The impact of magnetized drinking water on semen quality, fertility and hatchability rates of Fayoumi chicken.

The present study was conducted to interpret the effect of magnetic field on water pH and calcium form, and evaluate semen quality, fertility and hatchability rates of Fayoumi chickens receiving magnetized drinking water (MDW). A total of 180 Fayoumi chickens (20 roosters + 160 hens), 54 weeks of age, were divided into two groups. The first group served as control, which received regular drinking water, and the second group was treated with MDW. Semen was collected twice (at day 15 and day 30 of the experiment) to determine semen quality. Fertility and hatchability were determined in two patches of hatching eggs through 1-15 and 16-30 days of the experiment. Results showed that the roosters of MDW group had higher live sperm and sperm motility ratios than those of the control group throughout the experimental period (1-30 days). The abnormal sperm ratio and methylene blue reaction time of MDW-received roosters were significantly lower than those of control roosters. Fertility and hatchability percentages of MDW group were greater compared to those of regular drinking water. Conclusively, alterations in the physiochemical characteristics of MDW and the calcium form can play a role in improving semen quality, fertility, and hatchability percentages during the late laying phase.

Exogenous application of 5-azacitidin, royal jelly and folic acid regulate plant redox state, expression level of DNA methyltransferases and alleviate adverse effects of salinity stress on Vicia faba L. plants.

DNA methylation is one of induced changes under salinity stress causing reduction in the expression of several crucial genes required for normal plant's operation. Potential use of royal jelly (RJ), folic acid (FA) and 5-azacitidine (5-AZA) on two Egyptian faba bean varieties (Sakha-3 and Giza-716) grown under saline conditions was investigated. Salinity stress affects negatively on seeds germination (G %), mitotic index, membrane stability and induced a significant increase in chromosomal abnormalities (CAs). DNA methyltransferases genes (MT1 and MT2) were highly up-regulated (∼23 and 8 folds for MT1 and MT2 in shoots of Giza-716 stressed plants). On the other hand, down regulation of other studied stress related genes: superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione reductase (GR), heat shock protein (HSP-17.9) and proline-rich protein (GPRP) were detected in stressed plants of both studied varieties. Treating plants with RJ and FA increase G%, chlorophyll content, improves membrane properties and reduces CAs compared to non-treated stressed plants. Exogenous application of 5-AZA, RJ and FA on salinity stressed plants was associated with a significant reduction in the transcription of MT1 and MT2 which was associated with significant up regulation in the expression of Cu/Zn-SOD, CAT, GR, GPRP and HSP-17.9 encoding genes. The Lowest expression of MT1 and MT2 were induced with 5-AZA treatment in both studied varieties. Exogenous application of the FA, RJ and 5-AZA modified the methylation state of stressed plants by regulation the expression of DNA methyltransferases, subsequently, modulated the expression of studied genes and could be proposed as a promising treatment to ameliorate hazardous effects of salt stress on different plants.