JWSS - Journal of Water and Soil Science

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To determine the role of endophytes in conferring valuable physiological characteristics on and induction inducing cold tolerance in two species of festuca, an experiment was done at Isfahan University of Technology in 2002. Endophyte-infected and non-infected clones from two genotypes of tall fescue and one meadow fescue were prepared and coded 75,83 and 60 respectively. The clones were exposed to cold treatments at 6, -2 and –10C and compared with control treatment at 20C. After three weeks of cold treatments, relative water content of leaf and crown, cell membrane stability (electrolyte leakage), percentage of membrane damage and finally proline content of leaf were measured. The presence of endophyt caused an slight increase in relative water content of leaf and crown. There was considerably higher proline in endophyte-infected plants compared with non-infected ones in both stress and non-stress conditions. Endophytic fungi had strong effects on maintenance of membrane stability and on the decrease of electrolyte leakage at all temperature levels. Among plant genotypes, 83 preformed better for some characteristics, specially in the presence of endophyte, and showed higher cold tolerance.

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In order to evaluate endophyte effect on plant earliness, compatible host-endophyte combinations including four genotypes of tall fescue and two genotypes of meadow fescue were selected and used in this study. One tiller-part of each genotype was treated using a fungicide mixture of Propiconazole and Folicur. New tillers of endophyte-infected and endophyte-free plants were planted in the field according to a complete block design with three replications. The traits including days to head emergence, days to 50% anthesis, days to maturity initiation, number of heads (as a weekly measurement), total seed weight, net seed weight and empty seed weigh were measured. Results showed that endophytes can enhance head emergence, maturity initiation and periodical seed yield. Days to 50% anthesis, and days to maturity initiation were also reduced. Head numbers in some genotypes increased up to 2 times. Increase in net seed yield may show some physiological alterations in plant such as hormonal balance alteration which may provide better seed setting in infected plants. Based on this study, we concluded that endophytic fungi can induce earliness in infected host plants.

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Seven species of aphids belonging to the family Aphididae in six genera were collected and identified in wheat and barely fields in Sistan region (Miankangi, Shahraki-Narooi, Shibab and Markazi) during1999-2000. Among them, Schizaphis graminum (Wheat green aphid) was the dominant species with an abundance of about 85.4% in the area. The seasonal population changes of Schizaphis graminum were studied simultaneously in the fields of Sistan region (Zahak research station and its surrounding fields). The research was conducted in half a hectar of each farm. Thirty leaves from each field at weekly interval were randomly picked up and the aphids were collected and identified at the species level. The Schizaphis graminum had a peak of activity in the second half of March to April at the temperature and R.H. ranges of between 22-28ºC and %45-65R.H. respectively. The control conditions study (Incubator with 25±2ºC and %75±5R.H.) indicated that the Schizaphis graminum had a life cycle of 5-7 days and adult female longevity was 20-31 days. Rearing study also revealed that this species had ability to reproduce up to 18-98 nymphs in the laboratory condition (Cultural room with 20-25 ºC and 55±5R.H.) and an apterous female gave birth to 22-93 nymphs in her life. Samplings for recognition of predators and parasitoids were also done at 3-day intervals. Natural enemies in the fields during the two years were identified as consisting of six coccinellid (Col:Coccinellidae), ten syrphid (Dip:Syrphidae) and two chrysopid species (Neu: Chrysopidae). Also in Hymenoptera, five parasitoids (Hym:Aphidiidae) were determined.

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Genetic variation within and between five Iranian sheep populations including Sanjabi (SAN), Kordi Kordistan (KKO), Kordi Khorasan (KKH), Mehraban (MEH) and Moghani (MOG) was assessed using six microsatellite markers (McMA2, McMA26, MAF64, OarAE64, OarCP26 and OarFCB304). The PCR reactions were successfully perfomed with all primers except OarAE64. All locus-population combinations were at Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium except McMA2 in MOG population (P<0.005). Polymorphism criteria showed that the five studied loci were polymorphic in all populations. The lowest D_A genetic distance (0.234) was observed between KKH and KKO and the highest (0.388) between SAN and MOG populations. The dendrograms based on D_A distances were drawn using unweighted pair-group method using an arithmetic average (UPGMA) and neighbor-joining (NJ) method. KKO, KKH and SAN were grouped together at one cluster and MEH and MOG at another by both methods. The average expected heterozygosity for each populations (as interpopulation variation) ranged from 0.744 to 0.847 for KKH and MEH, respectively. The estimated time of divergence for two Kordi populations (KKO and KKH) was 445 years that complies with historical evidences. The findings of this research confirmed that microsatellite variation could be a useful tool for screening of investigating biodiversity among domestic animals.

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Phenology is the study of time and sequence of recurring stages in the life history of an organism. The occurrence fashions of the phenophases form different phenological behavior patterns. Despite the importance of phenology and wide applications of knowing phenophases, few studies have been done on the wooden species in Iran. The goals of this study are identification and designation of the phenophases occuring time and their successions, phenological behavior patterns and finally phenological patterns assay of 35 fruitful and fruitless woody species in the northeast of Esfahan during 2003-2005. Leaves, flowers, fruits, buds, bark and color changes were observed weekly or every other week. Analysis of the obtained charts and tables shows that with respect to the environmental and climatic condition of the area, observed phenological behavior patterns are two- leaf, two-flower and two-fruit emergent patterns two-flower peak patterns three-fruit perpetuity patterns and three leaf shed patterns. Finally, there are three comparative successions, six-flower and three-leaf phenological patterns. Based on the findings, blooming and leaf shed calendars were also achieved.

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In order to study the physiological responses of two barley cultivars to salinity stress, a 4-replicate CRD greenhouse experiment was conducted during at the College of Agriculture, Shiraz University, Iran2003-2004. The treatments consisted of two barley cultivars: Afzal and Reyhan and five salinity levels: 0, 4, 8, 12 and 14 dS/m. Seedling emergence, number of tillers and leaves per plant, leaf area and dry matter decreased with increasing salinity levels. The reductions were lower in Afzal (salt tolerant) than Reyhan (salt sensitive). A lower Na⁺ and higher K⁺Na⁺ in Afzal compared to Reyhan were observed under high level of salinity. The results of the present experiment also showed that the tolerance to salinity was associated with a greater stomatal conductivity, as well as transpiration and photosynthesis rate. Sub-stomatal CO2 concentration in both cultivars decreased with an increase in salinity, with the exception of 12dS/m, where it led to an increase in sub-stomatal CO2 concentration. Leaf temperature increased with an increase in salinity level in both cultivars, whereas a more pronounced decrease for number of fertile tillers, ears per plant, kernels per ear, thousand grain weight and harvest index was observed in Reyhan compared to Afzal .Since a higher tolerance to salinity in Afzal was apparently associated with a lower concentration of Na⁺ and a higher K⁺/Na⁺ ratio of the shoots, this trait could probably be used for yield improvement of barley cultivars under saline conditions.

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This research was conducted at Research Farm of Isfahan University of Technology to examine the relations among phonologic, morphologic and physiologic traits and their effects on grain yield of 20 oat (Avena sativa L.) genotypes. A randomized complete block design with three replications was used in each irrigation treatment (i.e. irrigation after 70±3, and 130±3 mm evaporation from class A pan). Grain yield had significant and positive correlations with harvest index and relative water content (RWC) in both irrigation treatments and with plant height at maturity in non-stress condition. Also, grain yield had significant and negative correlation with days to heading. Factor analyses resulted in three factors in each condition, which were named yield factor, phenologic factor and sink factor in both conditions. Based on stepwise regression, harvest index was the first character which entered the grain yield model in both conditions. At the next step, RWC and plant height entered the model, with harvest index explaining 66% and 64% of yield variation in stress and non-stress conditions, respectively. The results of path analysis in both conditions showed that harvest index had the highest positive direct effect on grain yield. The highest indirect negative effects through number of grain per panicle were obtained for the harvest index and panicle m-2 in stress and non-stress conditions, respectively.

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A total of 25 advanced rapeseed (Brassica napus L.) varieties were evaluated under cold weather conditions using Randomized Complete Block design (RCBD) with four replications in Dr. Nakhjavani Agricultural Research Station, 35 km North-East of Urmia the capital of West Azerbaijan province in 2000-2001. The results showed significant differences among the varieties (P ≥ 0.01) for all the phenological stages including days to germination, days to rosette completion, days to initiation of stem elongation, days to flowering initiation, pod formation stage and days to maturity. The spring varieties Sarigol (PF7045/91), Hyola 42 and SYN1 and autumnal varieties Alice, Eurol, Fornax, VDH 8003-98, Consul, Licord and Zarfam (Regent× Cobra), showed early maturity. On the other hand, Mohican, Olara, Colvert, L-1 and Akamar were late mature varieties. In fact, the most prolific varieties, DP.94.8, Zarfam (Regent ×Cobra) Cocktail, Consul and SLM046 (control variety) had the highest ability survive in the cold conditions and they completed their rosette stage sooner than the other varieties. There was positive and significant correlation between duration of pod formation stage and seed yield. Maturity date of varieties was positively and significantly correlated with harvest index, number of seed per pod, days to germination, days to rosette completion, days to stem elongation, days to flowering, and days to pod formation. Negative and significant correlations were found between days to maturity and duration of flowering and pod formation stages. It can be concluded that delay in initiation or completion of each growth stages could delay maturity of the rapeseed varieties.

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Seed traits are an important measure of the effects of endophytic fungi in Festuca genus. In this study, endophyte-infected (E⁺) and un-infected (E^-) clones of the same tall fescue genotypes were used to investigate the effects of endophyte on the seed production and associated traits. Endophyte infection resulted in 32.8% increase of total seeds by weight, 34.6% seeds per plant, and 30.6% panicles per plant, but other seed components were not affected by endophyte. Significant phenotypic variances were observed for traits except for 1000 seed weight. Plant genotype×fungal status interactions occurred for seed per plant. These interactions occurred largely because of variation in different plant genotypes. Genetic variance for this trait in E⁺ was greater than E^- for both years, suggesting that the endophyte can mask plant genotypic variance. The results indicated that endophyte had a positive effect on seed production but could result in overestimating of plant genetic variance for some traits. In conclusion, breeding strategies should consider presence or absence of endophyte and the possible effects on variances.

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Sedimentation and consolidation of cohesive sediments near the dam body can cause many problems such as clogging the bottom outlets and entering the sediments into the hydropower intakes. Flushing of these sediments through the bottom outlet will be successful only if the hydraulic conditions are designed according to the physical and mechanical properties of consolidated sediments. During the past decades many researches have been conducted on the distribution of non cohesive sediments in the reservoir, yet little information is available for cohesive sediments. Therefore the main purpose of this study is to conduct a physical model study to investigate the process of sedimentation and consolidation of cohesive sediments in the dam reservoir. The experimental tests were conducted in a settling column test with a height of 3.8 m and diameter of 0.3m. The sediment samples were collected from the Dez dam reservoir since it is predicted that in less than 5 years the sediment will reach to such an elevation that can enter into the hydropower intakes. The obtained results show that there is a an algorithmic relationship between the time and changing of the sediment concentration during the sedimentation and self-weight consolidation processes. This process can be divided into four separate phases. It is also of note that in this paper the effective stress-void ratio and coefficient of permeability – void ratio relationship were obtained as a power relationship, which are in agreement with the results obtained by other investigators. These relationships can be used as primary data in the mathematical model of sedimentation and consolidation.

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Certain microorganisms in soil have phosphate solubilizing ability. Phosphorus has an important role in plant nutrition and N₂ fixation in legumes. The interactive effect of three phosphate solubilizing bacteria (PSB) and Bradyrhizobium japonicum on yield and N, P, K uptake and nodulation of soybean root (Glycin max L. CV. Harcor) was studied under greenhouse conditions. In greenhouse experiment treatments consisted of a factorial combination of four levels of PSB (without PSB M₀ ,Pseudomonas putida M₁ , Aeromonas hydrophila M₂ , Pseudomonas fluorescens M₃) and two levels of B.japonicum (without bacterium B₀ and with bacterium B₁) and three levels of P(P₀ = 0 , P₁=29, P₂ = 58 mg triple superphosphate/Kg soil) in a randomized complete block design with four replications. At harvest, shoot dry weight, seed weight, nodule number, dry and fresh weight of nodules and concentrations of N, P, K in shoot dry matter were measured. PSB significantly increased shoot dry weight, N, P, K concentrations in shoot, fresh and dry weight and number of root nodules. B.japonicum had positive significant effect on these parameters as well as on seed weight. Dual inoculation of plants with PSB and B.japonicum had significant effect on shoot dry weight, P and N concentrations in shoot. Increasing phosphorus levels significantly increased plant dry weight, shoot P concentration and seed weight. Highest P concentration in shoot was obtained at P₂ level but in plants inoculated with P.putida, dry weight at P₁ level was not significantly different from P₂ level.

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Sesame is an annual self-pollinated plant with a high seed oil and protein content. It is considered as an oilseed plant for human consumption. For a breeding purpore, quantitative and qualitative characteristics of seed total protein of different sesame varieties (Oltan, Zoodras , Yekta , Hendi , Varamin , Chini , Karaj 1 , Moghan local,Nazok tak sakheh and Nazok chand shakheh) were evaluated. Protein extracts were analysed using Kejeldal and gel electrophoresis methods. Total average of 24.02% was observed for seed protein content of all varieties. Analysis of varieties revealed a significant variation at (p < 0.01) between varieties. The profile of seed storage proteins had a relative mobility from 0.20 to 0.94. The observed bands varied in intensity and scattered in three zones of the gel . All bands were monomorphic and no variation was observed between the varieties. It was concluded that this characteristic does not carry the necessary value for breeding purposes.

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This study was conducted to investigate the effect of formic and sulphuric acids on chemical composition, dry matter (DM) and crude protein (CP) degradability of alfalfa silage and its effect on early lactating Holstein cow as three trials. In the first trial, chopped alfalfa (22 and 33% DM) was ensiled with three levels of formic acid (0.0, 15 and 20 ml/kg DM) and two levels of sulphuric acid (0 and 4 ml/kg DM). In the second trial, DM and CP degradability coefficients of silages (Treatment 1: without acid Treatment 2: 15 ml formic acid + 4 ml sulphuric acid per kg DM) and alfalfa hay (Treatment 3) were determined using nylon bag technique in two cannulated steers. In the third trial, silages (treatments 1 and 2) were replaced with 50% of alfalfa hay in the early lactation Holstein cow diet (11 cows, 19 ± 8 days in milk). Diets were fed for 49 days. Dry matter intake, milk production and milk composition were evaluated. Blood metabolites were determined in weeks 4 and 6. Effect of wilting on pH was significant (p<0.05). Quickly degradable fraction (a) of DM was similar in both silages (0.35) but was higher (0.5) for hay rather than the silages. Slowly degradable fraction (b) of DM of the acid - treated silage was higher compared with the hay (0.39 and 0.32, respectively). Fraction (a) of CP in acid treated silage was less than the control silage and hay (0.46, 0.57 and 0.57, respectively). Fraction (b) of CP in acid - treated silage was less compared with the control silage and hay (0.41, 0.28 and 0.35, respectively). There were no significant differences between the treatments on the cow’s performance. However, time effect on milk fat and solid non-fat was significant (p<0.01). Blood glucose concentration before feeding with treatment 2 was significantly higher (p<0.01) than cows feeding with treatment 1.

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The study was conducted to compare the efficiency of diets containing various levels of calcium(0, 1, 2, 3 and 4 percentage) in feeding freshwater crayfish, Astacus leptoductylus. 150 cray fish (10 individuals per tank) with mean weight of about 8-9 gram were stocked in each of 15 tanks, containing 100 L of water. In this research, The results showed that the mean values of some parameters such as weight gain (WG), weight increment rate (WIR), length increment rate (LIR), specific growth rate (SGR), biomass increment (BI), food efficiency rate (FER) and survival rate (SR) of animal fed on different diets were 0.75-1.46gr, 9.8-24.54%, 6.57-15.33% and 0.12-0.29% respectively. However, the diet with high levels of calcium (3-4%) showed the good weight and length increment, but there were no significants difference among these indices using different trial diets. The biomass of crayfish increased with increasing of calcium concentration. So, the highest biomass (11.65gr) of crayfish was observed in the diet containing calcium about 4%. Optimal calcium requirement in the freshwter crayfish was estimated about 3.4% with broken-line regression analysis. The lowest survival rate (30%) was obtained in the diet containing 2% calcium level. There were significant differences among survival rates in various experimental diets (p<0.05). These results indicate that the dietary calcium supplement is nesessary for crayfish. The diets with high levels of calcium had a good efficiency in freshwater crayfish feeding. So it is recommended to use 3-3.5% of calcium in formulated diets for freshwater crayfish

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Germplasm collection is the base of plant breeding. Iran is one of the most important centers of genetic diversity due to different climates and the old civilization.In this study we decided to collect melon accessions. The north and center of Iran were selected for this purpose. Fifteen qualitative and six quantitative traits were measured on thirty eight accessions. The cluster analysis by the use of UPGMA method and Jaccard coefficient helped separate the horticultural groups of Cucumis melo L. (Cantaloupensis, Inodorus, Flexousous, Reticulatus). The relationship between 30 of these accessions was assessed using 10 RAPD primers. The polymorphism was determined to be19%. The cluster analysis could not separate the horticultural groups of Cucumis melo L., showing that these groups are closely related. However, VB84 primer separated the tow Snakemelon.

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Fescues (Festuca spp) are widely distributed in the temperate regions and are used for turf, forage and soil conservation. Though seed traits are important measures of the effects of endophytic fungi on their host, little information is available in this respect for Festuca. In this study, endophyte-infected (E⁺) and endophyte-free (E^-) clones of the six fescue genotypes were used to investigate the effects of endophyte on seed production. The relationships between seed traits plus direct and indirect effects of components on seed yield were also studied. Endophyte infection resulted in 38.1% to 249% more seed yields in some genotypes, though some were not affected by this symbiotic relationship. Correlations between traits and also results of stepwise regression were influenced by the presence of the symbiotic fungi. Path analysis showed that endophytic fungi changed direct and indirect effects of components on seed yield. In endophyte containing clones, panicle fertility had the most direct effects and number of panicle per plant and seed per panicle the most indirect effects on seed yield. In E- clones, panicle fertility had the highest indirect effects and other components had direct effects on seed yield. The results suggested that breeding strategies for increasing seed yield in fescue should consider the presence or absence of endophyte in germplasm.

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In order to study the effects of salinity on germination, vegetative growth and some physiological characteristics of canola cultivars, two experiments were conducted at Research Station of Agricultural College of University of Kerman in 2004. The experimental design was a Completely Randomized Block with four replications. Treatments comprised all combinations of different levels of three factors including variety (Kobra × Regent, Ceres and Okapi), salt type (NaCl, CaCl₂) and electrical conductivity of saline solution (0, 4, 8, 12 dS/m). Results of variance analysis showed that salinity has a very significant effect on germination percentage, germination homogeneity, germination rate, rootlet and polomul length at the end of the germination stage. Shoot length, dry weight, diameter and number of nodes per shoot were significantly affected also by salinity at vegetative growth. Regarding the two types of salt, none of the measured traits were significantly different. All the mentioned traits decreased with increasing salinity the highest and the lowest values were recorded at control and at 12 dS/m salinity levels. Membrane ion leakage was the only trait which increased significantly. Comparison of means showed germination percentage and germination homogeneity at germination stage and the number of nodes at vegetative growth stage were affected less than other traits by salinity, and they only decreased significantly with increasing salinity to 12dS/m. The effect of cultivar on these traits was also significant (P<0.001). In both growth stages, cultivars response to salinity was different. At germination stage, Ceres and Kobra * Regent cultivars were the most sensitive and tolerant ones in terms of all traits and there was no significant difference between Okapi and Kobra *Regent. At vegetative growth stage, however, Okapi showed less growth than Kobra * Regent and their difference was significant. It seems that evaluation of traits response at germination stage can not be effective to determine salt tolerance of canola cultivars.

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One of the properties of systemically acquired resistance in plants is their concomitance with the biochemical changes including enhancement of activities of defense-related enzymes. The leaf extract of Reynoutria sachalinensis (F. Schmidt) Nakai is known to be an effective compound for the control of a few plant diseases particularly powdery mildew of cucurbits (caused by fungal pathogen Podosphaera fusca), by inducing host defense responses. In the present investigation, the effects of this extract on some defense responses of cucumber plants were studied via in vivo tests. Changes of defense responses in the extract treated-cucumber plants, with or without pathogen inoculation, were studied and compared with those of non-treated control plants. Results indicated that specific activity of peroxidase increased significantly in treated tissues. Enhancement of enzyme activity showed the same patterns in both the pathogen inoculated- and non-inoculated-plants thus the pathogen attack did not affect the enzyme activity. Specific activity of phenylalanine ammonia-lyase in the non-inoculated extract treated-plants showed a transient fast increase during 24 hours after the treatment, whereas in the inoculated ones, it showed a permanent slow increase probably due to the interaction between extract treatment and pathogen attack. Phenolic content of extract treated-plant tissues, despite small fluctuations, did not show any definite pattern of changes.

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Plant pathogenic microorganisms produce a variety of enzymes capable of degrading different polysaccharides of the plant cell walls. Pathogens use these enzymes to penetrate and colonize host cells. Polygalacturonases are thought to be the first cell wall-degrading enzymes secreted by pathogens when they grow on plant cell walls. Oligogalacturonic acids with the polymerization degrees of 10 to 13 are intermediate products of pectin degradation by the action of polygalacturonases and are known to activate plant defense responses. PG- inhibiting proteins (PGIPs) present in the cell wall of many plants increase the stability of oligogalacturonic acids in the tissues by modulating fungal PG activities. These glycoproteins of the plant cell extracellular matrix retard the advancement of fungal hyphae, reduce tissue maceration, and prevent colonization of pathogen. In this study, Phaseolus vulgaris PGIPs were extracted from hypocotyle of Derakhshan and Naz bean cultivars. PvPGIPs were purified by afinity chromatography and analyzed by SDS-PAGE. Three major bands in the range of 47-55 kDa were detected. Average yield of The affinity-purified PGIPs was 1.68 mg per 100 gram of fresh bean hypocotyle. The inhibitory effect of PGIP was assayed on the PG activities of highly virulent isolates of Fusarium oxysporum (F15) and Ascochyta rabiei (IK04). The inhibitory activity of crude PGIP from Naz and Derakhshan cultivars on polygalacturonase activity of F. oxysporum was 18 and 28 units, respectively. These inhibitory activities increased to 40 units after purification. The inhibitory effect of crude PGIPs from both these two cultivars on PG activity of A. rabiei was 9 units, while purified PGIPs inhibited this PG activity to 18 and 29 units, respectively.

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In order to identify polymorphic microsatellite markers and evaluae genetic variation within Baluchi sheep population, nineteen microsatellite loci were studied. Whole Blood samples were collected from 156 sheep at north eastern animal breeding station of Iran (Abbasabad-Mashhad). DNA was extracted by salting-out procedure with some modifications. Polymerase chain reactions were successfully done except for UNC5C locus. PCR products were electrophoresed on 8% denaturing polyacrylamide gels stained according to rapid silver staining procedure. The genotype and allelic frequencies were calculated by direct counting and used for estimating of different polymorphism and genetic variation criteria. This population wasn't at Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium except for OarAE101 locus (P<0.005). Heterozygosity (gene variation) ranged from 0.1 to 0.93. BULGE5E and BM1329 loci were monomorphic. In conclusion, this investigation showed high polymorphism at the studied loci, so they could be used in future studies.