Since RICE is a staple food most consumed world-wide, there have been increasing health concerns regarding exposure to arsenic through RICE consumption. Several studies have reported the accumulation of arsenic in RICE grains cultivated in regions with elevated levels of arsenic in groundwater or contaminated soil. Therefore the principal aim of this study was determining the amount of arsenic in Iranian RICE cultivated in the same farms in two consecutive years and arsenic tracking through agricultural water and soil. Therefore different provinces (Mazandaran, Gilan, Fars, Ghazvin, Lorestan and Khozestan) with high harvested area and various weather conditions were selected. Since the arsenic levels in water and soil that were used for RICE cultivation are effective on adsorbed arsenic by the RICE, therefore to specify the origin of the contamination, sampling from soil, water and UNPOLISHED RICE of each selected farms were carried. Total arsenic content was determined from the digests by hydride generation atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The results indicated that accumulation and the increase in arsenic content of agricultural soil causes an increase in the arsenic content of white RICE. The results have also shown that arsenic contents in all the investigated white RICE samples are less than the maximum limit specified by the national standard (0.15 mg/kg), and no significant difference was observed in the arsenic content in two consecutive years of RICE cultivation. Therefore the control of arsenic content in water used for irrigation, limited the usage of chemical fertilizers and pesticides that might affect the concentration of arsenic in the soil and maintain the aerobic conditions during either the vegetative or the reproductive stages of the RICE growth that might reduce the concentration of arsenic in the soil and consequently in the RICE.

Today, global warming is one of the most important human concerns in the fields of economy, energy and environment. The most important element in global warming is the burning fossil fuels that release the greenhouse gases including CO2. The researches by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change show that global warming will rise more than 2 degrees centigrade by the end of the century with respect to the pre-industrial era, if no effort is made to reduce CO2 emissions. Since the MENA region is one of the most vulnerable regions in the world due to climate change, so the main purpose of this study is to assess the effects of climate change on the economic variables in MENA region until 2105. For this purpose RICE model is used which is based on the computational general equilibrium model. The results indicate that the global average temperature will rise to 4. 49 degrees centigrade until 2105 year in comparison to the pre-industrial era, if no policy is implemented to prevent rising temperatures. The trend of regional GDP and consumption are similar and will increasingly move. In the long-run, the capital accumulation will increase in the upper-middle income, the lower-middle income and the high income countries, respectively,while employment will increase in the lower-middle income, the upper-middle income and the high income countries, respectively. Environmental damage is the most in the high income countries in comparison to the other groups in MENA region.

Identifying the constraining factors of production and yield gap is very important. Therefore; this research was performed to identify the production constraining factors of local RICE cultivars. All management practices from nursery preparation to harvesting stages for 100 paddy fields of local RICE cultivars were recorded through field studies, in Sari, from 2015-2016. In the CPA, the actual and calculated potential yield were 4495 and 5703 kg/ha, respectively and the gap was 1221 kg/ha. The yield gap caused by number of top-dressing variables was 324 kg/ha, equal to 27% of the total yield gap. The yield gap related to previous year of legumes cultivation was 218 kg ha-1, equal to 18% of the total yield variation. Among the 10 variables entered in the CPA model, the effects of top-dress fertilizer application and its application frequency and foliar application were remarkable, which could compensate a significant part of the yield gap (444 kg/ha, 37% of total) in the farmers’ fields by managing these variables. According to boundary line analysis (BLA) finding, actual yield mean on the basis of optimal limit related to 12 variables under study was 5369 kg/ha, with 881 kg/ha yield gap . Mean relative yield and relative yield gap for 12 variables (transplanting date, seedling age, number of seedlings per hill, planting density, nitrogen and phosphorous per hectare, nitrogen before transplanting, harvesting date, lodging problem, pest problem, diseases problem and weeds problem) were 83.64 and 16.35 kg/ha, respectively. Based on the finding, it can be stated that the model precision is appropriate and can be applied for both estimation of the quantity of yield gap and determining the portion of each restricting yield variables.

In order to evaluate the performance of the CERES-RICE model in RICE biomass and grain yield estimation in large scale, this study was carried out in paddy fields of Guilan, Iran. First the model was calibrated and evaluated using data from a research at RICE Research Institute of Iran, then the model accuracy was assessed in 26000 ha of Some Sara region.110 common farmers fields were chosen, the soil, water, crop samples and other needed information were taken. The model was ran for each field. The results showed that the Error of yield and biomass estimation in research station were below 10 percent. The results in large scale showed that the model estimation of yield and biomass could be categorized in three different parts. While in fields with average biomass and yield observation the setimation error was negligible. Underestimation was observed in the fields with the yield above the average of the region while in high yielding fields overestimation was observed. The Normalized Root Mean Square Error was about 22.7 and 21% for biomass and yield prediction. Although in some cases the error was about 50%, in 75% of the region it was in range of 0-10%, and in 95 % of the region it was in range of 0-20%. Water productivity based on water used in most of the fields was in the range of 0.5-0.6 kg/m3 and the water productivity based on transpiration was 0.85-0.9 kg/ m3. The model showed a satisfactory accuracy to estimate both yield and biomass in large scale paddy fields.

In order to evaluate the effects of RICE transplanting cultivation on furrow and different deficit irrigation management on yield and yield components of RICE (Shiroodi Cultivar), an experiment was conducted at RICE Research Institute (Mazandaran, Amol) in 2013. The research had done as randomized complete block design involving five irrigation treatments with three replications. Treatments were irrigation managements including T1 (permanent irrigation throughout the growth period), T2 (irrigation a day after the disappearance of surface water) T3 (irrigation three days after the disappearance of surface water), T4 (irrigation four days after the disappearance of surface water), T5 (permanently saturated soil throughout the growing period). Results of ANOVA indicated that different irrigation managements had significant difference (P<0.01) in terms of panicle length, filled and unfilled grains and paddy yield. According to the results, there was not significant difference between T1 (5975 kg.ha-1) and T5 (5850 kg.ha-1) irrigation management and the least performance management of T4 with 28% lower performance than the T1 treatment. Therefore, the best results have been continually saturated water management and irrigation management; T2, T3 and T4 were next in the rankings.

NsLTPs (nonspecific lipid transfer proteins) are plant proteins subdivided into nsLTP1(9kDa) and nsLTP2 (7kDa) according to the molecular weight. These highly stable proteins can protect drugs against oxidation or degradations. RICE nsLTP2 due to the inherent ability to cross biological membranes and bind to steroid compounds (including some pharmaceutical compounds) have potential application for use in drug delivery systems. To enhance the biological capability of this protein in this system, structural alterations are indispensable. These alterations can be created by desired mutations in the encoding genes. Analysis by different software showed that the hydrophobic cavity of the active site plays a prominent role. After designing of mutagenic primers (Tyrosine 45 to Tryptophan (Y45W)) the method of SOE-PCR was used to perform site directed mutagenesis in the gene of RICE nsLTP2. Wild type nsLTP2 was cloned into the PGEX6p2 vector. This wild type plasmid was used as a template for constructing the mutant fragment and designed mutant primers are used for amplification of mutant fragments. Mutant RICE nsLTP2 are expressed in the pET32a vector in to the E. coli BL21 (DE3) strain. After the amplification of the mutant fragments and confirmation of mutations generated by sequencing, the mutant constructs cloned into the pET32a vector and the fusion mutant protein with a His-tag was purified by Ni-NTA affinity chromatography. The purpose was to create mutations with increased florescence signals. We hope that, in the future, these findings would be helpful in creating biosensors or as drug carrier vehicles.

Background: RICE is one of the most important agricultural products and main food for more than %25 people in the world. Due to increasing consumption of this product, evaluation of quality and characteristics of cultivated RICE in different regions of country is of great importance. Additionally, over the past decades, heavy metals contamination in RICE cause to be public concern, thus assessment of heavy metal pollution of RICE is necessary. Evaluation the characteristics of RICE varieties will allow consumers and producers to prepare RICE according to their taste and need. Therefore, this study was conducted to evaluate the amount of lead and cadmium, physicochemical properties and cooking quality of champa RICE in different regions of Baghmalek, Khuzestan.Materials and Methods: In this study, RICE cultivated in different regions of Baghmalek was sampled in three replications and transferred to the laboratory for testing. Physicochemical tests including protein, moisture content, ash, total solid, amylose content and thousand grain weight were evaluated based on national standard of Iran. Cadmium and lead content of RICE cultivated in different region of Baghmalek were evaluated. Cooking properties of studied RICE including cooking time, water absorption, leakage, gelatinization grade and Elongation of RICE were evaluated. The tests were performed in a completely randomized design with SAS software and analyzed by Duncan test at a probability level of 5%.Results: The results of proximate test including (carbohydrate, protein, total solid, ash and moisture) showed that significant difference was between samples cultivated in different region of Baghmalek. In all samples, except for one samples, amylose content were 20-21%. The results of heavy metal evaluation indicated Cd in all samples were in permissible limit but lead content in imported RICE and cultivated RICE in Sidon and Meydavoud was more than permissible limit. Studied samples with regard to lenght were in medium category and Elongation of RICE was in the range of 1.39-1.74. The gelatinization grade of studied samples was in the range of 3.25-4.17. Evaluation of cooking properties including cooking time, water absorption and leakage indicated it was significant difference between studied samples. Thousand grain weight of studied samples had been significant difference and was in the range of 13.07-18.86.Conclusion: In general, selected RICE samples from different regions of Baghmalek exhibited a significant difference in physicochemical properties. With regard to cooking properties and quality, RICE samples had desirable status and were comparable to imported RICE. Evaluation of the safety status of studied RICE samples suggests that control of cultivated regions is necessary.

Background: Brown RICE is UNPOLISHED RICE with various beneficial compounds such as vitamins, magnesium and other minerals, dietary fiber, essential fatty acids, g-oryzanoland g-aminobutiric acid (GABA). In this present study, we compared the effect of white RICE (WR) and brown RICE (BR) on inflammatory Marker (hs-CRP) and cardiovascular risk factors among non-menopausal overweight or obese female.Methods: In a randomized cross-over clinical trial, 40 overweight or obese (BMI>25) women were randomly allocated to group 1 (n=20): treatment with brown RICE diet, and group2 (n=20): treatment with white RICE diet for 6 weeks (first intervention period). Two participants in group 2 dropped out during this period. After a 2-week washout period, individuals were switched to the alternate diet for an additional 6 weeks (second intervention period) and three subjects in group 2 did not follow this period and eliminated, finally this study was completed with 35 subjects (group 1=20 and group 2=15). Each one was instructed to consume 150 gr cooked WR or BR daily in each intervention period. Cardiovascular risk factors including BMI, waist and hip circumference, blood pressure, serum lipid profiles, fasting blood glucose (FBG) and hs-CRP as an inflammatory marker, were measured 4 times (in study week 0, 6, 8, 14).Results: BR diet in comparison with WR diet could significantly reduce weight, waist and hip circumference, BMI, Diastole blood pressure and Hs-CRP. No significant differences between the two diets were found regarding lipid profiles and fasting blood glucose.Conclusion: The present results suggest that BR replacement in diet may be useful to decrease inflammatory marker level and several cardiovascular risk factors among non-menopausal overweight or obese female.