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Chiliadenus montanus(Vahl.) Brullo is a wild herb that grows in narrow parts of Jordan and is locally named Hneedeh. Despite being used for treating mild abdominal and respiratory ailments, Hneedeh is still locally known on a very small scale, and its healing capabilities are still waiting for a solid scientific justification. No previous studies were made to explore the antibacterial potential of Jordanian Hneedeh as well as its chemical composition despite being researched by scientists from neighboring countries. For this reason, this research aimed to unveil the active compounds behind the medicinal properties of wild C. montanus collected from Garissa-Jordan by analyzing the essential oil using the GC MS system. Also, the antibacterial activity was explored in two extracts (methanolic and ethanolic) collected from the succulent branches of C. montanus was examined using Microdilution and Disc Diffusion Assays. Data revealed the presence of 23 compounds grouped into eight classes and oxygenated monoterpenes were the predominant class (40.36%).Terpinen-4-ol, which is known for its super curative antibacterial and antitumoral powers, was indicated to be the major chemical compound in the essential oil of Hneedeh as it comprised (23.3%) of the essential oil, which disagreed with other previous studies made on the same plants growing in neighboring counties. Moreover, both extract types restricted growth in most tested bacterial types. The results recorded in the Microdilution Assay showed that the inhibitory effect of both extract types was stronger thanthose obtained in the antibiotic treatment (control) in E. coli and Staphylococcus aureus. Meanwhile, both methanolic and ethanolic extracts were as effective as the antibiotic when administrated to Bacillus subtilis and Salmonella sp. at similar minimal inhibition concentration (MIC) values. Moreover, Disc Diffusion Assay showed that both extract types could prevent the development of six bacteria types while no effect was recorded in Klebsiella pneumoniae. However, E coli bacteria was the most affected strain. The presence of the oxygenated monoterpenes, especially Terpinen-4-ol at premium levels, might be the causal agent behind the remarkable antibacterial powers of C. montanus extract. To our knowledge, this is the first time that C. montanus which grows wild in the village of Ghareesa is reported to contain Terpinen-4-ol as the main active ingredient, which is unlike results reported in other studies conducted on similar plant species growing in other countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solanum nigrum is an herbal plant that is reported for its healing powers against many ailments. In Jordan S. nigrum grows wild as a toxic weed in neglected fields and without any consideration of its medicinal value. This research aimed to collect and examine the genetic relationships of S. nigrum from different sites in Jordan. The in vitro-grown S. nigrum was established from the collected wild populations. Results of wild populations of S. nigrum. were arranged in two clusters (A & B) at the top range of hierarchy (genetic similarity of 0.13). Cluster A separated Bergesh Reserve population into its own group, while cluster B contained the remaining populations which were divided into two sub-clusters at a genetic similarity of 0.65, B1 contained Deer Alla and Jerash (2014 + 2015) populations at genetic similarity of 0.69 and B2 contained Almojeb Valley and Salt populations at genetic similarity of 0.71. However, the highest genetic similarity (0.87) was obtained between Jerash 2014 and Jerash 2015 from the same location. This dissimilarity might be due to the probability of cross-pollination AFLP (Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism) molecular analysis gave no genetic variations between in vitro grown S. nigrum before and after micropropagation compared with wild- type mother plants collected from the Jerash site in 2014. A solid conclusion needs more research on the genetic diversity of Jordanian wild-grown S. nigrum. This can be achieved by extending the collection scale to include all sites where this valuable plant grows. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Somatic embryogenesis was used as a tool for micropropagation of wild Narcissus tazetta plants exposing to overcollection and rapidly changed environmental conditions. In the growth regulators experiment, somatic embryogenesis was successfully induced in all treatments except for explants grown in the control treatment (Murashig and Skoog (MS) hormone-free medium). Meanwhile, the highest value for the number of somatic embryos/ callus segment (441) was obtained into MS media supplemented with 0.2 mg l-1 6-(gamma, gamma- Dimethylallylamino) purine (2iP) under dark conditions. Moreover, sucrose at 30g L-1 was the best sugar source resulting in higher number of somatic embryos compared to the other sugar treatments. The highest shoot development rate from somatic embryos was (191.99/ non-embryonic calli segment) recorded in cultures grown on MS media plus 0.5 mg l-1 2iP. Maximum bulbet size (1.6 cm diameter) was recorded in plantlets kept onto hormone-free MS hormone free media for 6 weeks before acclimatization, while less durations resulted in smaller bulbet size. Well developed in vitro plantlets were acclimatized successfully with high survival percentage of (95%). The acclimatized plants were normal and did not show any morphological abnormalities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heavy metals represent a growing threat for ecosystems worldwide. In Jordan, several studies have searched the amounts of heavy metals in soils at roadsides of high ways and soils of litter dumps. The conducted studies found that these soils contained worrying levels of heavy metals that have exceeded in many cases the average world safe limit. For example, lead (Pb) level was 79 mg/kg in soils closed to some highways while the world safe limit is only (25 mg/kg). In other studies, cadmium (Cd) concentration was (5.9 mg/kg) while the world safe limit for Cd is only (0.03 mg/kg). Also in some litter dumps in Jordan, soil chromium (Cr) average content was (6.9 mg/kg) while the world safe limit was only (0.1 mg/kg). Lantana camara Linn. is a flowering plant that has recently attracted the attention of researchers due to its novel phytoremediation powers against some heavy metals, which encouraged some countries to grow them in roadsides of highways and litter dumps. Tissue culture is an excellent approach for studying responses of Lantana camara to heavy metals without interference of other factors. In addition, tissue culture is the main method for producing elite plants lines from callus and cell suspension cultures with superior characteristics by genetic transformation. In this study, callus cultures were induced from leaf discs in vitro. Then, responses of Lantana camara callus cultures to different concentrations (0.0, 0.12, 0.2, 0.3 mg/L) of Cr, Pb, or Cd were monitored under in vitro environmentally controlled conditions to exclude the interference of any other factor. The obtained results revealed that callus growth and quality were found to decrease in response to adding heavy metals to the media at all concentrations. Meanwhile, all callus cultures recorded full survival rates (100%) by the end of the experiments and resumed growth after being transferred to normal growth conditions. Amounts of the three experimented heavy metals (Cr, Pb, and Cd) were found to reach the maximum in callus cultures (0.096, 0.109, 0.0193 mg/kg), when pregrown on Murashige and Skoog media (MS media) supplemented with (0.3 mg/L), while maximum Biological Absorption Coefficient (BAC) values of (0.41, 0.6, 0.30) were recorded in callus cultures pregrown in media with (0.12 mg/L) of either Cr, Pb, or Cd, respectively. More work is still needed to improve BAC values obtained in Lantana camara callus cultures. Also, the produced callus cultures can be used in future research for preparing cell suspension cultures to be introduced to genetic transformation to produce Lantana camara plant lines with hyper accumulation powers against these contaminants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change is reported all around as one of the major concerning issues due to its adverse impacts on many aspects of life including agriculture. In Jordan such important issue is not researched extensively yet. In this study, (250) undergraduate students in three Jordanian public universities have responded to a questionnaire that asses their attitudes toward the climate change impacts on agriculture. Data revealed that agriculture is highly impacted by climate change from the point view of the students (total mean -4.00). Moreover, students saw that climate change has also impacted, while they saw that climate change negative impacts on animal production were medium (3.62). Meanwhile, most of the participants saw that food industries sector was strongly altered climate change. On other hand, the participants agreed to a medium level with the contents of a proposed educational university course to enrich their knowledge about climate change, while most of them preferred educational seminars to strengthen their recognition about climate change and its consequences on agriculture. Meanwhile, no statistical significant differences were observed at level of (0.05) in the attitudes of undergraduate students towards climate change negative impacts on agriculture attributed to gender, major and academic year. Our results might be helpful for future studies that would investigate the level of environmental awareness of Jordanian people. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Jordan Journal of Agricultural Sciences is the property of University of Jordan and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Jordan Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences is the property of University of Jordan and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Ammi visnaga (L.) Lam is a valuable herbal plant that is frequently collected for medicinal purposes. This study is conducted to evaluate the antimicrobial potential of the in-vitro grown microshoots and callus cultures of this plant against selected strains of bacteria and fungi. Shoot multiplication was obtained in MS medium containing 0.5 mg/L BA + 0.1 mg/L NAA, while callus multiplication was performed on MS medium containing 1.0 mg/L BA + 2.0 mg/L 2,4-D under light conditions. The aqueous and methanolic extracts were prepared from both culture types in addition to in-vivo grown plant material to experiment their antimicrobial activities. Generally, the in-vitro extracts of the microshoots and the callus cultures acted best against bacteria compared to the field plant extract. Moreover, the methanolic extracts were generally found to exhibit far better results and resistance against the tested microbes than the aqueous extracts. C. albicans was the most sensitive species to the microshoots extracts followed by gram-positive bacteria at MIC values of (3.125, 6.25) mg/mL. Meanwhile, E. coli bacteria were most sensitive to the microshoot extracts as they were completely inhibited at MIC value of (0.78 mg/mL). Moreover, the results of the callus extracts showed that C. albicans was the most sensitive at MIC values of (1.56 and 3.125) mg/mL, followed by gram-positive bacteria. On the other hand, gram-negative bacteria were the most resistant microbes to all experimented extract types in this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Agricultural & Marine Sciences (JAMS) is the property of Sultan Qaboos University and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Schinus molle L., an ornamental plant of the Jordanian environment, was acknowledged recently for its therapeutic properties against many microbes. This study aimed at evaluating the antibacterial potential of the ethanolic and methanolic extracts obtained from different parts of the Schinus molle L. tree against four strains of bacteria. Data in this study showed that, the ethanolic and methanolic extracts from all experimented plant parts inhibited the growth of Bacillus subtilis successfully. However, the best results were obtained from the ethanolic extract of leaves as it resulted in a growth inhibition zone of (22.0 ±0.06 mm), while growth was completely inhibited at MIC value of (1.563 mg/mL). Moreover, growth of Enterobacter aerogenes and Klebsiella pneumoniae were mostly inhibited after exposure to the methanolic extract of the leaves as it resulted in inhibition zones of (18.0 ±0.086 and 17.0±0.12 mm) respectively, while full growth inhibition was obtained at MIC being (1.563 mg/mL). Moreover, results of disc diffusion assay indicated that Micrococcus luteus growth was slightly affected by the leaves' ethanolic extract, while all other types of either ethanolic or methanolic extracts failed to inhibit growth of these bacteria. However, the results of microdilution assay revealed a full growth inhibition of Micrococcus luteus when exposed to either fruit or leaves' ethanolic extracts at level of (6.25 mg/mL). However, methanolic extracts from all invistigated plant parts faild to prevent the growth of Micrococcus luteus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Jordan Journal of Agricultural Sciences is the property of University of Jordan and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Jordan Journal of Agricultural Sciences is the property of University of Jordan and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Jordan Journal of Agricultural Sciences is the property of University of Jordan and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The present study aims to introduce endangered Thymbra spicata L. to cryopreservation and to assess genetic stability of shoot tips after cryopreservation using Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism (AFLP) technique. For the cryopreservation experiments, vitrification and droplet vitrification techniques were examined. In the first vitrification experiment, highest survival (80%) and regrowth (35%) rates were obtained in shoot tips exposed to 2- stepwise application of Plant Vitrification Solution (PVS) technique. Results of the second experiment showed that, 60 min. was the best duration for loading the explants with the loading solution before exposure to PVS2 as it yielded the highest survival and regrowth rates ( 85, 45% ) after cryopreservation. Moreover, in the third experiment, 2 M glycerol + 0.4 M sucrose had proven to be the best formula as a loading solution compared to the results obtained in the other combinations. Additionally, in the fourth experiment, the highest survival and regrowth percentages (75, 35%) were obtained in explants treated with PVS2 compared to results obtained in tips treated with other PVS solution types. In droplet vitrification experiment, the highest survival and regrowth rates (80, 35%) were recorded in explants exposed to PVS2 for (45 min.). Meanwhile, no genetic differences were detected in the shoot tips before and after cryopreservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Jordan Journal of Agricultural Sciences is the property of University of Jordan and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Wild fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Mill.) is a medicinal plant that is native to Jordan as well as to most of Mediterranean region. Wild fennel is considered an aromatic medicinal plant and is used in cooking as a spice, and in folk medicine for the treatment of gastrointestinal and respiratory tract diseases. Due to the high international demand for this plant, the extensive uncontrolled collection of wild fennel became highly threatened species. In the present study, two cryopreservation techniques (vitrification and encapsulation-dehydration) were experimented as approaches for long term conservation of in vitro grown shoot tips of wild fennel. The results obtained from vitrification experimental part showed that survival and regrowth rates varied with type of loading solution, and the maximum survival (80%) and regrowth (65 and 60%) rates were recorded in shoot tips (STs) preloaded with either (2M glycerol + 0.4M sucrose) or (5% Dimethylsulfoxide, DMSO + 0.5 M sucrose), respectively. Also, data revealed that survival and regrowth rates of wild fennel STs were determined by the type of plant vitrification solution, as the highest survival and regrowth rates (85 and 60%, respectively) were obtained in STs cryoprotected with plant vitrification solution type 2 (PVS2) before exposure to Liquid Nitrogen (LN). Moreover, the best regrowth rate (65%) was recorded in encapsulated STs of wild fennel with 21.1% moisture content obtained after chemical dehydration in MS liquid media supplemented with 0.75 M sucrose for 1 day followed by air dehydration for 6 hrs. However, more research is still needed to optimize the pretreatments protocols prior exposure to LN in terms of ingredients, concentration and duration to improve regrowth rates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ziziphora tenuior L. is one of the important medicinal plants that belong to the Lamiaceae family. It is a rare species with a promising medicinal potential and grows wild in the southern part of Jordan. Unfortunately, this plant might be totally extinct from the wild due to over-exploitation. Two cryopreservation techniques (encapsulation-dehydration and encapsulation-vitrification) were applied for in vitro conservation of this valuable medicinal plant, and after that the explants were tested for their genetic stability using Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism (AFLP) technique. In the encapsulation-dehydration experiment, the results revealed that 40% of the cryopreserved shoot tips survived when they were dehydrated chemically on 0.75 M sucrose in MS supplemented media for one day and exposed to air dehydration for 6 hrs. Moreover, the best recovery rate (20%) was obtained when either 0.5 M or 0.75 M sucrose MS supplemented media were used as preculture media for the shoot tips for one day, followed by air dehydration for 4 or 6 hrs. Meanwhile, in the encapsulation-vitrification experiment, the highest survival (37.5%) and recovery (10%) percentages of the cryopreserved shoot tips were obtained when the encapsulated shoot tips were pretreated for 60 min. with the loading solution before being exposed to PVS2 vitrification solution and LN. AFLP technique had clearly showed that, there were no genetic variations between the shoot tips of Ziziphora tenuior L., before and after cryopreservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Medicinal and aromatic plants are those containing special chemical components that enable them to relief pain, release pleasant aromas, and improve food flavors. Meanwhile, medicinal and aromatic plants are under real jeopardy due to the uncontrolled collection of these plants as a result of being extensively used in herbal medicine and food industry. So conservation action for these natural resources is of high priority. Plants conserved under in situ conservation conditions are exposed to natural disasters, pests and pathogens in addition to the fluctuating government policies. Also ex situ conservation is very difficult to be applied as adequate samples have to be collected for the conservation of genetic diversity. In vitro conservation is offering a strong and a multi package of techniques that do so good when other conservation methods are not feasible. Slow growth conservation is a very simple in vitro technique based on reducing the growth rates of the tissue cultured plant for short or mid- term storage and yet increasing the intervals between subcultures. In this conservation type, several techniques are used separately or in combinations to slow down the growth rate of the stored explants, such as, addition of elevated levels of osmotic agents or ABA in addition to storage under minimal growth conditions such as low temperature and dark incubation. Cryopreservation is another conservation technique that is usually described as the most reliable tool for long-term storage of plant germplasm and reported to be advantageous over most other conservation methods in terms of simplicity, applicability to a wide range of genotypes and ability to maintain the genetic stability of plant material. Thanks to the use of cryopreservation techniques, such as, encapsulation-dehydration, vitrification, encapsulation-vitrification, and droplet-vitrification, many medicinal plant species are conserved indefinitely for the next generations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]