The aim of the present study is determine the concentration of vitamin A and β-caroten in the serum of pregnant Holstein cows and calves during the birth and after the consumption of colostrum (24, 48, 72 hours after birth). This study was done to make a comparison between the level of serum vitamin A and b-caroten in dams with her calf, The blood samples were taken from 40 pregnant cows and borne calves of them, in the time of birth and 24, 48 and 72 hours after parturition. After separated serums, vitamin A and Beta- carotene were measured by spectrophotometer and using N. Hexane method. Statistically, the mean values of serum vitamin A in calves were higher than to those for dams (p<0.05), whereas the mean values of serum b-caroten in calves were lower than to those of their mothers pre and post calving.  Also the mean values of serum vitamin A in females calves were more than to those in males, whereas, there was not a significant statistic differences between the mean values of serum b-caroten for males and females (p>0.05). This result shows that colostrum is necessary for cattle in the first time of birth to catch necessary substance especially vitamin A precursor.

Fatty Acids, α-tocopherol, β-caroten, minerals, and some pomological properties of walnut genotypes from four locations (Iğ dı r, Tuzluca, Karakoyunlu, Kağ ı zman) of Aras Valley (Eastern Turkey) were examined. In this study, the differences among the genotypes were determined in terms of some fruit characteristics, oil and protein contents, fatty acid composition, selenium content, α-tocopherol content, β-carotene content and some macro-and micro-element contents. The genotypes different in the values of nut weight from 8. 89 to16. 22 g, kernel weight from 4. 72 to 9. 64 g, kernel ratio from 36. 74 to 59. 59%, and shell thickness 1. 04-3. 60 mm, respectively. The contents of fat and moisture of the selected genotypes were in the range of 59. 18 to 68. 12% and 10. 49 to 23. 31%, respectively. The contents of most common fatty acids determined in the genotypes were linoleic acid (58. 15-64. 07%), oleic acid (12. 93-17. 49%), linolenic acid (9. 37-13. 61%), palmitic acid (5. 60-8. 62%) and stearic acid (4. 68-6. 69%), whereas the contents of remaining fatty acids were rarely detected in trace amounts. In the genotypes, the amount of α-tocopherol was in the range of 8. 75 to 35. 11 mg/kg, β-carotene was in the range of 0. 03 to 0. 12 mg /kg and selenium was in the range of 15. 89 to 68. 19 ng/g. The genotypes were found to have 1. 09 to 2. 47% N, 230. 36 to 451. 48 mg/100g P, 350. 74 to 666. 20 mg/100g K, 2. 30 to 3. 86 mg/100g Cu, 1. 71 to 3. 91 mg/100g Zn, 7. 16 to 18. 82 mg/100g Fe, 144. 0 to 452. 08 mg/100g Ca, 110. 25 to 342. 44 mg/100g Mg, 1. 73 to 9. 67 mg/100g Mn and 7. 11 to 25. 51 mg/100g Na. The present results revealed that the high nutritional values of walnut genotypes selected from the Aras Valley(Eastern Turkey) could have health benefits effects on human nutrition.

Dunaliella salina is unicellular green micro-algae living in lakes and marine habitats containing high salt concentration. This alga produces different cellular compounds such as beta-carotene under environmental stresses. In this research, the effect of both salt stress and salicylic acid on growth rate, photosynthesis pigments and beta-caroten content of the cells were investigated. Results showed in all experiments, the salicylic acid or combination of salicylic acid and salt stress decreased cell division rate. The presence of salicylic acid reduced the effect of salt stress on beta-carotene and chlorophyll content of the cells. The result indicated that salt stress can increase beta-carotene content. Both salt stress and salicylic acid due to decrease in cell division decreased chlorophyll and beta-carotene per volume unit.

Object: Determination of vitamin A and Beta carotene status in Holestein cow.Design: Cross sectional study. Animals: A total of 342 blood and 371 liver samples from Holestein cows in both sexes and 5 age groups as <2, 2-3, 3-4, 4-5, 5< years. Procedure: Livels of vit. A as well as R carotene were determined in serum and liver by a spectrophotometer at wave length of 325 - and 453nm as follows: Levels of vitamin A in serum and liver =[(0.000017×figure of beta carotene)-(absorption levels at 325nm)]/(0.00182) Levels of β carotene In serum and liver = (absorption levels 453 nm)/ 0.00258 Hexane was used as a blank. Statistical analysis: Results were analyzed by ANOVA. Results: In this survey the levels of vitamin A and Beta carotene of serum and liver were 67.2 ± 3.1, 85.5 ± 4.0 µg/dl and 189.3 ± 3.0, 21.1 ± 1 µg/g respectively. Differences of liver vitamin A levels in 4 and 5 age groups and also between these two age groups and others were significant (P<0.001). In the meanwhile levels of liver vitamin A and those of liver and serum β carotene of females were significantly higher than of males. Effects of season alone and both of season and sex, season and age, age and sex combinations were different. Apart from vitamin A and β carotene the relationship among all the other variants of this survey were significant. Conclusion: On the basis of the results of this survey effects of nutrition and to some extent female and vitamin A and βcarotene were highly considerable but high Levels of liver vitamin A in winter were not explainable.

Two strains of unicellular green alga, D. salina (Australian and Iranian) were exposed to three different concentrations (0.005, 0.05 and 0.5 mg. L-1) of copper for 36 days of test duration. Results showed that in 0.005 and 0.5 mg. L -1 of Cu +,2 in comparison with control (0.05 mg. L-1) the growth rate and chlorophyll content of the cells were decreased and beta-caroten content was increased. In comparion with control, calcium and magnesium content of the cells, were decreased. EC50 for both strains was 0.5 mg. L -1 –after 96h. In all cases also, Cu+2 did not affect the cell morphology.  

Micronutrients have an important role in growth and yield of plants. This investigatin was carried out to evaluate effect of foliar applications of three micronutrients (Fe, Mn and Zn) at different times (4-6 and 8-10 leaf stage) with three replication on sugar beet. Based on results obtained all of the micronutrients used increased sugar beet sugar yield. Highest root yield was obtained by using 9 % of micronutrients at 4-6 leaf stage, but other concentrations did not have any effect on sugar beet yield. All of the three micronutrient concentrations increased root yield significantly. Application of 6% concentration increased root yield by 15.6 %. Mn application did not have any effect on sugar yield.9 % concentration of Zn foliar application increased sugar yield by 16.4 %, and application of 6 and 9% of Fe increased sugar yield by 18.6 and 36 % respectively. Sugar percent did not changed by Mn application, but high concentrations of Fe and Zn at 8-10 leaf stage increased it. Highest increase in sugar percent obtained by using Fe 9 % foliar appliction. Because of economical importance of sugar and root yield, foliar application of 9 % of Fe and Zn at 8-10 leaf stage will be suitable.

Experiments were carried out in a completely randomized design with 3 replication factorial arrangement. Experimental treatments were including genotype factor (including 15 sea beet samples from Khuzestan, Elam, Kermanshah, Kurdistan and Azerbaiyjan provinces and two sensitive and susceptible cultivar of sugar beet) and salinity factors (concentration of 0, 50, 100 and 400 mM) and drought factors (5 levels of 0, 3, 6, 9 and 12 bar). Results showed that the effect of salinity and drought treatments on germination percentage, radicle, plumule length, radicle, and plumule weight traits were significant and in both experiments with increasing stress intensity germination percentage, radicle and plumule length, radicle and plumule weight traits decreased. In both experiments, the germination percentage trait was less and hypocotyl weight trait more affected by stresses than other traits. Alsoو in both experiments, radicle growth was less affected by stress than the plumule. Statistical estimations showed that there was a significant difference between investigated genotypes for germination percentage, radicle length, plumule length, radicle weight and plumule weight in both experiments. In salinity and drought stress conditions, at least 5 and 7 sea beet genotypes were identified from Elam, Kermanshah, Khuzestan and Azerbaiyjan provinces, which were better in terms of germination and early growth characteristics than sugar beet cultivars. Based on this, it can be concluded that sea beet has high diversity and resistance potential against salinity and drought stresses during germination and early growth stages, and can be used to produce more resistance sugar beet against salinity and drought stresses.

Background and objective: Cataract is among the major causes of vision impairment and blindness worldwide. The current study was done in the city of Tehran with the purpose of determining the relationship between fruit and vegetable intake and the dietary intake of some macronutrients, carotenoids, vitamins C, E, A, selenium and risk of cataract in >40 Tehranians.Materials and methods: In this case-control study that was conducted in 2013 in the city of Tehran, the factors such as socio-economic, life style and nutritional intake of 97 cataract patients and 198 controls with the same age and gender were collected through interview and questionnaire. Cataract was diagnosed using a slit-lamp examination, and defined as any lens opacity in either eye. Dietry intake was estimated using a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire. The association between the risk of cataract and quartiles of macro- and micro-nutrient intake was investigated using logistic regression models.Results: After modifying the effects of confounding variables, the risk of cataract was significantly lower in the highest intake quartile category relative to the lowest quartile category for total fruit (OR= 0.15; 95%CI= 0.05-0.3), total vegetable (OR=0.20; 95%CI=0.08-0.4), and soluble fiber (OR=0.27; 95%CI=0.11-0.6). We found significant inverse associations of cataract with higher dietary intake of vitamin C (OR=0.22; 95% CI=0.09-0.54), alpha-caroten (OR=0.24; 95%CI=0.1-0.5), beta-caroten (OR=0.15; 95% CI=0.05-0.39), lutein/zeaxanthin (OR=0.19; 95%CI=0.08-0.45), and betacryptoxanthin (OR=0.05; 95%CI=0.01-0.15).Conclusion: High daily intakes of fruit and vegetables and dietry antioxidants were associated with a significantly decreased risk of cataract. This study reinforces the WHO recommendations on the benefits of diets rich in fruits and vegetables.