In vitro shoot multiplication of cucumber ( Cucumis sativus ) was examined from the nodal explants of 10-day-old aseptic plantlets using Murashige and Skoog (MS) media supplemented with different concentration (0, 0.5, 1, 2, 3 mg L -1 ) of cytokinins (6-Benzylaminopurine-BAP, Kinetin-Kn, Thidiazuron-TDZ, and Zeatin). Nodal explants of cucumber showed shoot induction and multiplication in response to all cytokinins tried. MS medium containing Kn was the most effective for inducing shoots from nodal explants of cucumber. The maximum rate of regeneration (83%), the highest number of obtained shoots (7.93 shoots/explant) and the longest shoots (3.61 cm) were obtained on MS medium fortified with 1 mg L -1 Kn. The lowest culture responses were recorded for media supplemented with either BAP or Zeatin. In conclusion, using Kn is strongly recommended than using Zeatin, TDZ and BAP to obtain the highest percentage of regeneration, the highest number of shoot/explant, and the highest shoot length for nodal explants of cucumber.

Newcastle Disease (ND) is a highly contagious viral disease that has a tremendous negative impact on the poultry industry worldwide. Plant extracts were prepared from five different medicinal plants and applied against Newcastle Disease Virus (NDV) to evaluate the antiviral replication in Specific Pathogen-Free (SPF) chicken embryos. Three dilutions from each plant extract were prepared and mixed with a fixed titer (104 EID50/mL) of virulent NDV strain Herts 33. The mix was inoculated into nine-day-old SPF chicken embryos that were monitored for five days. Real-time PCR and hemagglutination tests were conducted to evaluate the activity of NDV and its viral RNA titer. Some plant extracts showed a complete inhibition of NDV evidenced by the absence of embryo deaths, the absence of HA titer and viral RNA in the allantoic fluid. These plant extracts were from Moringa peregrina (leaves), Acacia cyanophylla (leaves), Eucalyptus camaldulensis (fruits) and Pistacia atlantica (leaves and stems). Other plant extracts showed partial inhibition of NDV, such as Ceratonia siliqua (leaves) and Eucalyptus camaldulensis (leaves). This experiment shows the potential of using medicinal plants as antiviral agents.

Introduction: Resistance against commonly used antibacterial agents has become a globally recognized threat to human health. Therefore, the development of new and effective antibacterial agents is necessary to treat infections caused by resistant bacterial strains; plants are a promising source of new agents to be tested. Methodology: The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of ethanolic extracts of Erodium gruinum, Euphorbia hierosolymitana, Logoecia cuminoides, and Tamarix tetragyna against 10 Gram-negative and 5 Gram-positive bacteria were determined using agar well diffusion and microtiter plate dilution methods, respectively. The phytochemical composition of the crude extracts of the plants was determined using HPLC. Results: Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Proteus mirabilis, and Acinetobacter baumannii were sensitive to E. gruinum and E. hierosolymitana extracts. P. aeruginosa ATCC 27853 and M. catarrhalis were sensitive to L. cuminoides extract. P. aeruginosa ATCC 27853, P. mirabilis, and K. pneumoniae were sensitive to T. tetragyna extracts. For Gram-positive bacteria, Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 33591 and ATCC 43300 were sensitive to E. gruinum and E. hierosolymitana extracts. S. aureus ATCC 43300 and ATCC 33591 and Group D Streptococcus were sensitive to T. tetragyna extract. All Gram-positive bacteria were completely resistant to the extract of L. cuminoides. The major phytochemical components of the plant extracts belonged to flavonoids, tannins, terpenes, quinones, phytosterols, phytoestrogens, carbohydrates, fatty acids, and coumarin. Conclusion: The study showed the potential of the development of antibacterial agents from these plants. Phytochemical analysis revealed compounds that are candidates for new antibacterial drugs.

Plant zinc finger-homeodomains (ZFHDs) are transcriptional factors that play an important role in regulating plant growth and development. Several ZFHD genes were cloned and characterized in many plant species. In the present study, a full-length cDNA sequence of ZFHD gene was cloned from barley (termed as HvZFHD1) using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The sequence analysis showed that the HvZFHD1 was 1477 bp in length, and contained a complete open reading frame (ORF) of 1161 bp. The deduced protein is composed of 386 amino acids, with a predicted molecular weight of 40.46 kDa and a theoretical isoelectric point of 8.5. Multiple sequence alignment indicated that HvZFHD1 protein shared high identity with ZFHD proteins from wheat, maize, and rice. The predicted HvZFHD1 protein contained the characteristic putative zinc finger domain in the N-terminus and a DNA binding homeodomain in the C-terminus. The expression level of HvZFHD1 was investigated using qRT-PCR during spike development and in response to exogenous phytohormones and abiotic stresses. The results showed that the expression level of HvZFHD1 was fluctuated during spike development with higher expression during anthesis, medium milk, late milk, and early dough stages. The expression of barley ZFHD1 was strongly responsive to abscisic acid treatment and was up-regulated in seedlings treated with methyl jasmonate, salicylic acid, and ethephone. In addition, the expression levels of HvZFHD1 were increased by dehydration, salinity, and heat stress, but not affected by cold stress. The expression patterns of HvZFHD1 suggest that it might play a role in flowering and flower development and is involved in plant responses to abiotic stresses.