mutants with more sporulation, colonization rate leading to enhanced antagonistic ability [in vitro assay] comparing to wild type [WT] and the assessment of genetic differences [in situ evaluation] using molecular markers. The superior mutants could be appropriate biocontrol agents against soil borne fungal diseases

Materials and Methods: In this research sampling and isolation of Trichoderma isolates were performed from soils with low incidence of soil borne disease. T. harzianum 65 was selected and irradiation was conducted with gammacell at optimal dose 250 Gray/s. Mutants [115] were obtained from the WT. The antagonistic abilities of twenty-four mutants were evaluated using dual culture and culture filtrate tests

Results: The results of in vitro assays revealed that Th15, Th11 and Th1 mutants exhibited stronger growth inhibition [GI] and colonization rate on Macrophomina phaseolina and Rhizoctonia solani AG4 compared to the wild type. Th15 and Th11 mutants exhibited stronger GI and colonization rate on Sclerotinia sclerotiorum in dual culture and culture filtrate tests and Th1 and Th11 mutants exhibited stronger GI on Fusarium grminearum in culture filtrate test. The DNA fingerprinting was carried out using RAPD and rep-PCR markers. Two [Th9 and Th17] out of the 24 mutants categorized distantly from the rest based on different polymorphism obtained by molecular markers. However, Th9 was different in GI% from Th17. RAPD analysis separated WT from mutants, Th9 from Th17 and also phenotypically superior mutants from other mutants. Meanwhile, rep-PCR analysis categorized WT isolate and mutants according to their antagonistic properties

Conclusions: The latter marker [rep-PCR] appeared to be reproducible and simple to distinguish mutants from a single isolate of T. harzianum. Mutants [3 isolates] were phenotypically and genotypically distinct from WT. These mutants demonstrated a pronounced biocontrol activities against soilborne fungal phytopathogens

Neonatal hypoglycemia: prevalence and clinical manifestations in tehran children's hospital

To measure the prevalence of hypoglycemia among newborn infants in Children Hospital using a standard laboratory glucose method and to evaluate the evidence of clinical manifestations of hypoglycemia, designing appropriate strategies for prevention and treatment. The study population consisted of 673 neonates in Tehran Children's Hospital and was conducted between June 2004 and March 2005. The incidence of neonatal hypoglycemia in the present study group was 15.15% live births. The clinical features which remained significantly associated with the hypoglycemic neonates were refusal of feeding [45%], hyporeflexia [36.2%], irritability [30%], cyanosis [28.4%], tackypnea [24.5%], seizure [16.6%], weak cry [15.8], apneic spels [9.8%], pallor [1.9%], cardiac arrest [9.1%] and sweating [1%]. Hypoglycemia does occur frequently in newborn infants and requires careful monitoring and therapy of serum glucose

Study of dermatologyhic patterns of hands in women with breast cancer

Study the relationship of digital dermatogletphic patterns of hands in women with breast cancer and or at risk for developing breast cancer. Fingerprints were studied in 616 women in three groups: [1] 154 breast cancer patients, [2] 154 females at increased risk for developing breast cancer and [3] 308 control females for the purpose of finding patterns that would identify those women with breast cancer or those who are predisposed to its development. A pattern of 6 or more digital Whorls was identified more frequently in women with breast cancer [48.7%] as compared in the control group to [27.5%] [P < 0.05]. It was also more frequent in women with known risk factors for breast cancer [47.4%] as compared in the control group to [27.5%] [P < 0.05]. No obvious differences were noted in women at increased risk for developing breast cancer [47.4%] when compared with women who had breast cancer [48.7%]. Digital dermatoglyphics may play an important role in identifying women either with or at increased risk for breast cancer so that either risk reduction measures or earlier therapy may be instituted