Cell and Tissue Journal

Abstract Introduction: Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench) is an annual herbaceous plant belonging to the family Malvaceae, valued for its high nutritional and medicinal properties. It is cultivated widely in various tropical and subtropical regions of the world, including many areas of Iran, where it serves as an important vegetable crop in local diets and traditional medicine. Aim: This study investigated the fatty acid composition and antioxidant activity of seed oils extracted from seven cultivars of Okra, namely White, Sultani, Red, Velvet, Green, Texas, and Fawn.
Material and methods: Mature and intact seeds from each okra cultivar were powdered, and their oils were extracted using a modified Folch et al. method. The fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs) were prepared from the extracted oils through transesterification. The resulting FAMEs were analyzed using gas chromatography (GC) and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) apparatus to determine their fatty acid profiles. The antioxidant activity of the extracted oils was evaluated using the DPPH radical scavenging assay. Data were statistically analyzed using SPSS and MVSP software.
Results: The seed oils of all okra cultivars contained both saturated and unsaturated fatty acids, with total proportions varying among the cultivars. The highest total saturated fatty acid content (42.53%) was observed in the White cultivar, while the lowest (36.41%) occurred in the Sultani cultivar. Palmitic acid was the predominant saturated fatty acid in all cultivars, with the highest (35.74%) and lowest (30.70%) levels detected in the White and Texas cultivars, respectively. Stearic acid was the second most abundant saturated fatty acid, ranging from 3.69% (Sultani) to 4.94% (White). Trace saturated fatty acids, including heptadecenoic, arachidic, behenic, and lignoceric acids were detected in all cultivars, whereas lauric acid was only found in a few cultivars (Velvet, Texas, and White cultivars). Unsaturated fatty acids constituted 57.33–63.33% of the total oil composition, with the lowest proportion in the White cultivar and the highest in the Sultani cultivar. Linoleic acid was the major unsaturated fatty acid in all cultivars except White, where oleic acid predominated. The highest linoleic acid content (11.40%) was recorded in the Red cultivar, and the lowest (8.25%) in White cultivar. In contrast, oleic acid content ranged from 18.20% (Red) to 49.30% (White). Trace amounts of other unsaturated fatty acids, including myristoleic, palmitoleic, trans-heptadecenoic, linolenic, gondoic, and erucic acids, were also detected across all cultivars. Additionally, eicosadienoic acid was present in trace amounts in all cultivars except White cultivar. Phytochemical analyses using the UPGMA dendrogram and Principal Component Analysis (PCA) grouped the cultivars into two main clusters, indicating significant phytochemical diversity. The predominance of oleic acid in the White cultivar, in contrast to linoleic acid in the others, along with the high palmitic acid content in the Velvet and White cultivars, contributed to the distinct placement of the White, Green, and Velvet cultivars from the remaining ones. The antioxidant activity, evaluated using the DPPH radical scavenging assay, revealed IC₅₀ values ranging from 689.23 µg/mL (Green cultivar) to 2551.12 µg/mL (Texas cultivar).
Discussion: The variation in fatty acid composition among the seven Okra cultivars reflects significant biochemical diversity. Palmitic acid was the main saturated fatty acid in all cultivars, while oleic and linoleic acids dominated the unsaturated fractions. The White cultivar, with its high oleic acid level, exhibited greater oil stability potential, whereas other cultivars rich in linoleic acid offer higher nutritional value. Differences in fatty acid profiles may be related to cultivar-specific desaturase activity. The antioxidant activity varied notably, with the Green cultivar showing the strongest and the Texas cultivar the weakest radical scavenging capacity, likely due to variations in phenolic and unsaturated compounds. The UPGMA and PCA analyses confirmed chemical diversity and separated White, Green, and Velvet cultivars based on their distinct fatty acid compositions.

Abstract Aims: Salvia L. with more than 1000 taxa is the largest genus in Lamiaceae family, that naturally grows in diverse regions of the world. The genus is represented in Iran by about 60 species, which 17 of them are endemic for the country. Salvia macrosiphon Boiss., is an annual aromatic herb of this genus, which is widely distributed in diverse parts of Iran. Due to the presence of a wide range of secondary metabolites (especially essential oil), this plant has been widely applied in the traditional medicine to cure different diseases. Various types of glandular and non-glandular trichomes have been detected in Lamiaceae taxa.  Essential oils are composed of several compounds, and are biosynthesized  and stored in the glandular trichomes. Additionally, the non-glandular trichomes play the prominent roles in growth and development of plants.  This study was aimed to detect different types of trichomes on the leaf epidermal surface of S. macrosiphon, and their variations among different Iranian populations. Material and methods: Eight natural populations of this plant were harvested from diverse habitats in Iran. Plant samples were identified, according to the morphological descriptions are available in the  valuable references. Three flowering plants were selected from each population and one mature and intact leaf was obtained per individual. The leaves were fixed in fixative (F.A.A) solution for 48 h. The hand-made cuttings of leaf's blade were double-stained with methylene blue and carmine colors. Then, the thin slices of each population were examined using a light microscopy (Olympus CH2, Japan) at different magnifications. Results: the leaf epidermal surfaces were covered by a dense indumentum, which were composed of the glandular and non-glandular trichomes. The non-glandular trichomes had the simple and unbranched structures with one to five linear-arranged cells. The non-glandular trichomes had two cell types: long and short. However, the more frequent non-glandular trichomes were the long two to four-celled types. Meanwhile, in  Amir kabir population,  the five-celled non-glandular trichomes also had a high density. The glandular trichomes were detected as capitate, digitate, and peltate types. Two types of capiate trichomes were observed on the leaves surfaces: short-stalked and long-stalked capitate. The main difference between these types relates to the cell number of trichomes stalk. However, the short-stalked capitate trichomes were the dominant glandular type in all the populations, except for Arak and Mashhad populations, which had the peltate trichome as a more frequent form.  Conclusion: the capitate and peltate trichomes do not have the same ability to maintain the biosynthesized essential oil in their cellular structures. The stored essential oil in the capitate trichomes seeps out through the micropores in their apical cells. Since, the short-stalked capitate was the dominant form in most populations, the secretion of essential oil makes this species very fragrant. But, these plants are less fragrant in populations that have a higher number of peltate trichomes. The non-glandular hairs play a key role in protecting the plant from herbivore insects and the ultraviolet rays of the sun light. Moreover, they protect the leaf epidermal surface from extreme heat and cold. The type and density of other glandular and non-glandular trichomes widely differed among the populations which explored their adaptive importance in this species.

Abstract Aim: The aim of this study is to evaluate the interaction of bacterial inoculation and iron treatment (nano and Fe-chelate) on physiological traits of alfalfa.
Material and Methods:  In this study, effects of inoculation with standard Rhizobium meliloti, effects of different levels of iron (Fe-chelate, 0, 5, 10, 20 and 25 μM Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles) and the interaction of bacterial inoculation and iron treatment were investigated on alfalfa in a factorial experiment in completely randomized design with three replications for 45 days. The measured traits were growth indexes, photosynthetic pigments, protein, proline, antioxidants activity, DPPH(diphenyl-picryl-hydrazyl)-radical scavenging activity percent and elements content.
Results: Rhizobium incoculation alone showed beneficial effects on the alfalfa growth and was caused increasing in growth parameters, pigmants, protein content, potassium and phosphours uptake. However inoculation did not effect on the proline and antioxidant content. Iron treatment had a positive effect on the growth parameters, pigmants, protein content and elemant uptake. Highest values of growth parameters was observed 25μM Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles. The highest values of proline and antioxidants activity were measured in control (0μM nanoparticles). Since this concentration is considered a stress for alfalfa. Negative effects of  0μM nanoparticles decreased in inoculated alfalfa plants with R. meliloti. Indeed rhizobium causes increasing in inoculated plant resistant by reducing stressful conditions.
Conclusion: Rhizobium-alfalfa symbiosis plus iron nanofertilizer can cause increasing in plant resistance to stress, in addition to increase growth of plant. The highest amount of growth parameters, pigmants and protein content was measured in inoculated plant  with Rhizobium meliloti and 10μM nanoparticles.
 
 
 

Abstract Aim: One of the most important infraspecific variations is differences of tissues and cells in plant that occur between various populations of the same species for adaption with environmental factors. These variations can be consider as a starter for speciation.
Material and methods: In the present study, leaf anatomical traits of four Nepeta heliotropifolia populationswere examine. Three flowering stems were collected from each population, and from each stem a mature intact leaf was elected. Leaves were fixed in fixative and then transferred to ethanol. Hand sections were decolorized, double stained and their anatomical structure were studied using light microscopy. The MVSP and SPSS soft wares were used for statistical analyses. 
Results: In total, twenty two qualitative and quantitative anatomical characteristics were studied. Qualitative features were stable between populations, while ANOVA test showed significant differences for most of the studied variables. In addition, significant correlations were found between morphological characters with each other and ecological factors of habitats. The studied populations clustered separately in UPGMA tree, PCA and PCO plots.
Conclusion: Environmental factors have effects on tissues and cells of plant and create infraspecific variations. They have more effects on quantitative variables compared with qualitative ones. Leaf anatomical variations of populations have no relationship with distances between the populations, but similarity or difference of ecological factors is a very important factor in creating similarity or difference between populations. The pattern of population’s arrangement in the created tree and plots approved it.