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The evolutionary trend of the morphological characters of the genus Stachys in Iran, on the basis of nrITS se-quence data, was investigated. A total of 28 nrITS sequences, representing 26 species of Stachys as well as Betonica of-ficinalis and Melittis mellisophyllum, were obtained from GenBank. Patterns of character evolution were assessed for 10 vegetative and reproductive characters with emphasis on taxonomic treatments of Stachys performed earlier to infer its history and interpret processes of change. The most important characters included habitat, growth form, leaf morp-hology, inflorescence, calyx and corolla as well as trichome morphology. Phylogenetic tree, based on the nrITS dataset, were constructed by Bayesian analysis. Parsimony mapping was performed in Mesquite v. 1.12. The present analysis revealed that the state of symmetrical calyx, the presence of basal leaves as well as the presence of glandular trichomes were not in agreement with the results of molecular data, which indicated the artificial nature of these characters in pr-evious classification. The presence of simple trichomes as well as the growth forms were consistent with phylogeny ba-sed on nrITS sequences. Evolutionary trend of morphological characters demonstrated that the sect. Eriostomum and sect. Fragilicaulis were the most primitive and the most advanced sections in Iran, respectively.

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Thirty eight ecotypes of watermelon were collected from different parts of Iran. After the preparation of the field, these eotypes were cultivated in a completely randomized block design with three replications. In order to invest-igate genetic diversity, genomic DNA samples were extracted from leaves and Polymerase chain reactions were optimized using 14 SRAP primer pairs. One hundred thirty six polymorphic bands were detected, of which the EM10-Me4 was the most abundant primer pair with 19 bands and EM16-Me4 and EM16-Me14 were the least primer pairs with 7 bands. PIC index varied from 0.20 to 0.32 and genetic diversity was 0.17 to 0.28 on the basis of Nei index. Fisher's Linear Detection Analysis showed that the UPGMA method and the grouping accuracy of about 90% are more appropriate than other cluster analysis methods. Cluster analysis, using Jakard method, was performed and the ecotypes studied were classified into five distinct groups. Based on the PCA, the first and second components included 92.5% of the variation, which represents the proper distribution of the markers on the whole genome.

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Aloe barbadensis is perennial, monocotyledonous, fleshy plant belongs to Aloaceae family. In this study, somoclonal variations of regenerated A. barbadensis plants were investigated. The plantlets of forth subculture transferred to the soil for further study. The genomic DNAs of 40 regenerated plantlets were extracted and genetic variations were studied using SPAR markers including RAPD and ISSR primers. The amounts of Aloe gel also were extracted from regenerated A. vera plants. Average percentage of polymorphism, Shannon index, Nei's genetic diversity and number of effective alleles based on RAPD data were higher than genetic parameters obtained from ISSR data. NJ cluster and STRUCTURE plot based on molecular markers grouped regenerated plants to distinct clusters. AMOVA analysis also showed a significant (P = 0.01) genetic distinction between studied groups. This result also confirmed differentiation of regenerated plants. The amount of Aloe gel in the four groups (based on clustering method) was compared by using analysis of variance (ANOVA). The results showed no significant (P = 0.746) differences between the amount of gel in four group. In total, our findings showed somaclonal variations on genomic level while no significant differences were observed in amount of gel among regenerated Aloe plantlets.
 

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Abstract. Eurasian Nuthatch (Sitta europaea), with 18 subspecies, has a wide distribution in deciduous forests of Eurasia. The subspecies S.e.persica is a resident bird in the Zagros Mountains, from north-west to south-west of Iran. The aim of this study was to evaluate the taxonomic and phylogenetic relationships of this subspecies to European, Asian, as well as Caucasian clades. For this purpose, 10 individuals of two populations from Zagros forests in Kermansha and Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad provinces were captured and blood samples were collected. Furthermore, we used ND2 sequence data (1041 bp) for 136 sequnces from GenBank. were used from Then genetic variations and Genealogical analysis was calculated using complete ND2 gene sequence (1041bp) and TRN+G model, Bayesian trees and maximum likelihood, respectively. Also, median joining algorithm showed the relationships among haplotypes. We found four new haplotypes for the Zagros populations. Our phylogenetic analysis revealed that the genetic distance between Zagros population and Caucasian clade was significantly small, demonstrating Zagros populations are part of the Caucasian clade. F_ST statistical values, resulted from Analysis of Molecular Variance (AMOVA), represented significant variations in genetic structure among Eurasian Nuthatch populations. Moreover, F_CT revealed significant variation among European, Asian, and Caucasian clades. Overall our result suggests that Eurasian Nuthatch populations in Eurasia comprise three phylogenetic species, and likely biological species. Hoewever, the previous nomenclatured subspecies, S.e.caucasian and S.e.persica, can be considered as a common phylogenetic species.

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Strictosidine synthase-like (SSL) is a group of gene families in the Arabidopsis genome, which whose orthologues in other plants are key enzymes in mono-terpenoid indole-alkaloid biosynthesis pathway. The SSL7 is upregulated upon treatments of Arabidopsis plants with signaling molecules such as SA, methyl jasmonate and ethylene. To find the functional role of the gene, a T-DNA-mediated knockout mutant (ssl7) along with the wildt ype were treated with different concentrations of NaCl. The expression level of salt stress genes including P5CS1, NCED3, AAO3 and RD29A at 150 mM NaCl demonstrated that the expression was significantly higher in ssl7 compared with the expression in Col-0. The activities of Catalase (CAT), Ascorbate Peroxidase (APX), Peroxidase (POD) and Superoxide Dismutase (SOD) were measured in different concentrations of NaCl. The results suggested that the enzymes activities were significantly higher in ssl7 compared with wild-type Col-0. In total, the results suggest that SSL7 might have a salicylic acid-dependent negative regulatory role in plant resistance to salt stress.
 

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The flowering process in plants proceeds through the induction of an inflorescence meristem triggered by several pathways. Many of the genes associated with these pathways encode transcription factors of the MADS domain family. The MADS-domain transcription factor APETALA1 (AP1) is a key regulator of flower development. The first step to understand the molecular mechanisms under the function of each gene in a plant is identification, sequencing and phylogeny analysis of that gene. For this purpose, total RNA was isolated from flower bud of garden cress (Lepidium sativum L.) and was used for cDNA synthesis. The specific primers were designed based on nucleotide sequence alignment of AP1 homologus genes from plants of the same family Brassicaceae and were used in RT-PCR. After observing its electrophoretic pattern and ensuring the quality of PCR product, the amplicon was sent for sequencing. After receiving the results of sequencing, the sequence examined with BLAST, MUSCLE, Gene Runner and MEGA6 softwares. The results indicated amplification of 787 nucleotides fragment that named LsAP1 and was recorded by accession number KP070728 in NCBI database. The studies show high similarity and overlapping of gene bank sequences with LsAP1 illative protein. According to these results, LsAP1 may play a similar role as AP1 in flower induction and could act as a flower meristem identity gene in Lepidium sativum L.

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Cutin is a polymer that is constructed in plants by the condensation and oxidation of fatty acids and plays a key role in the protection of plants against pathogens. Cutinase is a hydrolase enzyme that breaks down the cutin. The purpose of this study was to extract cutin from red apples with oxalate buffer, cutinase enzyme activity assay in LB culture, and bioinformatic analysis. To attain these purposes the cutinase-producing strains that had previously been isolated were inoculated in culture medium containing cutin. After initial culture, the bacteria were cultured in LB medium and cutinase activity was measured using the p-Nitrophenyl butyrate. In order to execute bioinformatic analysis, the isolated sequences of six cutinase-producing bacteria were analyzed based on computational data bases and their phylogenetic trees were prepared. Then, the similarities in the sequences of a large number of cutinase-producing samples were analyzed by drawing the phylogenetic tree. The results showed the separation of cutinase-producing prokaryotes from cutinase-producing eukaryotes. Then, the sequence of 16S rDNA of these cutinase-producing samples as well as the samples we had prepared were evaluated and their phylogenetic relationships were determined. This analysis showed that the new sequence stood alongside the bacterial samples. Thus, our cutinases may be similar with these bacterial cutinases in structure and function.
 

 
 

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Zebra fish is an important species in genetics and considering the proximity of its genome to the human genome, investigating the expression of some of the growth and appetite genes during its larvae development is essential. Genes coding growth and appetite (GH and ghrelin) hormones are involved in the synthesis and release of growth hormone, which can be considered to be economic genes in pisciculture. Given the importance of these genes during the early larvae development stages, this study was performed to assess their activity. Samples were collected at 4, 7, 10, 15, 30 and 45 post-hatching days. Samples were immediately placed in liquid nitrogen (-196 degree centigrade) and then stored in a freezer at -80 degree centigrade until RNA extraction (using RNX-Plus kit). To analyze normal expression of target genes, reference gene β-actin was used by 2^-∆∆Ct method. The expression of genes associated with the growth and appetite was significantly different at various stages of the development of zebra fish, as the gene expression of GH on day 4 and ghrelin gene on day 10 after hatching were significantly higher compared with other samples (P<0.05). Overall, the expression of GH and ghrelin genes at the early stages of growth is higher than other fish developmental stages due to their great importance in the survival of larvae at these stages of life.
 
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The phylogenetic relationships among 39 species belonging to 12 sections of Astragalus from Iran were studied on the basis of 29 morphological characters. The cladistics analysis of the morphological data was performed using PAUP* 4.0b10 program. The obtained data were compared with the molecular systematics data obtained from nuclear DNA ITS. In contrast with previous molecular systematic studies, the morphological data placed the sect. Caraganella as paraphyletic clade to the sects. Cenantrum, Nuculiella, and Eremophysa. Our results were similar to those obtained by previous molecular systematic studies which specified sects. Astragalus, Alopecuroidei and Laxiflori as paraphyletic clades. In accordance with data presented in previous molecular systematic studies, the species of the sect. Caprini showed close relationship with those in sects. Pelta and Pendulina. The present analysis, consistent with molecular systematic studies, rejected the monophyly of most sections studied. Therefore, although the circumscription of those sections needs to be carried out on the basis of the results of widely accepted molecular and morphological phylogenetic studies, future studies are needed to clarify and resolve some remaining ambiguities.
 
 

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In this study, phylogenetic relationships and evolutionary trends of morphological characters of Astragalus sects. Acanthophace and Aegacantha were studied using nrDNA ITS and rpl32-trnL^UAG datasets while Astragalus stocksii was selected as the outgroup. The phylogenetic results indicated the non-monophyly of A. sect. Acanthophace in its current circumscription due to the distant exclusion of A. ovigerus from the core group, and incongruence between nuclear and plastid datasets on the basis of different position of latter species in the resulted phylogenetic trees. Astragalus sect. Aegacantha was also found to not being monophyletic due to the distant position of A. montis-parrowii from the other representatives of the section while accompanying with other spiny Astragalus species. The Optimization of 32 morphological characters on the Bayesian combined tree indicated that some characters were most useful for delimitation of taxa in sections Acanthophace and Aegacantha. The results obtained from the evolution of characters showed that standard blade constriction, legume shape and possessing unilocular pods were of diagnostic importance for the separation of A. ovigerus from other species. The traced characters were in accordance with the phylogenetic position of A. montis-parrowii, which was separated from other members of sect. Aegacantha, as the number of flowers in inflorescences, the presence of peduncle, hairy petal, pandurate standard and constriction of standard that is differentiatiated to claw, the presence of claw in standard and the length difference between keel and wing were different from those in other members of the sect. Aegacantha.
 

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Golestankooh, with an area of 130000 ha, is located in Isfahan Province. The present study was carried out in order to identification of flora of the aforementioned region, as a result, 620 taxa in total, belonging to 61 families and 303 genera, were identified. Asteraceae, represented by 104 species, was the largest family, following with Fabaceae, Lamiaceae and Brassicaceae with 63, 60 and 59 species, respectively. Astragalus, with 33 species, was the most diverse among the genera studied. Hemicryptophytes with 41% and therophytes with 34% are dominant life forms in the region. With regard to geographical distribution, 300 species (48%) were found to be Irano-Turanian elements. Moreover, 130 species, 21% of the identified plant taxa from the region, were found to be endemic to the flora of Iran. Due to high species diversity in the Golestankooh area, it seems necessary to use appropriate strategies for their conservation.
 

 

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This study aimed to investigate the polymorphism of matrix metalloproteinase -3 (MMP-3) gene and its expression in the serum of infertile female patients received in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET). To do so, 100 women with unsuccessful IVF-ET (IVF^–) and 100 women with successful IVF-ET procedure and clinical pregnancy (IVF⁺) were included. Genetic polymorphism and serum concentration of MMP3 were investigated by ARMS-PCR and ELISA, respectively. The results showed no significant association between MMP-3 gene polymorphism and IVF-ET outcome among the two groups studied. However, a significant decrease in the concentration of MMP-3 serum in the IVF^– group was observed in comparison with the IVF⁺ group (P=0.000002). Moreover, we showed that the serum MMP-3 levels in CC, AC and AA genotypes in the IVF^– group were 33, 65.33 and 86 ng/ml, respectively. In conclusion, while there is no significant difference between MMP-3 promoter polymorphism and IVF-ET outcome between the IVF⁺ and IVF^- groups, a significant decrease in MMP-3 serum levels in IVF^- group was seen as compared with the IVF⁺ group. It could be also suggested that the CC genotype is associated with a decreased level of MMP-3 serum concentration and may be associated with IVF-ET failure.
 

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