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Background: In medicinal plants, selection, reproduction and preservation of important genotypes are very necessary. Nowadays, using tissue culture and regeneration techniques of medicinal plants under in vitro conditions has been able to proliferate medicinal plants widely, which is much higher than traditional methods of vegetative propagation. Maca (Lepidium meyenii), is an industrial plant whose root is the usable part. Maca has valuable medicinal effects such as sexual enhancement and reproductive power, infertility treatment, improved sperm count and quality, anti-stress, osteoporosis prevention and more., Methods and Results: This study was conducted to induce callus and regeneration of Maca. First, MS medium supplemented with different concentrations of Kinetin, Naphthaleneacetic acid and 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid [0.5, 1 and 2 µM respectively] and control were compared for callus induction from root and leaves. After 38 days of incubation, the first callus appeared, after 50 days of callus induction and after 79 days regeneration occurred. The callus induction experiment was performed for the study of the effect of three explants (leaf, stem and root) and seven hormone levels. The regeneration experiment was carried out by studying the effect of three explants (leaf, stem and root) on eight levels of the hormone. The results of data analysis on callus induction showed that the effects of explants, hormones and their interactions on callus induction percentage were highly significant but not significant on callus growth rate. The results of regression analysis showed that explants, hormones and their interactions had no significant effect on regeneration percentage., Conclusion: Based on our results, the best medium for inducing callus was Hormone 2,4-D [2 µM] and Kinetin [0.5 µM], in which the highest percentage of callus induction was in leaf explants (62%). And the lowest were in stem (30%) and root (27%) explants. According to the comparison of the mean, the best environment for regeneration of the environment was 4 µM 6-Benzylaminopurine 2.5 + Thidiazuron, in which the highest percentage of regeneration was in leaf explant (87%) and stem (69%) and the lowest in root explant (12). %)., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V.)

Background: Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) is an important kernel legume in the world. To optimize the plant tissue culture some experiments such as direct regeneration, proliferation, rooting shoots and somatic embryogenesis were done., Methods and Results: In experiments were used direct regeneration and proliferation, various levels of plant growth regulators NAA (0 and 1.0 mg/l), BAP (0, 1, 3 and 5 mg/l) and three explants' types (epicotyl, cotyledon and embryonic axis). The results of both experiments showed that embryonic axis explant was better than other explants. The highest percentage was obtained in MS media containing 1 mg/l BAP and also 3 mg/l BAP and 0.1 mg/l NAA with an average of 72%. The highest average number of branches (4.66) was found in the proliferation of embryonic axis in MS medium containing 3 mg/l BAP. The highest rooting shoot (90%) was found in 1/2MS in B5 medium vitamins with 0.2 mg/l of IBA and 0.5 mg/l NAA. Somatic embryogenesis experiments were compared on the concentration gradient of 2,4-D in fine embryonic axis explants. The results displayed that the concentration gradient of 10 mg/l 2,4-D to 5 mg/l of 2,4-D and then to zero concentration showed the highest number of embryos., Conclusion: The best environment for regeneration embryos was MS medium with 2.5 mg/l of 2,4-D concentration gradient to zero. In this study, the PCR reaction showed the presence of the β-glucuronidase (gus) marker gene in regenerated cotyledons for 20 min in all three strains studied., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V.)

The genus of Bromus is one of the most important collection of rangeland plants, which are distributed in a wide range of natural areas of Iran. Interspecific relationships were evaluated in 90 accessions of 18 Bromus species based on 15 ISSR and 15 SCoT primers. SCoT markers separated the accessions better than ISSR marker. In addition, there was a high interspecific diversity between surveying germplasm. The sections of Bromus genus completely separated based on DNA molecular markers. SCoT markers could separate the accessions in each species. The primers of SC 5 and SC 35 from SCoT marker and UBC861, UBC857 and UBC844 primers from ISSR marker were identified as the best primers in revealing of genetic diversity between accessions. The sections of Ceratochloa, Genea, Pnigma and Bromus were monophyletic and were placed in one cluster. The section Bromus had a direct relationship with section Genea. In other words, section Ceratochloa has a direct relationship with Pnigma. B. tectorum and B. sericeus. B. sterilis had the most distance with other species in section Genea. B. squarrosus and B. japonicus had the most similarity and B. briziformis with B. danthoniae and B. scoparius with B. rechingeri had a moderate relationship in section Bromus. B. tomentosus and B. persicus had the highest similarity and B. riparius with B. biebersteinii and B. tomentellus with B. inermis had a moderate similarity in section Pnigma.

Acetolactate synthase (ALS)-inhibiting herbicides have been widely used for effective management and control of wild mustard (Sinapis arvensis) biotypes in Iran. The resistance of the ALS inhibitor to weeds is attributed to either target site alteration or enhanced herbicide degradation. Molecular and genetic characterization of the resistance mechanism is relevant to the evolution and management of herbicide resistance. The aims of this research were (a) to characterize the mechanism molecular suspected to Granstar (tribenuron methyl) and Atlantis (Mesosulfuron + Iodosulfuron) resistance in S. arvensis biotypes in the greenhouse and laboratory (b) to investigate the organization of the target-site loci in field selected S. arvensis populations and (c) instantly recognize the mutations that cause resistance to ALS inhibitors. Eighty resistant populations of S. arvensis were carefully collected from fields repeatedly treated with Granstar and Atlantis. The resistance level and pattern of the population were determined through a greenhouse dose-response experiment by applying the above-mentioned herbicides. Extraction of genomic DNA was carried out for PCR and ALS gene analysis. Our results showed that by greenhouse experiment across 80 biotypes suspected to resistance collected in the fields of whole Kermanshah Province, 30 biotypes (37.5%) conferred S. arvensis resistance species reported in the farm. Among 30 biotypes screened in a greenhouse experiment, six biotypes (20%), No. 9, 14, 17, 19, 23 and 28 revealed a mutation in the ALS gene that was detected by PCR-based method. Biotype No. 9 in the position 376 (Asp376-Gly, GAC to GGC), biotypes 14 and 19 in the position 197 (Pro197-Ala, CCT to GCT), biotypes 17, 23 and 28 in the position 574 (Trp574-Leu, TGG to TTG) and biotype No. 23 in the position 122 (Thr-122-Ala, ACA to GCA) showed herbicide resistance. The specific mutation in the position of 122 of the ALS gene in S. arvensis is the first report. Other biotypes showed resistance in the greenhouse but didn't indicate any mutation by PCR-based method. Most of the resistance to Granstar and Atlantis are genetic and are induced by mutations in the ALS gene. The resistance to herbicides may contain a non-mutagenic and non-genetic origin. The reason of herbicide resistance as non-target-site in some of the biotypes may relate to the activity of the herbicide-metabolizing enzyme(s) or transporter proteins that will naturally lead to an increase in herbicide degradation or compartmentation away from its active site.

Hypericum lydium Boiss. is a perennial plant of the Hypericaceae family, which has been used in particular to treat depression. The aim of this study was to determine in vitro antioxidant, antimicrobial activities, anticholinesterase (acetylcholinesterase (AChE)/butyrylcholinesterase (BChE)), antidiabetic activities (α-glucosidase/α-amylase) and Tyrosinase inhibitor activity of methanol and water extracts of H. lydium. Also, gene expression has been evaluated in the shoot and root by microarray technology. So, in general, the purpose of this study is to study the active molecules such as antioxidant, antimicrobial, antidiabetic, enzymes and genes in the plant, which is the first to be reported. The experiments were conducted in a completely randomized design with three replications. In addition, gene expression was compared in the shoot and root parts. Expression profiling was carried out by microarrays. According to the results, the highest chemical components were determined in methanol extract rather than water extract. There was a difference between the obtained components. While the highest antioxidant activity was determined from the methanol extract of plant herbs for DPPH Free Radical Scavenging Activity, antioxidant activity was the same in both methanol and water extracts using the ABTS method. The methanol extract demonstrated stronger anticholinesterase (AChE and BChE) and α-amylase inhibition activity. This study was complemented by the detection of antioxidant activity and some enzyme inhibition activity in the methanol extract. Microarray showed 10,784 genes had significantly different expression in root and shoot. There was a positive effect of methanol extract in respect of different activities compared to the water extract. Gene expression showed that the number of expressed genes in the root was greater than the shoot.

Structural mutations providing herbicide resistance may cause a modification of the three dimensional structure of a protein which will lead to a decrease in the herbicide efficacy. Wild oat (Avena ludoviciana Durieu.) is an increasingly disruptive weed in areas of intensive cereal production, thus the aim of this research was to identify mutations conferring resistance to ACCase-inhibitor herbicides at greenhouse, laboratory and in silico scales. Among the selected biotypes, No. 3 in the position 1781 (Ile1781-Leu) and No. 14 in the position 2041 (Ile2041-Asn), showed resistance to ACCase-inhibitor. The above mutations were confirmed using the specific primers and PCR-based methods. Analysis of molecular docking indicated that residues of Trp1948 and Pro2001 are important in the binding site and showed remarkable variation in the mutation types. Using molecular dynamic simulation analysis, we demonstrated that mutation types changed the conformation of the enzyme. These changes resulted in compressed conformation in the active site, which limited the availability of binding herbicide-enzyme. In present, no crystallography molecular structure and modeling reported on the ACCase of plants and this study investigated interactions of clodinafop propargyl and ACCase CT domain in A. ludoviciana by modeling, docking and simulations for the first time. Totally, bioinformatics analysis as well as PCR-based method confirmed that herbicide resistance conferred by nucleotide mutations in the gene sequence.

Stevia rebaudiana produces sweet steviol glycosides that are 300 times sweeter than sugar and have the beneficial effects on human health including anti-hyperglycaemic. Tissue culture is the best method with high efficacy to propagate stevia. Abiotic stress has an impact on steviol glycoside contents in stevia. Therefore, we investigated the effect of mannitol on the expression of four genes involved in the biosynthesis of stevia including UGT74G1, UGT76G1, kaurene oxidase and kaurene synthase genes and steviol glycosides accumulation in stevia under in vitro conditions. The highest expression of UGT76G1 gene occurred in the plants grown under 20 g/l mannitol. While for the kaurene synthase gene, the highest amount of gene expression was observed at 40 g/l mannitol. The results were different about kaurene oxidase gene. As the highest and lowest gene expression were seen in 50 and 30 g/l mannitol conditions respectively. There were the same results for UGT74G1 that means the most appropriate and also the most inopportune treatment for the gene expression were same as the condition for the kaurene oxidase gene. Compared with control, adding mannitol to media in all concentrations increases the expression of UGT76G1 gene. Estimation of steviol glycosides contents under different treatments of mannitol carried out by HPLC. According to the results, the highest amount of stevioside was produced under 20 g/l mannitol treatment. However, rebaudioside A was accumulated in its maximum amounts under 30 g/l mannitol. It can be concluded that adding mannitol to media in the certain concentration increases steviol glycoside contents in the stevia.

Thiobacillus, as useful soil bacteria, plays an important role in sulfur cycling. The purpose of this study was to identify the species Thiobacillus thioparus, Thiobacillus novellas and Thiobacillus denitrificans in rainfed and irrigated lands soil in Ajabshir, Ilam, Qorveh, Rojintaak, Sonqor, Kermanshah and Research Farm of Razi University in Iran. Sampling was performed as randomized completely with three replications at depth of 0-30 cm. The Thiobacillus species were determined via 16S rRNA characteristics. The results of agarose gel electrophoresis indicated that T. thioparus was the highest amount in the irrigated land in Research Farm and its lowest amount was in the Rojintaak rainfed land. These species not found in four locations and conditions including the Ajabshir irrigated, Qorveh rainfed, Research Farm rainfed and Rojintaak irrigated lands. The results of the T. novellas indicated that this was found in Ilam irrigated, Qorveh rainfed, Research Farm irrigated, Rojintaak irrigated and Rojintaak rainfed lands. The highest and lowest amount of T. novellas was indicated in the Rojintaak and Ilam irrigated lands respectively. The T. denitrificans gene showed that this bacterium was observed only in both samples of Ajabshir. Our study showed that Thiobacillus was not detected in all of the soils. If sulfur fertilizer is given to the soil without this bacterium, it is necessary to use sulfur fertilizer with Thiobacillus bacteria inoculation for better sulfur oxidation.

EPSPS is coded with the aroA gene, a key enzyme that catalyzes the penultimate step of shikimate pathway. The current study focuses on the suppression of aroA gene in weedy Brassica rapa. For this purpose B. rapa was transformed with double-stranded RNA interference construct designed to silence aroA gene. This developed in a significant decline in EPSPS (about 72 %) in T0 and T1 plants. In order to study the gene flow, the B. rapa control and B. napus plants were pollinated with T0 B. rapa. Results showed that in the next generation of challenging plants, the pollinated normal B. rapa showed the T1 symptoms and performance. Statistical analysis of data showed that knocking down of aroA will lead to a weakness and decreasing in investigated morphological, physiological and phonological characteristics. Meanwhile pollinated B. napus plant species have been not fertilized by T0 B. rapa. To conclude current result is the first evidence of aroA gene inhibition induces a high decrease in EPSPS protein in B. rapa. Also this result provides a basis for the future investigation in order to controlling B. rapa via molecular approach along with agronomical, biological and chemical methods regarding environmental considerations.

The genetic diversity of three Iranian honey bee populations (Apis mellifera meda) was studied using morphological and microsatellite loci in south Iran. For this purpose ten morphological characters and five microsatellite loci were studied. Morphometric analysis resulted in a distinct classification of three investigated populations but showed low diversity among them. The grouping results of the diversity study by microsatellite markers were in agreement with the results of morphometry. The cluster analysis showed that the honey bees have clustered together in one group. These populations displayed low variability estimated from both the number of alleles and heterozygosity values. Genetic differentiation within the populations is low and low heterozygosity was also presented between diverse populations. These results indicate the existence of a single population structure. The results of current research confirmed us the previous findings concerning morphological and biochemical indications of uniformity in the honey bee population of the south Iran in spite of the fact that the cities which was studied by us separated from each other by a distance of 500 km.

In entomology, improvement of molecular methods would be beneficial tools for accurate identification and detecting the genetic diversity of insect species to discover a corroborative evidence for the traditional classification based on morphology. The aim of this study was focused on RAPD-PCR method for distinguishing the genetic diversity between eight species of Chrysopidae family. In current research, many specimens were collected in different locations of Tehran province (Iran), between them 24 specimens were identified. The wing venation, male genitalia and other morphological characters were used for identification and also the sexing of species was recognized with study of external genitalia. Then, the DNA was extracted with CTAB method. The RAPD-PCR method was carried out with twenty random primers. The agarose gel electrophoresis was used for separation of the PCR products. Based on electrophoresis results, 133 bands were amplified and between them, 126 bands were poly-morph and others were mono-morph. Also, among the applied primers, the primers OPA02 with 19 bands and OPA03 with 8 bands were amplified the maximum and minimum of bands, respectively. The results showed that 80.35 and 73.21 % of genetic similarity existed between Chrysopa pallens-Chrysopa dubitans, and between the Chrysoperla kolthoffi and Chrysoperla carnea, respectively. The minimum (45.53 %) of genetic similarity was observed between C. kolthoffi and C. dubitans, and the maximum (0.80 %) was seen between C. pallens and C. dubitans.

Fifty-seven genotypes from eight population of Satureja bachtiarica was evaluated using fifteen ISSR and eleven RAPD markers. DNA profiling using RAPD primers amplified 84 loci, among which 81 were polymorphic with an average of 7.36 polymorphic fragments per locus. Also, using RAPD markers maximum and minimum polymorphic bands observed for Semyrom (77.38 %) and Farsan (40.48 %) populations, respectively. Semyrom population recorded the highest unbiased expected heterozygosity (0.259) and Shannon's Indices (0.38). While, the lowest values of unbiased expected heterozygosity (0.172) and Shannon's Index (0.245) were recorded for Eghlid and Farsan populations, respectively. On the other hand, ISSR primers produced 136 bands, from which 134 were polymorphic with an average of 9.06 polymorphic fragments per primer (98.52 %). The ISSR markers evaluation revealed that maximum and minimum polymorphic bands observed for Semyrom (66.18 %) and Farsan (31.62 %), respectively. Shahrekorud population recorded the highest unbiased expected heterozygosity (0.211) and Shannon's Indices (0.301). While, the lowest value of unbiased expected heterozygosity (0.175) observed for Farsan and Yazd populations and the lowest Shannon's Index (0.191) recorded by Farsan population. The overall results of the study revealed that both ISSR and RAPD markers were effective for evaluation of genetic variation of S. bachtiarica.

Current study was conducted to investigation of effect of magnetic field on cell dedifferentiation and follow it callus induction derived from mature embryo culture in bread wheat genotypes. For this purpose, a factorial experiment based on completely randomized design was carried out with two wheat genotypes and three level of magnetic field strength (0.0, 8.8 and 17.6 Tesla) in three replications. Callus growth rate (CGR), relative growth rate (RGR), callus relative growth rate (CRGR), percentage of callus water content and percentage of callus induction traits were measured. To sum up, the results showed that differences between wheat genotypes and level of magnetic field strength were significant for some studied treats related to callus induction. The effect of magnetic field levels on CGR (from 0.181 to 0.175), RGR (from 1.442 to 0.655) and CRGR (from 0.052 to 0.022) were decreased with increment of magnetic field intensity.

Antlions are insects which feed on ants, insect which dig a pit and lies in wait for ants and other insects. Twelve species of Myrmeleontidae family as antlions and many specimens were identified in different locations in Fars province in Iran. To unveil the genetic similarity between these species, their DNA was extracted by modified CTAB method and with the use of seventeen 10-nucleotides primers of random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD); the genetic analysis of them was investigated. After PCR, agarose 1.5 % was used for electrophoresis. The obtained electrophoresis bands had base pairs range between 150 and 1,000 bp. The maximum of polymorphic bands belonged to OPH5, N13, and the minimum of polymorphic bands belonged to OPA7 primers. Different genetic similarity indices were found between eight species of antlions. Possibility of use of RAPD marker together with morphological studies for classification and identification of antlions is discussed.

Cumin (Cuminum cyminum L.), Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare L.) and Longleaf (Falcaria vulgaris Bernh) that all belong to Apiaceae family as medicinal plants are very important in many countries. Study of genetic diversity for medicinal plant is important for researches in future. One of the methods to evaluate plant genetic diversity and classification of them is the electrophoresis of seed storage proteins. This research was conducted in order to evaluate seed protein variability in different Iranian Cumin, Fennel and Longleaf accessions and grouping them based on these proteins as a biochemical marker. For this purpose, the samples were first powdered in liquid nitrogen and seed protein was extracted with extraction buffer. Then total soluble proteins were resolved on 12.5 % sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis gels. The electrophoretic protein pattern showed 38 bands that were low polymorphism among the accessions. The result of cluster analysis showed that the accessions were classified in three groups (all 29 Cumin accessions in the first group, three Fennel ecotypes in second group and three Longleaf accessions in the last one).

RAPD (random amplification of polymorphic DNA) was used to distinguish the genetic diversities between two genera of Chrysopa and Chrysoperla (Neuroptera, Chrysopidae). Sixty specimens were collected in different places in Kermanshah, west of Iran. The wing venation was used for identification of each type of two genera, and the gender was determined by study of external genitalia. 20 random primers were used for polymerase chain reaction. Then, the electrophoresis was used for separation of the PCR products on agarose gel. 294 bands were amplified, which 235 bands were polymorph and others (59s) determined as monomorph. The electrophoresis results showed that the primers OPA02 with 19 bands and OPA03 with 8 bands successively amplified the maximum and minimum of bands among the applied primers. The results showed that there are maximum of genetic diversity and minimum of genetic similarity between Chrysopa male (Chrysopa-M) and Chrysoperla female)Chrysoperla-F) population, in contrast, there are maximum of genetic similarity and minimum of genetic diversity between Chrysoperla-M and Chrysoperla-F, and Chrysopa-M and Chrysopa-F. There are also more genetic similarities, between males and females of Chrysopa and Chrysoperla, than between male of Chrysopa with female of Chrysoperla or vice versa.