الله داد سلیم پور

The fig, a sub-tropical crop, consumes as a table fruit as well as a dry product. Since, salinity is the serious concern of fig production, during 2016-2018, seven fig cultivars (‘Sabzʼ, ‘Siyahʼ, ‘Shah Anjirʼ, ‘Atabakiʼ, ‘Kashkiʼ, ‘Matiʼ and ‘Barʼ) were subjected to saline water (0.5, 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 dSm-1). Then, potein, proline, photosynthetic pigments, superoxide dismutase, catalase, guaiacol peroxidase and ascorbate peroxidase content were compared to introduce the most salt-tolerant cultivar. The results indicated, salinity caused an increase in total protein, proline and activity of antioxidant enzymes, but a decrease in chlorophyll (a, b, total) and carotenoids pigments. According to the results “Siyah” and “Sabz” cultivars were the most salt-tolerant and “Shah Anjir” was the most salt -sensitive cultivar. The ‘Atabakiʼ, ‘Kashkiʼ, ‘Matiʼ and ‘Bar anjirʼ were placed between them

Grape vine is one of the important horticultural crops with unique standing as regards use and consumption. The fruit is utilized from immature to ripened state and as raisins. Its leaves can be used when they are soft and fresh. Therefore it is necessary to improve Iranian grapevine quality as well as quantity. The main purpose of this study was the use of Phenyl Phetalamic Acid (PPA) to increase fruit set and fruit quality. The experiment arranged in factorial design, included four cultivars (Razeghi, Askari, Sefidali and Rish baba) along with three concentrations of PPA (0,500,1000 mg/Lit) as based on a completely randomized design of three replications in Kashmar vineyards (Khorasan Razavi province) in spring 2010. PPA was sprayed at 50% flowering stage. Analysis of variance indicted that using PPA exerted significant effects on cluster (weight, length and number), and on berry (number, weight, length and diameter). The most fruit set index (berry number per cluster) was observed in Sefidali with 263.11 berries per cluster. Askari, Razghi and Rish baba with 113, 109.89 and 76.11 respectively, stood as the next ones. Askari and Razeghi showed similar and insignificant differences towards the reaction while their differences were significant from Rish baba. Results revealed interaction effects to be significant for cluster, berry and seed traits while insignificant for number of berries per cluster. Based on the results, cluster characteristics were affected by 1000mg/L of PPA significantly. It could positively affect the fruit set and increased it by 26.2% compared with control (except for Askari). The most effective treatment for berry characteristics was 500 mg/L of PPA that showed insignificant differences with the 1000mg/L of treatment. Finally PPA as an auxin synergist showed positive effects on grapevine fruit set, probably with a decrease in apical dominance of terminal buds and diverting metabolites to clusters, resulted in improvement of berries characteristics.

Almond is among some of the most important nut crops requiring improvement in many aspects of its production. To do that, the first step is an evaluation of the genetic diversity of the existing germplasm. Towards this end, 56 vigorous almond seedlings were evaluated with recording eight morphological characteristics (trunk diameter, height of main trunk, canopy density, canopy angle, branch number, average branch size, branch tip color and growth power) as based upon an almond descriptor, at the Horticultural Research Station, University of Tehran. Cluster analysis, at a distance of 9, divided the genotypes into four groups. There existed 13 genotypes in the first group, 10 in the second, five in the third, and finally another 28 genotypes located in the fourth group. The first group included most East and West Azerbaijan genotypes plus two genotypes, one from Karaj Horticultural Research Station and the other from Estahban. In the second group, all the genotypes belonged to Azerbaijan, except two which belonged to Kashmar and Estahban. The third group included three genotypes from the Research Station while two from Azerbaijan. There were genotypes from varying areas in the fourth group. High correlations were observed among the traits, most of them being significant, as based on the Coefficients of correlation. The highest correlation (0.74), a significant one, was observed between foliage density and branching traits, while the lowest (0.007) observed between growth vigor and foliage density.

Almond is one of the most valuable horticultural nut crops in the world with Iran being amongst the most important regions of its distribution. RAPD markers were employed to evaluate the diversity levels and relationship among some 56 collected genotypes of the crop. Through sixteen RAPD primers a number of, 171 DNA bands were produced, 168 of which were polymorphic. The samples which according to Cluster Analysis were of 44% of similarity, were divided into 2 main subgroups. Based upon their different genetic origins and by use of Jaccard Similarity Coefficient as well as through UPGMA method, the most similarity was observed between AV228 and AV164 samples (72%), both from Research Station of the Horticulture Department (RSHD). The lowest similarity was observed between AV123 genotypes from RSHD and DS genotype from Azarshahr (29%). The highest rate of total heterozigosity (Ht) was related to BA6, BA17 and BD10 primers with a value of 39%, in zone analysis, whilst the lowest (27%) related to BA14 primers. The most genetic similarity, through Similarity Matrix, was found between GS (Gazireh Eslami) and S (Serj) zones, both of them from Azerbayjan Province. These samples in Zones Cluster Analysis also showed the shortest distance (5%). The longest distance (60%) was observed between AV (from RSHD) and MAH (from Maharlu zone). The results finally showed that there are considerable differences among genotypes, a trait that when present in parents can be used in future breeding programs and RAPD markers were able to discriminate almond genotypes to a sufficient extent.