Assessment of the extent of genetic variability within chickpea is fundamental for chickpea breeding and conservation of genetic resources and is particularly useful as a general guide in the choice of parents for breeding hybrids. To establish genetic diversity among 60 accessions of chickpea comprising landraces, internationally developed improved lines, and cultivars, genetic distances were evaluated using 14 simple sequence repeat markers. These markers showed a high level of polymorphism; a total of 59 different alleles were detected, with a mean of 4.2 alleles per locus. The polymorphic information content (PIC) value ranged from 0.31 to 0.89. All the markers, with the exception of TAA170, TA110, GA34, and Ts35, were considered to be informative (PIC > 0.5), indicating their potential usefulness for cultivar identification. Based on the UNJ clustering method, all accessions were clustered in five groups, which indicated the probable origin and region similarity of Iranian landraces over the other cultivars. It also represents a wide diversity among available germplasm. The result has firmly established that introduction of genetic materials from exotic sources has broadened the genetic base of the national chickpea breeding program. As further implications of the findings, this study can be useful for selective breeding for specific traits and in enhancing the genetic base of breeding programs.

Abstract.The balance between the production and elimination of reactive oxygen species (ROS) is essential in determining whether cells survive or undergo apoptosis. Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) may act as a sensor for electrophilic stress, thus regulating the intracellular antioxidant response. The present study investigated the role of vitamin C (VC) and quercetin (Q) in the induction of Nrf2-mediated oxidative stress in cancer cells. An MTT assay was conducted to examine the anti-proliferative effects of VC and Q. Reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blot analysis were performed to determine the messenger RNA (mRNA) and protein expression of Nrf2, respectively. The activity of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate dehydrogenase quinone 1, heme oxygenase 1, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase and reduced glutathione were measured by spectrophotometric analysis. Intracellular generation of ROS was determined using 2'-7'-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate fluorescent probes. The results demonstrated that the cytotoxicity (50% inhibitory concentration) of VC and Q were 271.6-480.1 and 155.1-232.9 µM, respectively. Additionally, there was a significant decrease in the expression of Nrf2 mRNA and protein levels following the treatment of breast cancer cells with VC and Q (P=0.024). Following treatment with VC and Q, the nuclear/cytosolic Nrf2 ratio was reduced by 1.7-fold in MDA-MB 231 cells, 2-fold in MDA-MB 468 cells, 1.4-fold in MCF-7 cells and 1.2 fold in A549 cells. Sequential treatment with VC and Q decreased endogenous production of ROS in a dose-dependent manner (P=0.027). The results of the current study suggest that VC and Q treatment may be developed as an adjuvant for patients with cancer and overexpression of Nrf2.

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The SARS‐CoV‐2 virus has been rapidly spreading globally since December 2019, triggering a pandemic, soon after its emergence. While Iran was among the first countries confronted with rapid spread of virus in February 2020, no real‐time SARS‐CoV‐2 whole‐genome tracking in early phase of outbreak was performed in the country. To address this issue, we provided 50 whole‐genome sequences of viral isolates ascertained from different geographical locations in Iran during March–July 2020. The corresponding analysis on origins, transmission dynamics and genetic diversity of SARS‐CoV‐2 virus, represented at least two introductions of the virus into the country, constructing two major clusters defined as B.4 and B.1*. The first entry of the virus might have occurred around very late 2019/early 2020, as suggested by the time to the most recent common ancestor, followed by a rapid community transmission that led to dominancy of B.4 lineage in early epidemic till the end of June. Gradually, reduction in dominancy of B.4 occurred possibly as a result of other entries of the virus, followed by surge of B.1* lineages, as of mid‐May. Remarkably, variation tracking of the virus indicated the increase in frequency of D614G mutation, along with B.1* lineages, which showed continuity till October 2020. The increase in frequency of D614G mutation and B.1* lineages from mid‐May onwards predicts a rapid viral transmission that may push the country into a critical health situation followed by a considerable change in composition of viral lineages circulating in the country.

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