Safflower (Carthamus tinctoriusL.) is of potential interest to agriculture due to mainly variability of fatty acid composition of seeds oil. The purpose of this study was to evaluate various exotic genotypes of safflower for agronomic traits, components of seed yield and fatty acid content. For this purpose, plant height (cm), number of first, second and third branches/plant, seed yield/plant (g), thousand-seed weight (g), oil content (%), and composition of fatty acid were investigated. Stepwise multiple regression analysis was used to develop fitted equation to predicate seed yield/plant. Analysis of variance of agronomic traits showed high differences among genotypes. Although the safflower oil genotype K2 had the highest oil seed content (42.8%), K13 obtained the highest percentage of monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA). Highest oleic type of safflower oil has been found in K13 and K26, which can be used as a source oil quality for plant breeding. Heritability as broad sense was high and ranged from 82% in number of secondary branches (NSB) and number of third branches (NTHB) to 99% in seed index (1000 seeds weight) and oil content. High genetic advance was found in plant height (PH), seed yield/plant (SYP) and 1000-seed weight, estimated at 43.41 cm, 21.34 g and 17.62 g, respectively. Stepwise multiple regression analysis indicated that, 99.2% of the total variation in seed yield/plant could be explained by variation in yield of secondary (YSB) branches, yield of first branches (YFB), yield of third branches (YTHB), plant height (PH) and spiny as dummy variable. 23.56% of the total variation in seed oil percent could be explained by variation in yield of first branches (YFB), seed index and spiny as dummy variable. The information detected here may be a useful tool for the selection of parents in safflower breeding program.

As a result of two crosses among three local varieties of wheat, five populations (P₁, P₂, F₅, F₆ and F₇) were used as parents and grown during two successive seasons; 2016/2017 and 2017/2018. To estimate five types of gene action (e.g., mean effects, additive, dominance, additive × additive, and dominance × dominance), five formulas were developed from with algebraic solution, algebraic proof, and mathematical proof. Besides, to test adequate of a simple additive-dominance model, three formulas A, B, and C scaling test were developed. The path analysis method by PROCESS Macro, AMOS, and Bootstrapping was employed to assess the relationships between grain yield/plant (GYP) as the dependent variable and each one of the number of spikes (NS) and 1000-grain weight (TW) as the independent variables. The results show that there are eight validated equations used to estimate the scaling test (A, B and C) and five types of gene effects (m, a, D, I and L), respectively. Confidence interval using Bootstrapping results indicate that TW was played as the partial mediator between NS as an exogenous variable and GYP as an endogenous variable. Generation means analysis is a relatively simple and statistically reliable tool suitable for the fundamental estimation of different genetic influences.

Pasteurella multocida is the main cause of several infections of farm animals, and the immunity gained from commercial vaccines is for the short term only and needs to be routinely administered, so work on new vaccines against virulent P. multocida is crucial. In this study, the OmpH gene was amplified from ten P. multocida strains, and the PCR products were sequenced and analyzed. The results of RFLP analysis of OmpH gene digested by MspI enzyme showed that all of ten strains examined possessed one restriction site and two fragments, 350 and 650 bp. The OmpH sequence of strain No. 10 was cloned into bacterial expression vector pUCP24, and the recombinant pUCP24-OmpH was expressed in E. coli DH5α. Serum samples obtained from the ELISA test from a group of vaccinated rats indicate that the antibodies were present at high titer in immunized rats and can be tested as a vaccine candidate with a challenge. In rats infected with the DNA vaccine and inactivated vaccine, a significant increase in serum antibody levels was observed. In addition, the DNA vaccine provided the vaccinated rats with partial protection; however, the protective efficacy was greater than that offered by the live attenuated vaccine. This successful recombinant vaccine is immunogenic and may potentially be used as a vaccine in the future.

Calendula officinalis L. (pot marigold) is one of the main aromatic and medicinal plants with many uses in food and medicines. This study was carried out to demonstrate the efficiency of six colchicine concentrations (0.025, 0.05, 0.1, 0.2, 0.4 and 0.8 per cent, w/v) for Calendula improvement and induction of genetic variation. Colchicine treatments had a positive effect on the number of branches/plant, number of inflorescences, fresh and dry weight of inflorescences, inflorescence diameter, total soluble carbohydrates and beta-carotene except for plant height, while seed germination and plant height were reduced. Estimation of heritability, genetic advance, genetic variability and selection of superior genotypes will be an important object in crop breeding and genetic improvement programs, and selection of genotypes with higher desirable characters. Heritability was high and ranged from 48.64 to 90.81, respectively (inflorescence diameter and plant height, respectively). Molecular markers based on a RAPD-PCR study elucidate the classification of induced Calendula mutants into two clusters. The coefficient of genetic diversity was estimated at 30%. A combination of morphological and physiological responses with molecular data contained in the various colchicine treatments illustrated the utility of RAPD-PCR as a method for identifying useful mutants and could be used to detect the colchicine effect significantly. Findings recommend the 0.05 per cent colchicine for efficient breeding calendula mutation and genetic improvement.

OCL, Oilseeds and fats, Crops and Lipids

There has been an increased interest in oilseed crops for agro-industry research and development breeding programs to secure sustainable food and agriculture. The introgression of exotic genotypes of oilseed Brassica into cultivated relatives is inevitable in the genetic improvement of oilseed crops. This experimental attempt aimed to characterize the morphological and molecular basis for the identification and characterization of some Brassica genotypes. Fatty acid profile, yield, and morphology are under genetic control and can be used to identify genotypes. Characterization and identification were fulfilled for five accessions from Brassica spp. Plant height, height of first branch, number of branches and pods per plant, seed yield per plant, average pod length, number of seeds per pod, protein and oil contents (%), and fatty acid profile were examined. Besides, the relationship between seed yield and seed yield-contributing characteristics was estimated, as well as the phylogenetic relationship of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS). The genotypes varied significantly for all examined traits, taking into account the most important traits: seed yield per plant and oil content. For example, oil content in the samples ranged between 41.1 and 49.3%. Path analysis results showed a high and positive direct effect between each number of primary branches and the number of pods per plant with seed yield per plant (0.48). The morphological and molecular observations suggest that the Fay1, Fay3, Fay4, and Fay6 accessions belong to Brassica rapa, while Fay2 belongs to Brassica carinata. It can be concluded based on the present findings that the Fay3 genotype with the highest oil content and the lowest erucic acid content compared to the other genotypes can be proposed as a potential donor for future breeding programs for oil production and quality, while Fay1 can be utilized as donor to increase the seed yield per plant.