Physiological and biochemical mechanisms of grain yield loss in fumitory (Fumaria parviflora Lam.) exposed to copper and drought stress.

Soil contamination with heavy metals adversely affects plants growth, development and metabolism in many parts of the world including arid and semi-arid regions. The aim of this study was to investigate the single and combined effects of drought and copper (Cu) stresses on seed yield, and biochemical traits of Fumaria parviflora in a split - factorial experiment at Research Field of Payam-E-Noor university of Kerman during 2019. The collected seeds from two Cu contaminated regions were evaluated under drought and Cu (0, 50, 150, 300, and 400 mg/kg) stresses. Drought stress levels were depletion of 50% (D1), 70% (D2) and 85% (D3) soil available water. The individual effects of drought and copper stresses were similar to each other as both reduced seed yield. The highest seed yield was observed at Cu concentration of 50 mg/kg under non-drought stress conditions. The maximum values of malondialdehyde (0.47 µmol/g), proline (2.45 µmol/g FW), total phenolics (188.99 mg GAE/g DW) and total flavonoids (22.1 mg QE/g DW) were observed at 400 mg/kg Cu treatment. However, the strongest antioxidant activity (83.95%) through DPPH assay, and the highest total soluble carbohydrate (115.23 mg/g DW) content were observed at 300 and 150 mg/kg Cu concentration under severe drought stress, respectively. The highest amount of anthocyanin (2.18 µmol/g FW) was observed at 300 mg/kg Cu and moderate drought stress. The findings of this study showed a high tolerance of F. parviflora plant to moderate drought stress and Cu exposure up to 150 mg/kg by modulating defense mechanisms, where grain yield was slightly lower than that of control. The results could also provide a criterion for the selection of tolerance species like F. parviflora for better acclimatization under Cu mines and/or agricultural contaminated soils subjected to drought stress.

Elicitation Effects on Some Secondary Metabolites and Antioxidant Activity in Callus Cultures of Allium jesdianum Boiss. & Buhse.: Methyl Jasmonate and Putrescine.

Allium jesdianum Boiss. & Buhse. is the most important species of the Amaryllidaceae family with various pharmacological properties. Three subsequent experiments (germination, callogenesis, and elicitation) were carried out as a completely randomized design with six replication. At the first study, the highest seed germination (78.33%) was achieved at chemical pre-treatment including the combination of α-naphthalene acetic acid (1 mg L-1) and benzylaminopurine (3 mg L-1) under in vitro condition. The highest callus induction (86.7%) was observed at MS/2 media, which was supplemented by NAA (1 mg L-1) and BAP (3 mg L-1) from hypocotyl explants. Then, two chemical elicitors including methyl jasmonate (MeJ) (0, 25, 50, and 100 µM) and putrescine (Pu) (0, 0.5, and 1 mM) were used to investigate their effects on different biochemical traits under callus culture. The results showed the superiority of MeJ over Pu for increasing the secondary metabolites and antioxidant activity in calluses of Allium jesdianum, compared to the control. The highest contents for total phenolics (6.02 mg GAE g-1 FW), total flavonoids (0.52 mg QE g-1 FW), and total flavonols (0.39 mg QE g-1 FW) were observed under 50 µM of MeJ. Meanwhile, the highest value for anthocyanin (8.99 µ mol g-1 FW) was achieved at 25 µM of MeJ. The highest 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl activities were observed at 50 and 100 µM of MeJ. Putrescine (0.5 mM) elicitation showed only superiority for callus growth rate (0.53 mm day-1). Enhancement of desired secondary metabolites at 50 µM MeJ could be suitable for future studies in biotechnological aspects of this medicinal plant.

Finite element modeling of Non-Fourier heat transfer in a cancerous tissue with an injected fat layer during hyperthermia treatment.

Hyperthermia technique has received much attention over the last decade being less invasive among the others. Laser therapy is among the most commonly investigated types of ablative hyperthermia for treatment of cancer. In this method an external heat source provided by a laser fiber leads the cancerous tissue to the necrosis stage. For its simulation a cylindrical geometry of a breast tissue containing a tumor is acted upon by a Gaussian form of laser radiation. Then the feasibility of a fat layer injection around the tumor during the therapy is investigated numerically. In order to consider the finite speed of heat transfer, dual phase lag (DPL) model is implemented for prediction of the thermal results. The therapy is addressed with and without the presence of a fat layer around the breast tumor. Results show that the temperature in the tumor increases up to 15 % by the injection of a fat layer. Also, the presence of a fat layer around the tumor shows that the irreversible ablation happens at a faster rate.

Green synthesis of silver nanoparticles with the Arial part of Dorema ammoniacum D. extract by antimicrobial analysis.

Silver nanoparticles (SNPs) were synthesised by using the Arial part extract of Dorema ammoniacum D. and characterised by employing UV-visible spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction techniques. Transmission electron microscopy and field emission scanning electron microscopy were applied to investigate the morphological structure of the bio-synthesised SNPs. The antimicrobial activity of SNPs was studied against Gram positive (Bacillus cereus and Staphylococcus aureus) and Gram-negative (Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhimurium) bacteria by employing the disk diffusion agar process. An extremely antimicrobial effect was observed for SNPs. Utilising D. ammoniacum D. as a mediator for the synthesis of SNPs helped to save time and cost.