Introduction of some important antagonistic bacteria affecting on damping-off of canola.

Three hundred ninety five bacterial isolates were collected from canola Root and Rhizosphere in Golestan, Mazandaran, Guilan and Tehran provinces. At first, antagonistic effect of bacterial isolates on Rhizoctonia solani was studied using dual culture test assay. The results showed that 60 isolates had the ability to inhibit the growth of fungi on PDA medium. On the basis of the biochemical, physiological and morphological tests, isolates Pf41, Pf51, Pf411 and Pf412 were identified as Pseudomonas fluorescens, isolate Bu1 as Burkholderia cepacia, the isolates B1, B2, Bs44 and B6 were as Bacillus subtilis and S44, str45 as Streptomyces sp. Results of the studies on biocontrol mechanism showed that Isolates produced antibiotics and volatile metabolites that prevented the mycelial growth of the fungus. Also the isolates produced some of antimicrobial metabolites including hydrogen cyanide, protease and siderophore. Isolates effect inhibition of in vitro growth of the fungus. The effect of isolates on disease reduction in compare with control have significantly differentiated. None of the isolates were able completely to prevent disease occurrence. Isolates applied as soil treatment had a significantly higher disease control as compared to seed treatment. Isolates had considerable effect on reduction disease under the greenhouse conditions.

Powder formulation of Burkholderia cepacia for control of rape seed damping-off caused by Rhizoctonia solani.

Talc-based formulation of Burkholderia cepaci strain Bu1 was tested as seed and soil drenchs separately for its ability to control Rhizoctonia soloni the causal agent of rape seed damping-off in greenhouse and field trials. In general, the formulated bacteria was more effective to suppress the disease than the suspension of bacteria cells in carboxymethylcellulose solution (1% w/v), in both greenhouse and field trials. The formulation of strain Bul as soil and seed treatments had the greatest effect on reducing the rape seed damping-off in greenhouse and field trials (66.7, 53.3, 64.4 and 40% respectively). The formulation of strain Bu1 as soil and seed treatments were the most effective treatments to increase the root dry weights in the infected soil in greenhouse. The formulation of strain Bul as soil drench had the greatest effect on enhancement of the fresh weight of roots and stem fresh and dry weights. The formulation of strain Bu1 stored at 4 degrees C exhibited better shelf Life and efficacy in vitro than it's counterpart stored at 25 degrees C.

Powder formulations of two strains of Bacillus subtilis for control of rape seed damping-off caused by Rhizoctonia solani.

Talc-based formulations of Bacillus subtilis strains B1 and B2 were tested as seed and soil treatments separately for their ability to control Rhizoctonia solani, the causal agent of rape seed damping-off, in greenhouse and field trials. In general, the formulated bacteria was more effective to suppress the disease than the suspension of bacterial cells in carboxymethylcellulose solution (1%, w/v), in both greenhouse and field trials. The formulations of strain B1 as soil treatment and strain B2 as seed treatment in greenhouse, and the formulations of strain B2 as seed and soil treatments in field trials had the greatest effect on reducing the rape seed damping-off (66.7%, 73.3%, 41.3%, and 42.4%, respectively). The formulations of strain B1 as soil treatment and strain B2 as seed treatment were the most effective treatments to increase the root dry weights in the infected soil in greenhouse. The formulation of strain B2 as soil treatment had the greatest effect on enhancement of the fresh weight of roots and stem fresh and dry weights. The formulations of strains B1 and B2 stored at 4 degrees C exhibited better shelf life and efficacy in vitro than their counterparts stored at 25 degrees C. Long-term stability of the formulation of strain B1 was found to be better.

Morphological evidence for the 'implantation window' in human luminal endometrium.

Endometrial tissue was taken from 21 normal fertile women (aged 18-40 years) between 4 and 13 days after the luteinizing hormone (LH) surge. Systematic random samples of luminal epithelium were taken for both light and electron microscopy and examined morphometrically. Throughout the luteal phase there were remarkably few changes in the volume fraction of nucleus, mitochondria, rough endoplasmic reticulum and 'vesicular system' to cell. Nuclear profile dimensions and cell height also did not change over time. Cell and organelle volume (estimated as volume weighted mean volume) did not change significantly, but showed numerically smallest values on day LH + 13. However the ratio of desmosomes to whole cell and both arithmetic mean thickness and harmonic mean thickness of basement membrane were minimal at the time when implantation would be most likely to occur, i.e. approximately 6 days after the LH peak. Therefore it appears that while some morphometric parameters in human luminal epithelial cells change little during the luteal phase, specific cellular changes occur to the basement membrane and desmosomes which may facilitate embryo implantation. These changes occurred around day LH+ 6 and may be a morphological representation of the 'implantation window'.

Changes in basement membrane thickness in the human endometrium during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle.

We have examined aspects of the fine structure of the basal laminae associated with the luminal and glandular epithelium and small blood vessels in the human endometrium. Four short studies are presented and reviewed. Study 1 examined biopsies from 20 fertile women taken on days after the luteinizing hormone surge (LH): LH +2, 4, 6, 8 and 10. The basal lamina (both lamina densa and lucida) increased in thickness over the period studied. Study 2 again studied the glandular epithelium and examined the effect of RU486 (a progesterone receptor blocker) administered on day LH +3 and biopsied on day LH +6. The basal laminae were found to be the same as LH +2 control group but thinner than LH +6 control. Study 3 documented increased thickness of the basal laminae between LH +6, 8 and 13 in the luminal epithelium. The within-group coefficient of variation was 16% and 27% for LH +6 and LH +13 groups but only 2 % for LH +8. Study 4 demonstrated an increase in basal lamina thickness associated with small blood vessels between LH +6 and LH +10 in normal fertile women. The basal lamina provides the interface between epithelial and mesenchymal environments; changes in its structure can alter the phenotypic expression of the epithelia. It is one of the maternal barriers that must be transgressed by the trophoblast during implantation. Together, these combined studies provide quantitative baseline structural information on the electron microscopical appearance of the basal lamina during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle.

Detoxification of high tannin sorghum grains.

One in vitro and two in vivo experiments were conducted to determine appropriate methodology for and effects of detoxifying Darset, Redlan, and one commercial hybrid brown sorghum grain variety in threonine-deficient and nutritionally complete poultry rations. The detoxification procedure, which involves adding water to sorghum grain to bring dry matter to 70% and subsequent anaerobic incubation at 32 C, removes up to 100% of the chemically detectable tannin. Rate of tannin elimination was dependent upon sorghum grain variety with commercial brown sorghum requiring approximately 3 days longer than the Darset for tannin elimination. Detoxification of high tannin sorghum grains improved (P less than .05) growth rate and feed efficiency dramatically in threonine-deficient, crystalline amino acid-fortified rations; the same process applied to low tannin sorghum grains was without benefit. The desirable effects of this type of grain processing appear to be due to the reduced grain tannin content. Including detoxified sorghum grains in a practical-type broiler ration failed to elicit a weight gain response although feed efficiency was improved by 13% over untreated sorghum and 3% over corn grain. Lack of a gain response was likely due to the excess protein included in the basal diet. This type of grain processing offers an alternative method of reducing sorghum grain tannin content and is likely of greatest value in rations containing marginal indispensable amino acid and protein levels.

Comparison of ferric oxide and ytterbium chloride as digesta markers in broiler chicks.

The capacity of Fe2O3 to mimic initial and 5-hr postdose digesta flow rate was evaluated by comparison with Yb-labeled soybean meal in 5-week-old chicks. First visually apparent Fe2O3 corresponded identically with first chemically detectable Fe and Yb. Five-hr marker excretions as a percent of that originally dosed were similar (P greater than .4) for the two markers. Data indicate that first visual appearance of Fe2O3 is sufficient to estimate initial digesta passage rate and that Fe2O3 and Yb-labeled soybean meal have similar flow rates. Because Yb-labeled soybean meal flows with the digesta particulate phase, data also indicate that either Fe2O3 flows with the particulate phase or that broiler digesta liquid and particulate passage rates are similar.