فهرست مطالب

Journal of Agricultural Science and Technology
Volume:17 Issue: 5, Sep 2015

  • تاریخ انتشار: 1394/05/25
  • تعداد عناوین: 24
|
  • A. Shahabadi, M. Nemati, H. Samari Pages 1085-1093
    Among the food products, grains play an important role in the consumption patterns of people, especially in the developing countries. Since Iran''s main source of public dietary energy comes directly from grains, investigating and identifying the determinants of import of these products can be an important step towards food security. Most experimental studies consider import of grains as only a function of relative prices and real income, whereas, income inequality is also a variable affecting the import of grains. The present study evaluates the effect of income inequality on the import of grains in Iran''s economy during the years 1969-2009. For this purpose, the relationship of grain import with gross domestic production (GDP), grain production, real exchange rate, and income inequality was evaluated for Iran by using the Vector Error Correction Model (VECM). The results indicate that the relationship between income inequality and grain import is positive and its coefficient is +0.55%. This implies that 1% increase in income inequality increases grain import by 0.55%. Also, the effect of gross domestic production on grains import is positive and the real exchange rate and grains production variables have a negative and significant effect on grains import.
    Keywords: Grain, Gross domestic production, Real exchange rate, Vector error correction model (VECM)
  • E. Pishbahar, M. Ghahremanzadeh, M. Ainollahi, R. Ferdowsi Pages 1095-1101
    One of the main challenges facing the Agriculture Bank of Iran regarding lending loans is the high probability of default by farmers. Several factors could be involved in this issue and should be considered in order to control and reduce the risk in the failure of repayment. This study aimed to examine the factors affecting the repayment performance of agricultural loans in the city of Maragheh in East Azarbaijan Province of Iran. Required data were obtained from a sample of 779 individual farmers who had previously received loans from Agricultural Bank during the period 2004-2008. Nested Logit Model (NLM) was applied for analyzing the data and, for this purpose, STATA software was used in the study. Results revealed that having an activity besides farming, extension of the repayment period of the loan, and large volume of received loans are the factors that had significant negative impacts on loan repayment. On the other hand, factors including high interest rates of loans, having collateral of guarantor, services received from the banks, and long term maturity period for the loans increase the probability of timely loan repayment significantly.
    Keywords: Agricultural bank, Agricultural credits, Nested Logit Model, Probability of repayment failure, Repayment performance
  • O. Adekanmbi, O. Olugbara Pages 1103-1114
    This paper presents a model for constrained multiobjective optimization of mixed-cropping planning. The decision challenges that are normally faced by farmers include what to plant, when to plant, where to plant and how much to plant in order to yield maximum output. Consequently, the central objective of this work is to concurrently maximize net profit, maximize crop production and minimize planting area. For this purpose, the generalized differential evolution 3 algorithm was explored to implement the mixed-cropping planning model, which was tested with data from the South African grain information service and the South African abstract of agricultural statistics. Simulation experiments were conducted using the non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm II to validate the performance of the generalized differential evolution 3 algorithm. The empirical findings of this study indicated that generalized differential evolution 3 algorithm is a feasible optimization tool for solving optimal mixed-cropping planning problems.
    Keywords: Crop, Evolution, Genetics, Optimization, Planning
  • S. A. R. Pishbin, A. Alambeigi, H. Iravani Pages 1115-1125
    There are more than one million agricultural cooperatives members in Iran. In the meantime, the rapid development of the animal husbandry in Iran has forced cooperatives to meet the members’ scientific and practical needs for completing production cycle of the dairy industry. Livestock production covers a wide spectrum of livestock activities including bee keeping, silkworm raising, and aquaculture, indicating widespread business systems in Iranian animal husbandry. Due to significant livestock population, various animal products, such as raw milk, red meat, white meat (chicken and fish), eggs, and honey are produced. Thus, the mentioned cooperatives need to meet the markets demands for keeping competitive advantage more than any time before. Only when innovation is fostered, market competitive advantage can be maintained. Today, sustainability and innovation issues have a great importance in some organizations such as agriculture cooperatives. The term “entrepreneurship” is coined to describe this need to keep organizations in competitive situation by innovations tools. Presently, it is believed that entrepreneurship can be developed. Organizational, personal, and environmental aspects are important factors toward entrepreneurship fostering. This study took into consideration three factors in cooperatives, including structure, strategy, and leadership.The results of research revealed that these three variables play important role in entrepreneurship development in cooperatives. Thus, consideration of these aspects can help in development and boost cooperatives profits. The result of modeling by structural equations methods showed that 38% of the variance of entrepreneurship as a dependent variable could be explained by these three factors in cooperatives.
    Keywords: Agricultural cooperatives, Cooperative Entrepreneurship, Organizational factors
  • S. Chatterjee, R. Goswami, P. Bandopadhyay Pages 1127-1140
    Targeted extension for heterogeneous farming systems is a challenge in developing countries. Farm type identification and characterization based on estimates of income from different farm components allows simplifying diversity in farming systems. Use of multivariate statistical techniques, such as principal component analysis (PCA) and cluster analysis (CA), help in such farm typology delineation. Using this methodological approach, the present study conducted in West Bengal, India, identified four distinct farm types, namely, farms growing food grain and jute, farms with animal husbandry and fishery based diversification with high off-farm income, farms with crop based diversification with off-farm income, and farms growing vegetables and fruits. Such typology delineation helps in differentiated, holistic, and broad-based extension intervention to address the need of different identified farm types and a reduced transaction cost in the agricultural research and extension system. inbred lines, and 9 hybrids). A total of 94 and 262 loci were amplified using 5 IRAP and 15 REMAP primers, respectively. The percentage of polymorphic loci (PPL) in populations ranged from 39% (Zivari Shahrood) to 48% (Shadegani E). The Mantel test between IRAP and REMAP cophenetic matrices evidenced no significant correlation (r= 0.29). IRAP+REMAP-based cluster analysis using UPGMA algorithm and Dice similarity coefficient depicted 6 groups among 100 melon genotypes. AMOVA revealed the higher level of genetic variation within populations (67%) compared to among populations (33%). The mean Fst values of all groups, except for group VI, were more than 0.20, demonstrating differentiation among the populations and genetic structure of the studied melon collection.
    Keywords: Cluster analysis, Economic characterization, Farm heterogeneity, Farm typology, Principal component analysis
  • E. Dereli Fidan, M. K. Turkyilmaz, A. Nazliguls., Uuml, NÜbol Aypak, S. Karaarslan Pages 1141-1150
    The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of preslaughter shackling durations on some blood parameters, breast and thigh meat quality traits, and muscle metabolites in broilers. The effects of shackling were determined in a group of Ross 308 broilers (240 birds) aged 42 days. Four shackling treatments were used in experimental tests: shackling of broilers for 10 (Group G10; as control), 30 (G30), 60 (G60), and 120 seconds (G120). Results showed that corticosterone (CORT) level (2314.79 pg ml-1) at 120 seconds shackling group increased (P< 0.01). Results indicated that kinase (CK) activity was the highest (2265.69 U I-1) in the 120 seconds shackling group while it was the lowest (1970.64 U I-1) in 10 s group according to the shackling duration (P< 0.05). The breast meat redness value increased due to increase in shackling duration (P< 0.05). It was revealed that shackling duration had decreased breast muscle glycogen level in all treatment groups (P< 0.001). Conversely, breast lactate level increased according to increase in shackling duration (P< 0.05). It was revealed that there was a negative relationship (r= -0.466) between breast meat ultimate pH and cooking loss (CL) value in male broilers (P< 0.01). These results indicated that the preslaughter shackling procedure might be a considerably stressful procedure for broilers, particularly exceeding 60 s. This study suggested that broilers could be at disadvantage due to more struggle during long duration shackling and accelerated postmortem glycolysis, which is detrimental to the quality of breast meat.
    Keywords: Creatine kinase activity, Corticosterone, Glycogen level, Lactate level, Wing flapping
  • M. Sattaei Mokhtari, S. R. Miraei-Ashtiani, M. Jafaroghli, J. P. Gutierrez Pages 1151-1160
    Studbook information collected from 1988 to 2011 in Jafarabad breeding station of Moghani sheep, north-west of Iran, related to 9,457 lambs were used to study the genetic diversity and to evaluate the effectiveness of an implemented rotational mating scheme using pedigree analysis. Lambs born during 2009-2011 were considered as reference population. Means inbreeding and average coancestry for the reference population were computed as 0.40 and 0.74%, respectively. The mean generation interval was 4.48 years with a longer generation interval on dam-progeny pathways. Average equivalent complete generation, as a measure of pedigree completeness, was 3.37. Effective population sizes were estimated to be 226 and 276 from the individual rate in coancestry and from the individual increase in inbreeding, respectively. Genealogical parameters estimated based on probabilities of gene origin including the effective numbers of founders, the effective numbers of ancestors, the effective numbers of founder genomes (founder genome equivalents) and the effective numbers of non-founder genomes considering the reference population were estimated as 143, 117, 67, and 126, respectively. Approximately, 50% of the total genetic variation was explained by the 43 most influential ancestors, with a maximum individual contribution of 3.27%. The results indicated that although some evidences on bottlenecks and genetic drift during recent years were identified in the studied population, a considerable genetic variability existed in this population due to implementation of an efficient rotational mating scheme for controlling inbreeding.
    Keywords: Closed flock, Inbreeding trend, Rotational mating scheme, Genealogical parameters
  • M. Yaghobi, F. Paykan Heyrati, S. Dorafshan, N. Mahmoudi Pages 1161-1170
    The effects of dietary nucleotide (NT) were evaluated on some serum biochemical parameters and acute stress responses of the catfish (Pangasianodon hypophthalmus). Five experimental diets including 0, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, and 1% NT were supplied to catfish fry for 10 weeks. At the end of the experiment, fish fed the control and 1% NT diets were subjected to handling and crowding stress. The results showed that the fish supplied with 0.25-0.75% NT had a lower level of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) (P<0.05) while other serum enzymes including alkaline phosphatase (ALP), asparate transaminase (ASP), and alanine transaminase (ALT) were not significantly reduced by NT inclusion in the diet (P>0.05). The fish which received the highest doses (0.75 and 1%) of NT exhibited higher levels of triglyceride than the other groups (P<0.05) while they showed no significant differences in other biochemical parameters including total protein, albumin, globulin, cholesterol, and glucose (P>0.05). To investigate stress responses, cortisol (primary response), serum glucose, and serum ion concentrations including sodium, potassium and calcium (secondary responses) were measured. The results showed significant fluctuations in all the tested components during the sampling intervals for up to 48 h post-stress; the exceptions, however, were glucose in the group on the 1% NT diet as well as serum cortisol and calcium levels in those supplied with the control diet. Based on the results obtained, it may be concluded that dietary NT can improve liver function in iridescent catfish, but it has no obvious positive effects on other serum biochemical parameters and stress responses.
    Keywords: Crowding stress, Cortisol, Handling stress, Liver function
  • M. Izadizadeh, A. A. Talebi, V. A. Kolyada, E. Rakhshani Pages 1171-1182
    A survey on the genus Exallonyx Kieffer, 1904 (Hymenoptera: Proctotrupidae) was conducted in northern Iran. The specimens were collected using Malaise traps during 2010–2011. The genus Exallonyx and six species were collected and identified for the first time from Iran: Exallonyx ater (Gravenhorst, 1807), E. brevicornis (Haliday, 1839), E. formicarius Kieffer, 1904, E. ligatus (Nees, 1834), E. minor Townes, 1981 and E. nixoni Townes, 1981. A key is presented for identification of Exallonyx species occurring in northern Iran.
    Keywords: Diagnostic characters, Identification key, Parasitoids wasps
  • G. Salehi Jouzani, S. Abbasalizadeh, M. Mohammad Fata, H. Morsali Pages 1183-1196
    One of the major obstacles of Bt production as a biopesticide is its expensive bioprocess and fermentation. Therefore, the objective of the present study was to optimize growth condition and develop a low-cost bioprocess for mass production of a native coleopteran-effective Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) strain (KH4) based on agricultural wastes, at incubator and batch fermenter level. Preliminary experiments showed that the optimum pH and temperature for the strain were 6.5 and 30°C, respectively. The maximum growth and spore/crystal production were observed in the medium containing 2% molasses and 3% corn steep liquor as carbon and nitrogen sources, respectively. Different concentrations of the sea salt were used as a new cheap and available mineral source. Sea salt with final 0.003% w/w concentration showed the highest rate of growth for the strain. The experiments in Batch fermenter showed that volume of 2% bacterial inoculation in total volume of medium culture was the best concentration as preculture. It was shown that pH significantly decreased at the beginning of logarithmic phase, whereas it significantly increased at the end of the logarithmic phase. By increasing fermentation period, the oxygen demand was increased, and by increasing oxygen concentration up to 70%, the bacterial growth and the spores/crystal production was increased. Based on the results, the growth condition of the strain was optimized and a new cheap and available commercial fermentation medium was developed for mass production of the strain in the batch systems.
    Keywords: Agricultural waste, Bt, Economical growth media, Fermentation
  • S. Unalmis, A. Ayvaz, S. Yilmaz, U. Azizoglu Pages 1197-1207
    Bacillus thuringiensis strains were isolated from various soil samples collected from different regions of Kahramanmaraş in Turkey and were characterized by their colony morphology, PCR method with cryIAb/Ac, cryID, cry2 and cyt2 primers, and SDS-PAGE of crystal proteins with 130-140 and 60-70 kDa molecular weights. Plasmid profiles of selected isolates were also analyzed. Among the cry genes studied, cry1Ab/Ac was found to be the most common one (60%) in local isolates. Bioactivity tests were carried out under laboratory conditions to assess the efficacy of isolates against the third instar larvae of the stored product insects; Anagasta kuehniella and Plodia interpunctella. Toxicity values of the isolates varied between 20.00-53.33% for A. kuehniella and 20.00-55.56% for P. interpunctella at 1,000 µg g-1 concentration. Out of 55 isolates, ST13.1 was found to be the most effective against A. kuehniella. Also, ST7.2, ST7.3, and ST8.2 isolates yielded remarkable control against P. interpunctella. Further research is recommended to investigate the efficacy of these promising Bt isolates against other pest insect species.
    Keywords: Bacillus thuringiensis, Bioactivity, Cry gene, Stored product insects, Toxicity
  • S. Kumar Pages 1209-1222
    A two-year field study was conducted at Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, India, to study the relative abundance of mustard/turnip aphid, Lipaphis erysimi (Kaltenbach) (Hemiptera: Aphididae) and the associated resident natural enemies on 10 different rapeseed-mustard genotypes which included: Brassica juncea: RH 7846, RH 9501, RK 9501, JMM 927, Purple Mutant; B. napus: Hyola PAC 401 (Hybrid); B. rapa ecotype yellow sarson cv. YST 151; B. rapa ecotype brown sarson cv. BSH 1; B. carinata: DLSC 2 and Eruca sativa: T 27. The objective was to study whether indigenous natural enemies can be used for biological control of mustard aphid. Population of turnip aphid and different natural enemies was recorded at weekly intervals. There was lack of synchronization in the peak activity of natural enemies with that of the aphids with a time lag of one to two weeks depending upon the genotype. For example, on B. juncea cv. RH 7846, the peak aphids’ population was recorded during the 10th Standard Meteorological Week (SMW) while that of predators’ was recorded during the 12th SMW in 2007-2008 crop season. Among the different natural enemies, coccinellids were the most abundant with grubs being dominant in the initial phase of population development and adults in the later one. There is a need to conserve the resident natural enemies in mustard ecosystem for effective early season suppression of the aphid population or release them early in the season to suppress aphid population in lag phase of its development.
    Keywords: Agroecosystem, Ecology, Mustard aphid, Parasitoid, Predator
  • K. Kheradmand, S. Beynaghi, S. Asgari, A. Sheikhi Garjan Pages 1223-1232
    To introduce ecologically safe acaricide, effects of essential oils derived from Cuminum cyminum (Cumin), Syzygium aromaticum (Clove), and Mentha spicata (Spearmint) were determined on Tetranychus urticae at 25±1◦C, 65±5% RH and a photoperiod of 16:8 (L:D) hour. The essential oils extracted by hydro-distillation were characterized by means of GC and GC–MS. Bioassays were performed by filter paper diffusion without allowing direct contact. Cumin, clove, and spearmint oils contained α- Pinene (29.1%), eugenol (78.5%) and carvone (59.4%), respectively, as the major compounds. The lowest LC50value for adults was recorded for cumin oil (3.74 μL L-1 air) followed by clove (6.13 μL L-1 air) and spearmint (7.53 μL L-1 air). The highest ovicidal activity was recorded for cumin oil (LC50= 7.65 μL L-1 air) followed by clove (LC50= 8.73 μL L-1 air) and spearmint (LC50= 9.01 μL L-1 air). According to repellency tests, by increasing concentration of oils, the repellency effects were increased. The most potent repellency effect was recorded for clove, followed by spearmint and cumin oils. The three extracted essential oils seem to be suitable sources of active vapors that can be used as alternatives for chemical pesticides for controlling this pest.
    Keywords: Clove, Cumin, Ovicidal activity, Spearmint
  • E. Roohi, Z. Tahmasebi-Sarvestani, S. A. M. Modarres Sanavy, A. Siosemardeh Pages 1233-1244
    Canopy temperature (CT) is used as a selection tool to improve crop adaptation to drought. The aim of this work was to investigate association of some photosynthetic characters with CT during grain filling in three cereal species. For this objective, a two-year study (2009-2011) was carried out in Kurdistan Province in western Iran. Four genotypes of triticale, three cultivars of bread wheat, and a new variety of barley were compared under well watered (WW, Ψsoil water= -3 bar) and deficit water (DW, Ψsoil water= -12 bar) conditions in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with a split-plot arrangement. Compared with well-watered plants, water stressed plants displayed 1.44°C higher canopy temperature irrespective of plant species. Under water stress condition, the high yielding genotypes had lower canopy temperature than low yielding ones by 1.23°C. Results showed that under water deficit condition triticale relative to commercial cultivar of wheat and barley had a higher adaptability to drought as indicated by its higher yield (59.5 g m-2 more than average) and lower CT (0.28°C lower than average). The main physiological traits correlated with canopy temperature under DW treatment were stomatal conductance (gs) (r= -0.73*), photosynthetic rate (Pn) (r= -0.76*), the maximal quantum yield of primary photochemistry (Fv/Fm) (r= - 0.71*), chlorophyll content at grain filling (r= -0.72*) and leaf temperature (LT) (r= 0.82**). Thus, canopy temperature seems to play an important role in the physiological basis of grain yield in different cereal species, and can be used as a selection tool in breeding programs under water deficit condition in Iran.
    Keywords: Barley, Chlorophyll fluorescence, Drought stress, Net photosynthetic rate, Triticale
  • M. KoŁodziejczyk Pages 1245-1254
    A three-year field experiment was conducted under conditions of Luvic Chernozem soil. Diversified nitrogen fertilization with 0, 60, 120, and 180 kg N ha-1, and microbial preparations improving soil properties were applied to potatoes, cv. ‘Satina’, cultivation. N–NO3 concentration in the soil profile (0–0.9 m) in autumn after potato harvesting fluctuated from 28 kg N ha-1 in the N0 treatment to 70 kg N ha-1 in the N180 treatment, whereas N–NH4 content varied from 22 to 48 kg N ha-1, respectively. The level of nitrogen fertilization also had a significant effect on the change in soil N–NO3 content during the autumn-winter period. The decrease in N–NO3 content in the N0 treatments was 7% compared to 24% in the N180 treatments. Application of microbial preparations to potato cultivation caused an increase in Nmin content in soil after crop harvesting. However, after the autumn-winter period, a lower amount of N–NO3, compared to the control treatment, was found in the treatments where microbial preparations had been used.
    Keywords: Ammonium nitrogen, Nitrate nitrogen, Loss of N–NO3, Solanum tuberosum
  • I. F. Garc, Iacute, A. Tejero, A. Hernandez, V. M. Rodriguez, J. R. Ponce, V. Ramos, J. L. Muriel, V. H. Duran Zuazo Pages 1255-1266
    Water is the most limiting factor in irrigated agriculture, mainly in Mediterranean environments, as in the case of southwest Spain. In this area, almond is one of the most valuable crops due to its high drought tolerance. This work examines the crop coefficients (KC) based on four drainage lysimeters installed in an experimental young almond orchard. Complementary, two deficit-irrigation treatments were tested: (1) moderate deficit-irrigation (MDI), which received 100% of the crop evapotranspiration (ETC) during the irrigation period, except during the kernel-filling stage and pre-harvest, when irrigation was 50% of ETC; and (2) severe deficit irrigation (SDI), in which water was applied according to the values of leaf-water potential at midday (Ψleaf), this being maintained at between -1.6 and -2.0 MPa. The crop’s physiological response to water stress was monitored throughout the study period by assessing the leaf-water potential (Ψleaf) and canopy temperature (TC) dynamics. The KC values changed from 0.4 at the beginning of irrigation period to a maximum of 1.1 during the maximum evaporative demand period. From this stage on, the Kc gradually decreased to 0.4 at the end of the season. In physiological terms, both Ψleaf and TC showed a temporal evolution according to defined irrigation strategies. Moreover, significant relationship (r2 = 0.63, P<0.05) was obtained between Yleaf and the difference between leaf and air temperature values (AT). the difference between leaf and air temperature values; evidencing the feasibility of using TC for water-stress management. Thus, the findings highlight the importance of local KC to optimize water use and irrigation scheduling in almond orchards.
    Keywords: Almond, Deficit, irrigation, Drainage lysimeters, Leaf temperature, Water stress
  • S. Gholamzadeh Khoei, B. Abdollahi Mandoulakani, I. Bernousi Pages 1267-1277
    Retrotransposons (RTNs) constitute informative molecular markers for plant species because of their ability to integrate into a multitude of loci throughout the genome and thereby generate insertional polymorphisms between individuals. In the present study, RTN-based molecular markers, IRAP (inter-retrotransposon amplified polymorphism) and REMAP (retrotransposon-microsatellite amplified polymorphism), were applied to study RTN integration events and genetic diversity in 100 melon genotypes (88 genotypes from 11 populations, three inbred lines, and 9 hybrids). A total of 94 and 262 loci were amplified using 5 IRAP and 15 REMAP primers, respectively. The percentage of polymorphic loci (PPL) in populations ranged from 39% (Zivari Shahrood) to 48% (Shadegani E). The Mantel test between IRAP and REMAP cophenetic matrices evidenced no significant correlation (r= 0.29). IRAP+REMAP-based cluster analysis using UPGMA algorithm and Dice similarity coefficient depicted 6 groups among 100 melon genotypes. AMOVA revealed the higher level of genetic variation within populations (67%) compared to among populations (33%). The mean Fst values of all groups, except for group VI, were more than 0.20, demonstrating differentiation among the populations and genetic structure of the studied melon collection.
    Keywords: Cucumis melo, Genetic variability, Reme1, Retrotransposon
  • V. Rasoli, E. Farshadfar, J. Ahmadi Pages 1279-1289
    To evaluate genotype × environment interaction (GEI) of grapevine, 20 genotypes of grapevines with Russian origin were evaluated at one location in Urmia and four locations in Takestan (two locations under full irrigation and two locations under drought stress). This research was performed in a randomized complete block design with three replications and three vines in each plot, in 2012-2013 season. Data on fruit yield (kg/vine) of the grapevine genotypes grown at different test locations were recorded and subjected to stability analysis by nonparametric methods. Result of the combined ANOVA revealed that variances due to genotypes, environments, and genotype-environment interactions were highly significant. Significant genotypic variance indicated genetic diversity among genotypes yield. The highest Si(1) and Si(2) mean absolute rank was observed for genotypes Ramfi TCXA, Apozoski Ramfi, X45 and Anapiski Ramfli, indicating the high instability of these genotypes. Among the individual Z values, it was found that genotypes Ramfi TCXA, Uzbakestan Moscat, Bli Ramfi, Apozoski Ramfi and Anapiski Ramfli were significantly stable relative to the others, of which the Zi(1) and Zi(2) values were greater than the table χ2(0.05, 1)(3.84). The genotypes Skieve and Gezgiski Ramfi ranked the first and second, respectively, according to Si(3), while, according to Si(6), genotypes Skieve and Uzbakestan Moscat ranked the first and second, respectively. Genotypes Uzbakestan Moscat, Bli Ramfi and Kishmish Ramfi Azos, respectively, had the highest stability and lowest changes in different environments and were recommendable as stable genotypes in different areas. But, it should be noted that yield of these genotypes was moderate. Genotype Muscat had a high yield and moderate stability. As a result, these genotypes (Uzbakestan Moscat, Bli Ramfi, Skieve, Muscat and Kishmish Ramfi Azos) indicated greater resistance to environmental fluctuation and, therefore, increasing specificity of adaptability to low yielding environments.
    Keywords: Genotype × Environment_Grapevine_Non_parametric Methods_Stability Analysis
  • A. R. Abbasi, B. Mohammadi, R. Sarvestani, F. Mirataei Pages 1291-1302
    Vicia sativa L., an annual winter growing leguminous plant, is a valuable source of protein and minerals for cattle. Drought is one of the key stress factors that influence plant growth and development. In order to investigate common vetch physiological and molecular responses under Normal irrigation (N) and two levels of drought stress [S1= 30% and S2= 10% Field Capacity (FC)], a greenhouse experiment was carried out on two genotypes, namely, Mahalimaraghe and 41,and some physiological traits [e.g. Relative Water Content (RWC), Electro Leakage (EL), total protein, chlorophyll (a, b), and carotenoid content] were measured and expression patterns of three genes (sod, aq1 and bzip) were evaluated by real-time quantitative RT-PCR analysis. Results showed that expression pattern of all three genes and physiological responses had significantly changed in response to the stress. The highest increase in the expression of each of the three genes was observed in Mahalimaraghegenotype in S1 condition compared to N. In contrast, under S2 condition compared to N, the highest increase in expression of the three genes was observed in genotype 41. In comparison of S2 with S1, the highest changes in expression of all the three genes was observed in Mahalimaraghe genotype. All together, the obtained results may facilitate the understanding of molecular mechanism of V. sativa in response to drought stress, and also provide the basis of effective genetic engineering strategies for improving stress tolerance of V. sativa.
    Keywords: Dought tolerance, Expression pattern, Gene expression, Molecular response, Osmotic Adjustment
  • M. Pouresmael, J. Mozafari, R. A. Khavari-Nejad, F. Najafi, F. Moradi Pages 1303-1317
    Drought sensitivity is considered as a major concern for chickpea (C. arietinum) seed production. Determination of drought adaptation mechanisms is an essential constituent of this crop breeding programs. With this purpose, the present research was conducted to distinguish the molecular basis of chickpea drought tolerance using cDNA-AFLP approach. The expression profile was compared between drought tolerant (ICCV2 and FLIP9855C) and susceptible lines (ILC3279) of chickpea under three drought treatments including well-watered, intermediate, and severe stress; where soil water content was kept at 85–90%, 55–60%, and 25–30% of Field capacity, respectively. Totally, 295 transcript-derived fragments (TDFs) were visualized. Among the differentially expressed TDFs, 72 TDFs were sequenced. Sequenced cDNAs were categorized in different functional groups involved in macromolecules metabolism, cellular transport, signal transduction, transcriptional regulation, cell division and energy production. Based on the results, ribosomal protein S8, mitochondrial chaperone, proteases, hydrolases, UDP -glucuronic acid decarboylase, 2-hydroxyisoflavanone dehydratase, NADPH dehydrogenase, chloride channels, calmodulin, ABC transporter, histone deacetylase and factors involved in chloroplast division were among genes that were affected by drought stress. Similarity search in data base showed that cell wall elasticity, isoflavonoids, maintenance of structure and function of proteins through increase in expression of mitochondrial chaperones, programed cell death, and remobilization of storage material from leaves to seeds were among mechanisms that distinguished differences between drought tolerant and drought susceptible lines.
    Keywords: Drought stress, cDNA, amplified fragments length polymorphism, Transcript derived fragments (TDFs), Gene expression
  • M. M. Majidi, Y. Sharafi, M. Jafarzadeh, A. Mirlohi Pages 1319-1331
    Designing breeding programs for winter rapeseed (Brassica napus L.) cultivars with improved seed and oil yields requires information about the genetic variability of traits. In this study, 28 winter rapeseed cultivars were evaluated for genetic variation and relationships between 11 agro-morphological characters during 2010 and 2011. Cultivars and cultivar × year interaction showed significant variation for all studied traits. Genotypic coefficients of variation indicated that yield, number of branches per plant, and plant height had the highest variation. Broad sense heritability estimates ranged from 6% to 87% for seed yield and pod length, respectively. Positive correlation was found between seed yield with number of pods per plant, number of branches per plant, days to flowering, and days to ripening. The result of factor analysis showed three independent factors that explained 71% of the total variability, which were named ‘productivity’, ‘phenology and oil’, and ‘pod length’, respectively. According to the first factor, RGS003, Opera, and Hayola were identified as high seed yielding cultivars. Based on all three factors, Lilian, Licord, and Ella were identified as the best cultivars concerning seed yield and oil content.
    Keywords: Diversity, Factor analysis, Genetic variability, Selection
  • R. Kumar, S. Yadav, D. Shrinivas, A. Kumar Srivastava, V. Shitole, G. R. Naik Pages 1333-1345
    Pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan (L) Millsp.) is a drought tolerant legume widely grown in the arid and semi-arid tropics of the world which possesses a deep and extensive root system that succors a number of important physiological and metabolic functions to cope with drought. Application of available functional genomics approaches to improve productivity under water deficit requires a better understanding of the mechanisms involved during pigeonpea’s response to water deficit stress. In order to identify the genes associated with water deficit in pigeonpea, Suppression Subtractive Hybridization cDNA library was constructed from polyethylene glycol-induced water deficit young root tissues from pigeonpea and 157 high quality ESTs were generated by sequencing of 300 random clones which resulted in 95 unigenes comprising 37 contigs and 58 singlets. The cluster analysis of ESTs revealed that the majority of the genes had significant similarity with known proteins available in the databases along with unique and hypothetical/uncharacterized proteins. These differential ESTs were characterized and genes relevant to the specific physiological processes were identified. Northern blot analysis revealed the up regulation of ornithine aminotransferase, cyclophilin, DREB and peroxidase. The differentially expressed sequences are conceived to serve as a potential source of stress inducible genes of the water deficit transcriptome and hence may provide useful information to understand the molecular mechanism of water deficit management in legumes.
    Keywords: cDNA, drought, PEG, Polyethylene glycol
  • R. Mostowfizadeh-Ghalamfarsa, Z. Banihashemi Pages 1347-1363
    Theplant pathogenic Phytophthora drechsleri is morphologically similar to some other non-papillate Phytophthora spp., especially P. melonis, and it is difficult to discriminate these convergent taxa. It seems that the Iranian putative P. drechsleri isolates from different cucurbit species have been generally misidentified and their characteristics do not match with P. drechsleri. In order to compare these two groups, authentic P. drechsleri isolates and isolates from different cucurbits were assessed for morphological, physiological (cultural, temperature relations, mating type), and molecular traits. Multiple gene genealogy analysis were performed on regions of nuclear (ITS, β-tubulin, translation elongation factor 1α, elicitin) and mitochondrial (cytochrome c oxidase subunit I) gene sequences. Congruence was observed in different phylogenetic data sets. The present study demonstrated that putative P. drechsleri isolates from cucurbits and pistachio trees were a distinct species and belonged to P. melonis. Data showed that P. melonis was a homogenous species and there were no considerable molecular intraspecific variations between isolates from cucurbits and isolates from other hosts. Design of a molecular species-specific identification tool for P. melonis isolates is under investigation.
    Keywords: Internal transcribed spacer of rDNA, Phylogeny, Phytophthora melonis, Oomycota
  • S. Patil, C. T. Shivannavar, M. C. Bheemaraddi, S. M. Gaddad Pages 1365-1377
    In the present study, we aimed to screen indigenous rhizospheric Bacillus strains, capable of producing antiphytopathogenic and plant growth promoting traits. Isolate CTS-B19 and CTS-G24 exhibited quite noticeable antagonistic activity initially against Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. ciceri and Rhizoctonia bataticola, and, later, against a panel of phytopathogens. Partial 16S rRNA sequence analysis showed that the isolate CTS-B19 and CTS-G24 exhibited 99% homology with Paenibacillus polymyxa and Bacillus subtilis and the sequences were deposited in GenBank with accession numbers KF322038 and KF322037, respectively. In vitro detection for fungal wall degrading enzymes revealed that both isolates produced chitinases, β-1,3-glucanases, proteases and cellulases. While siderophores and catalase activities were observed only in Bacillus subtilis (CTS-G24), both strains exhibited a positive result for in vitro ammonia production. Besides, the strain CTS-B19 could also solubilize phosphate. Lytic enzymes and siderophore produced by Bacillus subtilis can be considered as potential antiphytopathogenic traits involved in the inhibition of fungal growth. Both strains exhibited either no or negligible antagonistic activity against other plant growth promoting bacteria. Additional to antagonism, plant growth promoting traits exhibited by these natural biocontrol agents may suppress plant diseases and might be applied in agriculture as an alternative to chemical pesticides and fertilizers.
    Keywords: Cell wall lytic enzymes, Lytic enzymes, Paenibacillus spp, Siderophore