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To identify the fungi associated with foot and root rot of wheat in the Khuzestan province, diseased samples were collected at all growth stages in three growing seasons of 2004-2007. Pieces of infected parts of the root and foot were surface sterilized and cultured on acidic and non acidic PDA media. One hundred and fifteen isolates were obtained and on the basis of macroscopic and microscopic characters and valid keys were identified as Fusarium solani, F. equiseti, F. moniliforme, F. subglutinans, F. sambucinum, F. culmorum, F. proliferatum, F. pseudograminearum, F. longipes, F. avenacium, F. nygamai, F. semitectum, F. lateritium, Rhizoctonia solani, Bipolaris sorokiniana and Pythium sp. F. equiseti, F. solani and F. culmorum with occurrence frequencies of 16.07, 16.07 and 12.5 % respectively were more frequent than all other species. Results of Pathogenicity tests indicated that F. pseudograminearum and F.culmorum were the main fungi associated with wheat root and crown rot disease in khuzestan while other Fusarium spp. such as F. equiseti are probably aggravated by moisture stress at different growth stages of crop due to poor irrigation management. Rhizoctonia solani with occurrence frequency of 8.03 % in some regions such as Ahvaz, Shoush, Shoushtar and Baghmalek was important agent of crown and root rot of wheat second to Fusarium species. Bipolaris sorokiniana and Pythium sp also caused crown and root rot but with less frequency percent.  

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Biological efficacy of Trichoderma species may differ due to variations in ecosystems. This study was conducted to assess the biocontrol efficacy of some native Trichoderma isolates against Fusarium oxysporum, an important causal agent of potato wilt disease under laboratory and greenhouse conditions in Shahrood Agricultural Research Center, Shahrood, Iran during 2006-2007. Fourteen isolates were collected among which eight showed promising ability in inhibiting growth of the pathogen through dual culture and production of volatile and non-volatile metabolites but T. asperellum (T2) and T. atroviride (T3) were almost more efficient than other isolates in inhibiting the mycelial growth of the pathogen in comparison to control (P ≤ 0.01). Eight isolates were evaluated against the disease under green house condition. Potted plants treated with Trichoderma isolates + F. oxysporum showed lower disease incidence in comparison to Fusarium infested control (P ≤ 0.05). Best disease control was observed in potted plants treated with F. oxysporum + T. asperellum (T2) showing 2.5% disease incidence in contrast to Fusarium infested control, in which disease incidence was 73%.

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A study was carried out to determine whether naturally-occurring weeds and other cultivated plants in tomato growing regions could act as symptomless reservoirs of infection to Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici. A numher of F. oxysporum isolates from weeds and oubergines were used in this investigation. A susceptible tomato cultivar was used for comparison. The plants were artificially inoculated at the five to six leaf stage by root dip method. Only tomato showed wilt symptoms and died three weeks after inoculation. These isolates were identified as F. o. f. sp. lycopersici. Weeds including Amaranthus retroflexus, Amaranthus. sp., Chenopodium album, and aubergines were colonized to various degrees and determined as symptomless carriers. Therefore, in infested areas, aubergines should not be rotated consecutively with tomatoes and proper measures should be adopted to control the weeds.

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Environmental factors mainly temperature are believed to determine the distribution and population dynamics of Fusarium species in a natural ecosystem. Species may be restricted in their distribution by adaptation to specific sets of soil environmental conditions. Population dynamics of five Fusarium species representative of different climatic conditions were studied at three levels of temperature (13-18 / 19-24 / 25-30°C) and constant water potential (field capacity). Temperature had a significant influence on the population level of all test Fusarium species. Fusarium sambucinum showed noticeable reduction of population at warm temperatures. The population of F. solani and F. compaction were higher at high temperatures. The population of cosmopolitan species, F. equiseli showed little change at all experimental conditions, Fusarium acuminalum did not compete well with other species in this experiment, its population being low at all treatments.

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One of the important technical obstacles in the study of many filamentous fungi is the development of efficient transformation system. Transformation of filamentous fungi is difficult because they have a cell wall and for most frequently used approaches preparing of protoplast is necessary. Protoplast preparation is batch-dependent and often frustrating work. In this study, a modified method was introduced for gene transfer to the plant pathogenic fungus, Fusarium graminearum, the major causal agent of Fusarium Head Blight disease in small grains. This protocol was based on protoplast-PEG method. Age of mycelia, enzymes exposure time and mycelium/enzyme ratio were optimized for the purpose of protoplast preparation. The outcome showed that the best result for protoplast preparation was obtained when 1.5 × 10⁵ spores were let germinate for 6 h then exposed to 10 ml of enzyme solution for 3 h. The effect of other parameters that might enhance transformation yields including PEG concentration, DNA quantity and number of protoplasts was also examined. The most efficient condition for transformation involved the use of 10⁶ protoplasts, 20 µg DNA and 30% PEG (w/v). In the course of this study, a simple and appropriate modified protocol for transformation of F. graminearum was established. The method introduced is also more economical and faster than other current methods.

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Fusarium graminearum is one of the most important causes of FHB or wheat scab in different part of the world. This fungus is able to produce widespread Trichothecene mycotoxins such as Nivalenol (NIV) and Deoxynivalenol (DON) which are harmful for both human and animals. To determine chemotypes of Trichothecene, a total of 100 isolates from different fields of Golestan province in Iran including Gorgan, Kordkuy, Bandaregaz, Gonbad, Minodasht, Kalaleh and Azadshahr were identified as F. graminearum using morphological features then 96 isolates were confirmed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay using F. graminearum species-specific primers (Fg16F/Fg16R). Based on sequences of Tri13 gene involved in the mycotoxin biosynthetic pathway, PCR assays was used to detect Nivalenol (NIV) and Deoxynivalenol (DON) chemotypes. Of the 96 tested isolates with Tri13 PCR assays, 70 classified as NIV chemotype and the remaining 26 isolates as DON producers. These results indicated that NIV chemotype was the most dominant chemotype in studied zones. A greater proportion of NIV chemotype was found in Gorgan fields (P < 0.05, P < 0.0001), whereas greater proportion of DON was detected in Gorgan and Gonbad fields (P < 0.05, P < 0.0001). Chemotyping by PCR assay were confirmed using HPLC method. These results demonstrated that PCR assay and HPLC could be used as rapid, reliable and cost-effective methods for the detection and identification of mycotoxin-producing Fusarium-species and may thus help to develop strategies to avoid or reduce mycotoxin contamination of cereals.  

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Application of Trichoderma species is a harmless method in controlling soil borne plant diseases thus reducing hazardous pesticide use and environmental pollution. Some Trichoderma isolates performing proper inhibitory effect against Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. tuberosi under laboratory and green house conditions were screened against wilt disease of potato caused by this pathogen under field condition in Shahrood Agricultural Research Center, Iran, during 2009-2010. Results of two years field studies indicated that T. virens (T7) followed by T. asperellum (T2) were superior to others in reducing the disease in comparison to infested control. In comparison to Fusarium infested plots, yield was higher in all plots treated with Trichoderma, but highest yields were obtained from plots in which T. virens (T7) and T. asperellum (T2) were involved respectively. It might be stated that isolates of T. virens and T. asperellum are among the effective biocontrol agents against Fusarium wilt disease of potato and can be used as formulated biofungicides in reducing this disease.

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The severe epidemics of Fusarium head blight (FHB) as a devastating disease of cereal crops has occurred on wheat in North and Northwest Iran in recent years. The in vitro production of Deoxynivalenol (DON) was qualitatively evaluated in 41 Fusarium isolates collected from wheat heads associated with the scab disease, in Moghan area/Northwest Iran. Infected wheat heads were collected during 2004-2007. The isolation of causal agents was carried out using standard methods. According to morphological characteristics and using valid descriptions, all isolates belonged to Fusarium graminearum species complex and F. culmorum of which the former was dominant. In order to evaluate the potential of DON production in isolates, this mycotoxin was extracted and qualitatively examined by TLC method. The quantification of DON was achieved using HPLC method. TLC results indicated that 54.5% of studied isolates produced DON but there was no significant relationship between this property and cultivars or sub-regions or years. Also based on HPLC analysis, maximum content of DON was detected in F. graminearum isolated from cv. Izen green from Moghan Agro-industry company fields in 2004 at the rate of 5827.11 µgkg^-1. The results of present study show that DON mycotoxin is produced at various contents by F. graminearum isolates on different cultivars and from different origins/ years. Since DON plays a role in pathogenesis and is of paramount importance in contamination of wheat grains, these results give a better insight into the significance of this disease in Northwest Iran.  

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Striga hermonthica is a parasitic weed which largely constrains maize and sorghum production in Western Kenya. The weed mostly invades small scale farms and depending on severity, it may cause damage ranging from 10% to complete crop failure thereby aggravating the food insecurity in that region. This study aimed at evaluating fungal isolates as possible biocontrol agents against the weed. Fungi were isolated from diseased Striga hermonthica and their virulence efficacy against the weed tested in a greenhouse. All the fungal isolates tested caused infection and consequently death of the weed. Fusarium incarnatum had the highest infection rate of 92% followed by Gibberella intricans and F. chlamydosporum at 90% each. Fusarium oxysporium caused the highest mortality of 60% with Gibberella intricans, causing the least mortality of 36%. F. oxysporium was the most aggressive and potent fungal isolate against the weed hence a suitable candidate for exploitation as a mycoherbicide against the weed.  

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In this study, Trichoderma harzianum BI was evaluated for its capability to reduce the incidence and severity of the root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne javanica, and Fusarium wilt, F. oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici, as causal agents of a complex disease of tomato in the laboratory and greenhouse conditions. Initial in vitro studies revealed that the parasitism of M. javanica eggs by T. harzianum BI was up to 49.6%. In dual culture tests, maximum growth inhibition of F. oxysporum f. sp. lycopersiciby T. harzianum BI (55%) was observed on the fifth day in laboratory. In greenhouse studies, the efficiency of treatments was appraised by using nematode-related factors such as diameter of galls, number of galls per plant, number of egg masses per plant and also incidence of Fusarium wilt. The antagonistic fungus was further tested for its ability to induce production of defense related enzymes in tomato. The activity of phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL) was increasedsignificantly in the seedlings treated with the antagonistic fungus in comparison with control and its maximum amount was reached on the fourth day after inoculation with T. harzianum BI. Thus, the present study shows that in addition to direct antagonism, induction of defense-related enzymes, by T. harzianum BI that are involved in PAL pathway contributed to enhanced resistance against invasion of

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During the past decade, natural plant products as environmentally safe option have received attention for controlling phytopathogenic diseases. Investigation of plants containing natural antimicrobial metabolites for plant protection has been recognized as a desirable method of disease control. The fungus Fusarium oxysporum causes diseases such as root rot, damping off and Fusarium wilt and it infects many plant species and crops. Methanolic crude extracts of 30 plant species belonging to 17 families collected from the west of Iran were screened for antifungal activity against F. oxysporum during 2012. Bioassay of the extracts was conducted by agar dilution method with five replications. The inhibitory effect of the extracts was examined at concentration of 2000 ppm. Twenty out of 30 tested plant species (67%) showed inhibitory activity against mycelial growth of F. oxysporum. The most effective extracts with more than 50% inhibition belonged to Haplophyllum perforatum and Calendula officinalis. High number of plants with antifungal activity in this experiment showed that the flora in the west of Iran could be regarded as a rich source of plants with antifungal activity. Therefore, further screening of other plant species, identifying active fractions or metabolites and in vivo application of active extracts are in progress.  

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Maize genotypes were screened for host resistance and seed treatment chemicals were evaluated in field to manage Fusarium ear rot complex of maize at high- and mid-hill environments in Nepal during 2003 and 2004. Seven popular maize genotypes along with a susceptible check were used in the host resistance study. The maize genotypes adopted from exotic sources, Manakamana-3 and Deuti, performed superior for ear rot resistance. Three seed treatment chemicals, Vitavax® 200B, Captan 75 WP, and Bavistin® were tested in Fusarium susceptible cultivar. Seed treatment chemicals, Vitavax® 200B, Captan 75 WP and Bavistin®, significantly (P < 0.05) reduced ear rot incidences of maize. This study suggests that cultivation of resistant varieties and applications of seed treatment chemicals can be integrated to prevent crop loss from ear rot complex and reduce potential health hazards due to mycotoxins contamination in maize grains.

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The nomadic clans of Sangesari are one of the most ancient Iranian peoples whose subsistence is predominantly based on wandering based pastoralism and some of them are still faithfully living in this manner. The goal of this essay is to assess the cultural perpetuation via historical and radical pursuit of the mythical and symbolic features that Sangesari women have traditionally created on many kinds of manual arts especially on woven and ornaments. The cultural entity of any people is substantially historic in which the main discussion is performed around the concept of continuity. Thus, without a paleontology of cultural elements, we cannot make a complete and comprehensive knowledge about culture, since the cultural cognition of any people or group depends on radical and historical investigations. The research method in this study is based on documents and texts and direct observations to Sangesari manual arts.

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Fusarium proliferatum, as a toxigenic fungus, is one of the important agents of onion basal rot (FBR). Among the control methods of the disease, biological control is considered as one of the best options. In this study, Trichoderma harzianum strain T100 at the rate of 1 × 10⁶ cfu/g was mixed with pot soil artificially infested with F. proliferatum. Also Glomus mosseae was applied to each pot at the rate of three grams of soil containing 80 chlamydospores/ml. Combination of T100 and G. mosseae was used as well. Onion seeds were disinfected & planted in pots, arranged in completely randomized design in 4 replicates under greenhouse condition and finally, the individual or combined effects of these bioagents were assessed on FBR control and also root colonization by Glomus 23, 30 and 36 days after sowing. Inoculation of Arbuscular mycorrhizae improved onion growth effectively, but its biocontrol effect was not considerable. Trichoderma amended soil decreased disease incidence by 25% but its usefulness as biocontrol agent was reduced in the course of time. AM root colonization was decreased in plants in presence of Trichoderma. Nevertheless, the disease control in combination of Trichoderma and Glomus treatment was better than the treatments by each one of the agents singly. The disease control achieved by fungicide seed treatment was inferior to that of Trichoderma and Glomus in combination.  

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Considering the importance of fish consumption in provision of nutritious food for community as well as increasing per capita consumption, factors affecting the fish consumption behavior in Sari were prioritized in the present study. For this purpose, a field research was performed using a questionnaire on 266 consumers household. Beside descriptive statistical analysis by Spss₁₉ software, inferential analysis on nonparametric statistics was done. Factors which their average score was more than 3 were identified as the main factors and using the Friedman`s test with the possibility of (<0.001) prioritizing of effective factors were determined. The results showed that quality and freshness, hygiene of Store, properties and nutritional value, trust in seller, price, species, taste, availability, the size of fish and consumption convenience were respectively among the main factors which affect consumer’s behavior in Sari. The majority of consumers (93.6 %) did not have the tendency to consume packed fish (non-canned) and instead have a great interest to use fresh fish. In conclusion, planning to increase people`s awareness in recognizing fresh fish, close monitoring of fish suppliers, decreasing of production costs and prices, easing the access by establishing standard retail markets as well as public awareness regarding the fish nutritional value can be considered as approaches for planners and activists in the field of fisheries for increasing per capita consumption and social health.

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Fusarium solani f. sp.cucurbitae races cause crown, fruit and root rots of cucurbits and economic problem for farmers. The aim of this study is identification of Fusarium solani f. sp. cucurbitae races which collected in Shahrood, Jiroft and Varamin, provinces of Iran using morphological characteristics and fungal-specific primers. Symptomatic cucurbit plants were collected from different fields in three provinces. After isolation and purification of the causal agents, pathogenicity test and DNA extraction were performed. Specific primers for TEF-1α gene were used to distinguish among different species of Fusarium and Fusarium solani. The isolates that showed a specific 658 bp amplicon on agarose gel were selected for subsequent PCR assay in order to detection of F. solani f. sp. cucurbitae race 1 and 2. PCR assays were performed with taxon-specific primers race 1 (505bp PCR product) and race 2 (425bp PCR product). Some samples amplified a 505bp amplicon which is specific for race 1 and was in accordance with morphological characteristics. In these isolates, 5 septate macroconidia were dominant that is specific to Fusarium solani f. sp.cucurbitae race 1 macroconidia. None of the isolates were amplified by race 2 taxon-specific primers. Our study showed that, race 1 of F.solani is the dominant race of the pathogen in Shahrood, Jiroft and Varamin provinces which can help to implement effective disease management strategies.
 

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Three types of composts (T1, T2, and T3) composed of variable percents of bovine, ovine, fowl manures, green waste and olive pomace were used in this study. Composts were effective in controlling Fusarium oxysporum and Fusarium solani associated with peach decline. In vitro evaluation of four doses of the three composts extracts against mycelium growth of F. solani and F. oxysporum showed that the compost extracts have a significant effect on mycelial growth. The highest inhibition percent was obtained with 10% dose for the three compost extracts, with values more than 48.8% and 50% of F. solani and F. oxysporum, respectively. However, the filtration of the tea composts revealed to be ineffective against the hyphal reduction for both pathogens. The in- vivo experiments exhibited the efficacy of these composts in reducing the seedlings root rot. In fact, T1, T2 and T3 reduced the root rot and browning of plants inoculated with F. solani by 50.19% and plants inoculated with F. oxysporum by 41.86%, 46.45% and 48.3%, respectively. Furthermore, these composts seemed to improve the sanitary state of peach seedlings inoculated with F. oxysporum. However, the improvement of sanitary state of peach inoculated with F. solani was just noted in case of the composts T1 and T2. The treatment of peach seedlings with these improved plant growth by increasing height and root weight of seedlings inoculated with F. oxysporum. However, none of these composts was able to stimulate growth of plants inoculated with F. solani. Root weight of plants inoculated with F. solani was negatively correlated with bovine manure in the compost, positively with fowl (r = 0.69) and sheep manure content (r = 0.69). Besides, a significant negative correlation among sanitary state index of plants inoculated with F. oxysporum in the case of olive pomace (r = -0.92) and the polyphenols content (r = -0.74) of compost was found.

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Fusarium crown and root rot of cucumber caused by Fusarium oxysporum is one of the most important diseases in cucumber. Although various methods have been recommended to manage this disease, biological control is considered as an environmentally friendly method. In the present study, antagonistic effects of six Pseudomonas and Bacillus genera strains were investigated against F. oxysporum, where in vitro and in vivo assays were performed under drought stress. All of the strains were capable to inhibit the growth of F. oxysporum. The results of drought stress also indicated that the bacterial strains were able to tolerate different levels of drought stress. In general, Pseudomonas fluorescens VUPF5 caused the best inhibitory effect in all of the assays in vitro and under greenhouse conditions.

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One of the procedures of criticism is the combination approach of sociology-psychology in analyzing the literal texts, especially a drama and mental situation of a traumatized and terrified person in an autocratic society that is realized from storied writings, particularly novels. Tanab Keshi, written by Majid Gheisari, is a realistic novel about the holy defense. This novel depicts the living conditions of a traumatized Persian origin family, away from the imposed war between Iran and Iraq. This study has clarified the intertexual relation by Rolan Barests` theory—intertexuality reading—; then, base on Ervin Gaffman`s theory – stigma—and the theoretical approach of Adler—inferiority complex—has tried to find a remedy to retrieve the blemished identity of a traumatized character. This study indicates that the novel`s text has a hidden intertexual connection with the three of the previous texts: Quran, stigma, and Masnavi Molana.Ethnic-religious stigma that involves other family members is a sign of mental-cultural problems of an autocratic society. One of the consequences of this kind of stigma for family members is having disappointment about being accepted by the society; moreover, the feeling of having an ominous destiny, unsafety, and also being stranded in perilous mental obsessions such as, inferiority complex which has affected Fares (the narrator) and made him to have a defensive and forcible reaction, so that it has brought malice and vengeance.