Seven long terminal repeat (LTR)-retrotransposon primers derived from barley were employed for analysis of genetic diversity and phylogeny relationships in Iranian species of genus Crocus. Fifteen out of 28 possible LTR primer combinations successfully amplified fragments from Crocus genome. In average, 65.9 fragments were amplified per individual in different populations indicating a moderate homology between Crocus and barley genome in the long terminal repeat regions. Our data confirmed the inter-generic transferability of retrotransposon markers. Analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) indicated significant heterogeneity within and between populations except within the C. sativus (saffron) species. Principle coordinate analysis (PCoA) using an individual-by-individual genetic distance matrix separated the populations based on species type as well as geographical regions. The analysis revealed a close relationship between saffron and three wild species; C. almehensis, C. michelosnii, and C. cancellatus. Phylogenetic tree based on Neighbor-Joining algorithm and Jukes and Cantor evolutionary distances separated all species except C. caspius and C. gilanicus. The result of this study documented C. almehensis, C. michelosnii as the closest relatives of saffron and probably the possible wild ancestors of this cultivated species.

Chemotherapy is widely used for cancer therapy; however, its efficacy is limited due to poor targeting specificity and severe side effects. Currently, the next generations of delivery systems with multitasking potential have attracted significant attention for cancer therapy. This study reports on the design and synthesis of a multifunctional nanoplatform based on niosomes (NIO) coloaded with paclitaxel (PTX), a chemotherapeutic drug commonly used to treat breast cancer, and sodium oxamate (SO), a glycolytic inhibitor to enhance the cytotoxicity of anticancer drug, along with quantum dots (QD) as bioimaging agents, and hyaluronic acid (HA) coating for active targeting. HN@QPS nanoparticles with a size of ∼150 nm and a surface charge of −39.9 mV with more than 90% EE for PTX were synthesized. Codelivery of SO with PTX remarkably boosted the anticancer effects of PTX, achieving IC50 values of 1–5 and >0.5 ppm for HN@QP and HN@QPS, respectively. Further, HN@QPS treatment enhanced the apoptosis rate by more than 70% in MCF-7 breast cancer cells without significant cytotoxicity on HHF-2 normal cells. Also, quantification of mitochondrial fluorescence showed efficient toxicity against MCF-7 cells. Moreover, the cellular uptake evaluation demonstrated an improved uptake of HN@Q in MCF-7 cells. Taken together, this preliminary research indicated the potential of HN@QPS as an efficient targeted-dual drug delivery nanotheranostic against breast cancer cells.

Background: Although coevolutionary signatures of host-microbe interactions are considered to engineer the healthy microbiome of humans, little is known about the changes in root-microbiome during plant evolution. To understand how the composition of the wheat and its ancestral species microbiome have changed over the evolutionary processes, we performed a 16S rRNA metagenomic analysis on rhizobacterial communities associated with a phylogenetic framework of four Triticum species T. urartu, T. turgidum, T. durum, and T. aestivum along with their ancestral species Aegilops speltoides, and Ae. tauschii during vegetative and reproductive stages. Results: In this study, we illustrated that the genome contents of wild species Aegilops speltoides and Ae. tauschii can be significant factors determining the composition of root-associated bacterial communities in domesticated bread wheat. Although it was found that domestication and modern breeding practices might have had a significant impact on microbiome-plant interactions especially at the reproductive stage, we observed an extensive and selective control by wheat genotypes on associated rhizobacterial communities at the same time. Our data also showed a strong genotypic variation within species of T. aestivum and Ae. tauschii, suggesting potential breeding targets for plants surveyed. Conclusions: This study performed with different genotypes of Triticum and Aegilops species is the first study showing that the genome contents of Ae. speltoides and Ae. tauschii along with domestication-related changes can be significant factors determining the composition of root-associated bacterial communities in bread wheat. It is also indirect evidence that shows a very extensive range of host traits and genes are probably involved in host-microbe interactions. Therefore, understanding the wheat root-associated microbiome needs to take into consideration of its polygenetic mosaic nature.

Effects of selenium (Na2SeO4) was studied in two wheat genotypes under well-watered and drought conditions in greenhouse (15 µg Se L-1) and field (20-60 60 g ha-1) experiments. Application of Se improved dry matter and grain yield under both well-watered and drought conditions. Se increased leaf concentration of pigments and photosynthesis rate under both well-watered and drought conditions. Our results indicated that Se alleviates drought stress via increased photosynthesis rate, protection of leaf photochemical events, accumulation of organic osmolytes and improvement of water use efficiency. Under well-watered condition, Se-mediated growth improvement was associated with higher photosynthesis rate and water use efficiency, greater root length and diameter, and higher leaf water content.