فهرست مطالب رجب چوکان

The new maize hybrid,Paya,is the result of the cross K47/2-2-1-2-2-1-1-1×K18.The single cross hybrid Paya produced an average grain yield of 11.47t/ha in preliminary yield trial in four locations in 2013,10.58t/ha in semi-final grain yield trail in seven locations in 2014,10.96 t/ha in final grain yield trials in 13 locations during 2015 -2016,and 11.33t/ha in final yield trail in 10 locations during 2017-2018 which were superior compared toKSC704as check,with an average grain yield of 9.34,9.46,10.72 and 11.04t/ha (in preliminary yield trial in2013semi-final grain yield trail in2014,final grain yield trails during 2015-2016 and2017-2018,respectively).In on-farm experiments carried out in eight regions,the new hybrid with an average grain yield of9.98t/ha compared to the check cultivar KSC704 with an average grain yield of 8.50t/ha,both with 14% grain moisture,showed 17.46% higher grain yield.Based on the results of the final forage yield trials in five locations,the new maize hybrid with an average yield of80.1t/ha,compared to KSC704 with an average yield of 75.9t/ha,revealed 4.2t/ha yield increase during2017and2018 years.The relative forage value (RFV) in the new maize hybrid (250.7) was higher than the check hybrid KSC704 (179.5).Also,based on the results of on-farm experiments in three regions,the new hybrid with an average forage yield of 85.93 t/ha,showed a 13.26% increase in forage yield compared to the check cultivar KSC704 with a forage yield of 75.87 t/ha.Although the new maize hybrid was superior to the KSC704 in terms of yield,stability,and rate of grain moisture reduction after physiological maturity; its most important advantage was its relative resistance and less infection to common smut disease (with9.16%infection) compared to the susceptible hybrid KSC704(with22.30%infection)as one of the main problems of maize farms in the country.More ever,the response of the new maize hybrid and the check cultivar KSC704 to Fusarium ear rot disease is semi-resistant.In general,the new maize hybrid,Paya,is suitable for cultivation in Karaj,Shiraz,Mashhad,Kermanshah,Moghan,Miandoab,Dezful,Kerman and Jiroft.

Androgenesis has great potential in plant breeding due to its high efficiency and applicability in many plant species. Anther culture is one of the most common technique to induce haploids in plant breeding programs. In this study, to optimize anther culture of bell pepper, the effects of four darkness periods and five concentration levels of silver nitrate were studied in four commercial hybrids; Kamelot, Inspiration, Plato and Californium. The results showed that increasing dark treatment from six to ten days, increased the percentage of embryogenic anthers and the percentage of regenerated plantlets. The highest percentages of embryogenic anthers and regenerated plantlets were obtained using 10 mg l-1 of silver nitrate and incubating anthers cultured in CP medium for 10 days in darkness. The results also showed that the highest percentage of embryogenic anthers (16.66%) was observed in the interaction effect between 10 mg l-1 of silver nitrate and cv. Plato. Also, among the studied concentrations of silver nitrates, the highest percentage of regenerated plantlets (11.71%) was obtained using 10 mg l-1 of silver nitrate.

Mutations induced by gamma irradiation are part of improving some important agronomic traits in crops.  Identifying the optimal mutagenic dose is considered to be the most crucial step in trials and generating mutated genetic materials. The goal of this study was to evaluate the effect of different doses of gamma ray (0, 150, 200, 250 and 300 Gy) on some plant early stages traits and biochemical characteristics in SC704. Based on the probit analysis, the optimum gamma irradiation dose for induction of mutation in SC704 were 212.69 Gy. Significant differences were observed for irradiation dosage in all growth traits, including root length, shoot length, root fresh weight,  shoot fresh weight, root dry weight and shoot dry weight, plant height and survival percentage. As the dose level increased, total carbohydrates, malondialdehyde, hydrogen peroxide and catalase and peroxidase enzymes increased.

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of auxin and cytokinin spraying in different growth stages on grain composition of maize (KSC 704) under drought stress condition during 2013 growing season at Seed and Plant Improvement Institute, Karaj, Iran. The experiment was carried out in three separate environments included non-drought stress environment, drought stress in the vegetative stage and drought stress in the reproductive stage. In each environment, foliar application of cytokinin in three stages (control, V5 –V6 and V8-V10) and foliar application of auxin in three stages (control, silk emergence and 15 days after that) was laid out as a factorial design based on randomized complete block design with three replications. The results showed that the maximum protein (10.93%) and soluble sugar (5.80%) in grain were obtained under drought stress in the productive stage whereas the maximum starch (77.37%) and grain dry mater (90.83%) were obtained in non-stress condition. Foliar application of cytokinin in V8-V10 stage, increased convert starch to soluble sugar on the other hand, foliar application of auxin in silk emergence stage caused converting hexose sugars to starch, increasing the sink capacity (grain endosperm) for receiving more starch and also increasing the grain dry mater .

Maize is one of the most important grain and forage plants that has a unique role in the food and feed, especially poultry feed. To study the genetic effects, genes act and identify the best hybrid combination for morphological traits, experiment was carried out in diallel cross layout using 19 parents at Gorgan Agricultural Research Station, Iran in 2013. The progenies were planted in three replications at two locations; Gorgan- Araghi-Mahaleh and Gonbad Agricultural Research Stations, Iran in 2014. The datas for days from emergence to silking, days from silking to physiological maturity, number of row.ear-1, grain yield, plant height and number of grain.ear-1, analysis of variance performed in each location separately and then combined analysis was performed. The significant General Combining Ability (GCA) and Specific Combining Ability (SCA) for most plant traits showed that both additive and non-additive effects were involved in controlling traits and dominance degree greater than one also indicated the over-dominance of genes in controlling these traits. For all plant traits, low narrow sense heritability and a greater amount of dominance of variance indicated that dominance effects were more important in genetic control of plant traits. Result showed that, to improve the traits such as days from silking to physiological maturity and number of row.ear-1, selection cannot be taken and hybridization based criterias seems to be more beneficial.

  Drought is one of the major environmental conditions that adversely affect plant growth and crop yield. In the face of a global scarcity of water resources, water stress has already become a primary factor in limiting maize production worldwide. It’s because Phytohormones such as auxin and cytokinin are reported to be involved in the regulation of plant response to the adverse effect of drought stress conditions. This study carried out in order to evaluate some physiological parameters response to auxin and cytokinin hormone alternation under drought stress condition on maize (cultivar KSC 704). The experiment was carried out in three separately environments included non-drought stress environment (irrigation after soil moisture reached to 75% field capacity), drought stress in vegetative stage (irrigation after soil moisture reached to 50% field capacity in V4 to tasseling stage, but irrigation after soil moisture reached to 75% field capacity in pollination to physiological maturity stage) and drought stress in reproductive stage (irrigation after soil moisture reached to 75% field capacity in V4 to tasseling stage and irrigation after soil moisture reached to 50% field capacity in pollination to physiological maturity stage). cytokinin hormone in three levels (control, spraying in V5 –V6 and V8-V10 stages) and auxin hormone in three levels (control, spraying in silk emergence stage and 15 days after that) was laid out as a factorial design based on randomized complete block with three replications in each environment at Seed and Plant Improvement Institute (SPII), Karaj, Iran, in 2013. It was used Indole-3-butyric acid and N6-benzyladenin as auxin and cytokinin hormones respectively. Concentration of used auxin and cytokinin hormones were 10 and 50 mg per liter respectively. In this study some physiological parameters were measured including leaf area index, cell membrane stability, leaf chlorophyll content, stomata conductive, canopy temperature depression, photosynthesis quantum efficiency and leaf senesce. The maximum leaf area index, stomata conductance and quantum efficiency of photosynthesis and the minimum canopy temperature were obtained with spraying cytokinin hormone in V8-V10 stage, and the maximum chlorophyll content index, quantum efficiency of photosynthesis and the delay in leaf senescence were obtained with spraying auxin hormone in silk emergence stage and the minimum stomata resistance and canopy temperature were obtained with spraying cytokinin hormone in 15 days after silk emergence stage. The interaction effect between drought stress and spraying hormone was significant on leaf area index and canopy temperature depression and spraying hormones on maize in drought stress condition in reproductive stage more effective than non-drought stress and vegetative drought stress conditions because it can be useful in balancing the disturb hormone relations. Based on the result of this experiment, maize is tolerant to drought stress in vegetative stage, as a result, irrigation after soil moisture reached to 50% field capacity in vegetative stage and irrigation after soil moisture reached to 75% field capacity after tasseling stage can save irrigation water without any decrease significantly in physiological parameters at erase where water has been limited. Spraying cytokinin and auxin hormones in V8 –V10 and silk emergence stage can be recommended as the best time to use these hormones respectively. Using auxin and cytokinin hormones under drought stress condition in maize was more effective than control and vegetative stage because they can balance the disturbed hormones rate under that condition.

Sunflower is an important oilseed crops that about 11.8 percent of global vegetable oil production to be allocated. GGE Biplot is a multi-dimensional method in quantitative genetic decomposition and plant breeding that in addition to decomposition GEI performs decomposition of the interaction of genotype× quality, genotype× marker and data analysis related to Diallel confluence. The purposes of research are included:Studying the interaction of genotype and environment in area laboratory of sunflower crop plant performance and introducing the most stable and desirable number or sunflower numbers in under investigation areas and environments.
For investigating the interaction of genotype and environment of 17 artificial sunflower numbers by the names of Sil-96, Sil-54, Sil-42, Sil-94, Sil-140, Sil-162, Sil-200, Sil-205, Sil-231, Sil-210, Sil-211, Sil-224, Sil-80, Sil-82, Sil-75, Sil-53, Sil-20 and three numbers of pollinator Lacomka, Zaria and Armaverski as witnesses of the experiment were studied. In this experiment four places as the names of Sararood (Kermanshah), Gachsaran, Ghamlou (Kurdistan) and Gobad were participated that in Sararood of Kermanshah in crop year 2011-2012, 2012-2013, 2014-2015 was planted in two situations of without irrigation and supplementary irrigation. In Ghamlou in two crop years 2012-2013, 2014-2015, in Gachsaran and Gobad also in crop year 2014-2015 was planted only in the situation of without irrigation. But in general 10 environments were tested. Experiments in all stations were done in the form of complete random blocks design with three repeats.
The results of variance analysis showed that the effects of environment and the interaction of genotype and environment in one percent probability level was meaningful for seed performance. Surveying Polygon of genotype interaction in environment showed that genotypes G14¡ G9¡ G8¡ G4¡ G18¡ G19¡ G20 which had the most distance from Bipolt center and placed in Polygon vertices that they were premier genotypes. The lines which designed from Biplot center divided the shape of Polygon to seven Mega environments. The first Mega environment was included into the environments E4, E5 and E6 in which genotype G17 had the most performance. The second Mega environment was included into the environments E3 and E7 that G2, G14 and G9 were premier genotypes of this environment. The third Mega environment was included into environment E1 that genotype G8 was high performance genotype in this environment. The fourth Mega environment was included into the environments E2, E9, E8 and E10 in which genotype G20 was premier genotype. The relationship among environments showed that the angle between environments E3 and E7 and also between the environments E4, E5 and E6 and also between environments E2, E10 and E8 was very close each other and it indicates high correlation of these environments each other. The environments E7, E2 and E1 had relatively short length of vector that indicates low value for the capability of their difference. In contrast, the environments E3, E5, E6, E4, E10, E8 and E9 had tall length of vector and at last they had more capability for difference. Graphic average surveying of performance and the stability of genotypes showed that genotypes G17 and then genotypes G15, G3, G2, G14 and G6 had the highest performance. Genotypes G11, G10, G12, G13, G19 and G7 had low performance and high stability. Artificial number G9 had the most performance of seed and suitable stability.
Surveying genotypes towards ideal genotypes showed that genotype G17 was the closest genotype to ideal genotype that had the most performance and also it was among stable genotypes. Genotypes G3 and G15 which had high stability was also close to ideal genotype and they can select as suitable genotypes.
Surveying environments towards ideal environment showed that the most desirable environment is environment E4, then environments E5, E6, E10, E2, E8, E7, E9, E3 and E1 were in next priorities respectively that among them, environment E1 was the most undesirable environment.
Genotypes G3, G14, G15 and G17 were the most stable and desirable genotypes. On the other hand genotypes G9, G4 and G20 were known as the most undesirable genotypes. Furthermore, the results of decomposition GGE Biplot could introduce environment E4 which have the least distance from hypothetical ideal environment as the most desirable environment.

Fusarium wilt of melon (Cucumis melo L.), caused by Fusarium oxysporum Schlechtend: Fr. f. sp. melonis W.C. Snyder & H. N. Hans., (Fom), inflicts important yield losses in melon crops worldwide. Fusarium wilt is difficult to control even if long crop rotations are used because Fom colonizes the roots of a broad taxonomic range of plants. Genetic diversity of plants determines their potential for improved efficiency and hence their use for breeding, which eventually may result in enhanced disease resistance. One of the important approaches to resistance to Fom race 1.2 is hybridization and subsequent selection. Parents’ choice is the first step in plant breeding program through hybridization. In order to benefit transgressive segregation, genetic distance between parents is necessary. The higher genetic distance between parents, the higher heterosis in progeny can be observed. The main objective of this study was to capture the potential genetic diversity between melon genotypes by using cluster analysis. The results of present study have been used in selection of appropriate parents for breeding program
In this study, 57 Iranian endemic melon genotypes were screened against race 1.2 of Fom. Artificial inoculations were performed with a suspension of 1 × 106 conidia/ml at one to two true leaf stage. Disease reactions of the genotypes were scored using a 1 to 5 scale. Five traits including phenol compounds (PCs), area under disease progress curve (AUDPC), disease severity, Percentage of dead plants and latent period were assessed.
Analysis of variance showed significant differences between genotypes for all the traits. The highest and lowest AUDPC were observed in Shadegani-2 and Isablle, respectively. According to PCs results, the highest and lowest PCs were observed in Isablle and Khatoni sang bas, respectively. Also, based on cluster analysis, the genotypes were classified into five groups.
On the basis of the greenhouse experiments, significant genetic diversity among melongenotypes, and resistant and susceptible ones were recognized. The results revealed that resistant genotype(s) of melon demonstrate increased accumulation of PCs in response to Fom 1.2 isolate Maharloo. The highest genetic distance was observed between genotypes of second and fifth groups. Accordingly, the crossing between genotypes with maximum distance can form the basic population for the study of action and identify the gene(s) involved in tolerance to Fusarium wilt.

In order to study the effect of Azotobacter chroococcum, Azospirillum lipoferum and Pseudomonas fluorescen application on late maturity Maize (Zea mays L.) single cross hybrids (SC700, SC 704 and a promising single cross, B73×K18) seed germination ability and seedling vigor a laboratory research was conducted. Experiment treatments including hybrids seeds were single inoculated with one by one bacteria and co inoculated by two and three bacterial combined inoculants and no inoculation as control treatment. Also studied characters including: final germination percent, mean time to germination, mean daily germination, coefficient of velocity of germination, daily germination speed, seedling, primary root and shoot length, seedling, primary root and shoot dry matter and seedling vigor index were determined. Results revealed that except of mean daily germination and coefficient of velocity of germination, other studied traits affected by interactions of hybrids and Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria. Likewise, revealed that application of an inoculants of three bacteria combination have highest growth promoting effect on germination ability and traits related to seedling vigor of all hybrieds and Azotobacter chroococcum and Pseudomonas fluorescens and seed single inoculation by those bacteria have most growth promoting effect respectively. Also, revealed that studied characters of SC704more than other hybrids affected by growth promoting effect of studied bacteria and respectively B73×K18 and SC700 affected by studied Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria stimulating effect and studied characters have high correlation among them. Therefore, based on this research results application of studied Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria have considerable effect on Maize studied hybrids seed seedling enhancement.

One of the effects of climate change and global warming, on leafy vegetables production, is bolting. The four parental lines derived from Iranian lettuce landrace of Shirazi, Zeareei and Siah with difference in flowering time crosses between each pair and F1, F2, BC1p1 and BC1p2 generations were obtained. Transplants were planted in two separate experiments in a randomized complete block design with three replications and flowering time, head weight, number of leaves and leaf length of biggest outer leaf were recorded. Generation mean analysis showed that in all traits additive dominant model was inadequate and other factors such as epistasis is effective in controlling interested traits. The effect of additive is significant but the effect of dominance is much greater than it. The additive × additive effects and dominance× dominance effects on traits have been effective. To determine the number of effect factors at the flowering time of the F2 segregation and two genes involved in controlling flowering time were confirmed. Results showed that late flowering lines of the Siah and Zeareei landrace produced better quality and quantity head than early flowering lines of Shirazi landrace. Thus flowering time, leaf number and head weight had positive correlation. It is expected that selected genotypes with late flowering time had good potential for this important traits and should be used in breeding programs.

The most important purpose of alfalfa breeding programs is forage yield improvement. The objective of this study was to determine general combining ability (GCA) and specific combining ability (SCA) of alfalfa forage dry matter yield, plant height, number of stem, regrowth rate and leaf to stem ratio. A half diallel crosses (9×9) was performed by eight alfalfa ecotypes from different climatic regions of Iran and one cultivar from America. Experimental field was established in early autumn of 2013 which included 36 F1 hybrids with nine of their parents in a complete block design with three replications at Plant and Seed Improvement Institute, Karaj, Iran. The results of diallel analysis for two growth seasons (2014-2015) indicated high significant variation among crosses, GCA and SCA effects. Interactions of GCA and SCA with environment were significant for forage dry matter yield. The hybrids of Ghahavand × Nikshahri and Mohajeran × silvana indicated positive significant SCA for forage dry matter yield and regrowth, while, the hybrid of Kozare × Yazdi exhibited positive SCA for forage dry matter yield, plant height, re-growth rate and also leaf to stem ratio. This study indicated that the possibility of improvement forage yield and other agronomic traits through crosses among alfalfa ecotypes.

This study aimed to assess the combining ability of maize lines derived from tropical and subtropical CIMMYT germplasm with temperate region tester lines. Thirty six crosses of four well-known temprate maize testers including a line from Lancaster Sure Crop hetrotic group (Mo17), a specific line derived from it (K18), a tester from Reid Yellow Dent hetrotic group (B73) and a particular line originate from it (K47/3) with nine lines originated from CIMMYT germplasm were evaluated using a randomized complete block design with three replications in Karaj, Dezful, Shiraz and Kermanshah for one year. The results of the gene action by line×tester analysis showed the additive and non-additive gene action in the expression of grain yield and other traits. Comparison of means results indicated that hybrids No. 32 had 8.641, No. 7 had 8.430 and No. 9 had 8.382 tha-1 grain yield.These hybrids were resulted from crossing line No. .5 with K18 and lines No. 7 and 9 with MO17 testers. Obtained results from general combining ability studies revealed that lines No. 5 had potential to be used directly for grain yield improvement. Specific combining ability of grain yield crosses showed a positive and significant SCA in case of line No. 4 with MO17 tester as well.

Drought is one of the major environmental conditions that adversely affects plant growth and crop yield. Drought is the most major restriction in maize production. The reduction in plant growth under drought stress conditions could be an outcome of altered hormonal balance and hence the exogenous application of growth regulators under stress conditions could be the possible means of reversing the effects of abiotic stress. Plant growth regulators such as auxin and cytokinin are known to be involved in the regulation of plant response to the adverse effects of stress conditions. Previous studies have shown that endogenous hormones are essential regulators for translocating and partitioning of photo-assimilates for grain filling in cereal crops (Yang, et al. 2003), and therefore could be involved in the regulation of grain weight and yield. This study was conducted to determine the effects of exogenous application of growth regulators on the current photosynthesis and remobilization of assimilates in maize cultivar KSC704 under drought stress conditions.
The experiment was carried out in three distinct environments at Seed and Plant Improvement Institute (SPII), Karaj, Iran, in 2013. The environments included non-drought stress (irrigation after soil moisture reached 75% of field capacity), drought stress at vegetative stage (irrigation after soil moisture reached 50% of field capacity from V4 to tasseling stage and irrigation after soil moisture reached 75% of field capacity from pollination to physiological maturity stage) and drought stress at reproductive stage (irrigation after soil moisture reached 75% of field capacity from V4 to tasseling stage and irrigation after soil moisture reached 50% of field capacity from pollination to physiological maturity stage). Cytokinin was applied at V5 –V6 and V8-V10 stages and auxin was sprayed at silk emergence stage and 15 days after that period. No usage of the growth regulators was served as control. The trial was laid out as a factorial scheme based on randomized complete block design with three replications. Auxin was used in the form of Indole-3-butyric acid and cytokinin was sprayed as N6-benzyladenin. Harvesting was done from 4.5 m2 at field maturity stage at 14 % grain moisture content and was used to estimate grain yield. Remobilization, efficiency of remobilization, contribution of remobilization, current photosynthesis, efficiency of current photosynthesis and contribution of current photosynthesis were measured by the equation of Uhart and Andrade (1995).
The effect of drought stress on current photosynthesis, efficiency of current photosynthesis, contribution of current photosynthesis and remobilization was significant (P Based on the results of this experiment, drought stress at vegetative stage (irrigation after decreasing soil moisture to 50% field capacity) can be effective in conserving irrigation water and increasing water use efficiency. Moreover, considering the fact that the higher rates of current photosynthesis and contribution of current photosynthesis to grain yield were achieved with cytokinin application at V8-V10 stage and spraying with auxin at silk emergence stage led to the increased rates of remobilization and contribution of remobilization to grain yield, the aforementioned growth periods were identified as the best application times for cytokinin and auxin, respectively.

Breeding for environmental stress is one of the most important goals in plant breeding. Among stresses, drought stress has high influencing on limitation of maize production. Therefore, in order to find the best drought tolerant hybrids, 38 maize hybrids were planted in two separate experiments: one with optimum irrigation (control) and another with water stress at grain-filling stage in Moghan at two years. RBCD experiment design with three replications was used. Stress Susceptibility Index (SSI), Mean Productivity (MP), Tolerance (TOL), Geometric Mean Productivity (GMP) and Stress Tolerance Index (STI) indices were used to evaluate susceptibility and tolerance of the genotypes. Results showed that, K74/2-2-1-3-1-1-11×K3653/2 and SC704 hybrids had higher grain yield than mean in all irrigation conditions. These hybrids had the highest STI and located at part of high yield potential and low sensitivity to drought in the biplot. On the other hand, paternal line of majority of drought stress tolerant hybrids was the line K3653/2. Therefore, it is recommended to use this line in breeding maize to get to the most tolerant hybrid. Also the results showed that despite ofthe MP,GMPandSTI indices were most successful in selecting high yield tolerant hybrids, however using biplot the most tolerant hybrids to drought can be chosen the best.

Estimation of genetic diversity, combining ability and heterosis of maize inbred lines for breeding aims are very important and would determine breeding strategies. In order[dfp1] to estimate potential genetic Iranian corn inbred lines using diallel and AMMI methods, fourteen corn inbred lines cross were studied according to diallel scheme. Parents and their hybrids were evaluated in 2007 at Seed and Plant Improvement Institute, Karaj, using Randomized Complete Block design with three replications. Results indicated that Significant differences (p<0.01) were observed among the genotypes for all studied traits, therefore Griffing’s method 2, model 1 was chosen for subsequent diallel analysis. Variances due to GCA and SCA were significant for all studied traits (P < 0.01). Results indicated that for number of kernel row per ear, 100 seed weight, cob percent and kernel moisture percent additive gene effects were more important than the non additive ones, but for grain yield, plant height, ear height, ear diameter, number of kernel per row and number of kernel per ear non additive gene effects were more important than the additive ones. For ear length and kernel weight per ear, importance of additive and non additive gene effects was the same. The best AMMI model for yield was AMMI3 explained 75.6% of interaction variance. The best general combinatory for yield were K166B, K3615/2 and K3653 lines. The highest specific combining ability and mid-parent heterosis for yield according to Griffing, first and second AMMI components, was observed in MO17 × K3653, K166B × K3653, K166B × K3653, A679 × K3544/1 and K3653 × K3493/1.

In 2015 with about five million tons of corn, Iran was world’s fifth largest corn importer. Maize is one of the main crops for poultry and livestock feed in Iran. The average of area in Kermanshah province in recent years has been more than 45,000 hectares. But in 2015 this amount has decreased by 30 thousand hectares, 15580 hectares, which is the main reason for water scarcity in the region. On the other hand application of chemical fertilizers in conventional agriculture severe environmental problems, increased production costs and negative effects on biological cycles causes. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of biofertilizers and chemical fertilizers on yield and yield components of Maize under normal and deficit irrigation condition in western Iran region and looking for the best biological treatments could be applied to the maize to get a high yield in addition to keep our environment clean and safe.
Field experiments were conducted for two years (2014 – 2015) at the agricultural research farm, Agricultural and Natural Resources Research Centre in Kermanshah, Iran. In this research, effects of vermicompost and Azotobacter as a boifertilizers and chemical fertilizers on yield and yield components of Maize under normal and deficit irrigation was investigated in two sites. Sites included normal irrigation and deficient irrigation (65% optimum water requirement) and each site was conducted as the factorial split plot in a randomized complete block design with three replications and three factors. Treatments included Azotobacter in the main plots (non-inoculation and inoculation), vermicompost (consuming 0, 2, 4 and 6 ton/ha) and chemical fertilizers included N,P,K (100%, 50% and 0% recommendation based on soil test) in the sub plots. Irrigation treatments (deficit and adequate irrigation) in the middle phase of growth stage (approximately V6) began. Statistical analysis included analysis of variance to compare mean by least significant difference (LSD) by SAS statistical software and graphs were performed by EXCEL.
Results showed that, the grain yield of maize, LAI, leaf chlorophyll contents and NDVI were significantly influenced by irrigation levels, but Azotobacter no significant effect on this traits. Grain yield, LAI, leaf chlorophyll contents and NDVI were decreased by deficient irrigation. Vermicompost and chemical fertilizer increased these traits in normal and deficit irrigation. Vermicompost at 2, 4 and 6 ton/ha consistently and significantly increased grain yield in both irrigation condition. There was no significant difference on grain yield between 6 ton/ha application of vermicompost in linked together 50% of advised chemical fertilizers, and 100% of recommended fertilizer, hence it is possible to reduce chemical fertilizers application up to 50%. Similarly Laekemariam and Gidago (2012) recommended applying integrated of compost at 5 ton ha-1 along with chemical fertilizer to obtain better yield of maize. Kemal and Abera (2015) reported Application of recommended dose of inorganic fertilizer along with vermicompost at 6 ton/ha to maize not only enhanced productivity of maize but also improved soil fertility in terms of higher available N, P, K and organic carbon content over the control and recommended N, P and K.
Although the vermicompost and Azotobacter were not able to provide all the nutritional requirements for Maize but the results indicated that the use of 6 ton/ha vermicompost and Azotobacter in soil, 50% of the maize fertilizer supplied and that means a 50% reduction in the consumption of chemical fertilizers and less pollution of the soil and the environment. On the other hand, the results showed that under deficient irrigation vermicompost and Azotobacter increased grain yield. As a general conclusion these results suggested that integrating bio fertilizer with 50 percent of recommended NPK fertilizers are appropriate for sustainable maize production in normal and deficient irrigation.

Study on relationships between resistance and its components will improve the efficiency of a breeding program with appropriate selection criteria. In this study, 57 endemic landrace and differential genotype of melon were studied to study the relationship between resistance and resistance component in a randomized complete block design with tree replication. 13 trait, including the percentage of dead plants and biochemical and morphological characteristics were evaluated. The simple correlation coefficient were significant at 1% between the percentage of dead plants with traits such as latent period, disease severity, area under disease progress curve, peroxidase, polyphenol oxidase, phenol Compound, catalase and superoxide dismutase. The results of the factor analysis showed that three independent factors justify 80.24% of the total variance. So that three factors were named as the viability and biochemical characteristics, root features and shoot features. The results of path analysis showed that superoxide dismutase due to the high direct effect and high indirect effects through other traits can be used as an indicator for increasing resistance to Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. melonis race 1.2 (Fom 1.2).

Drought is one of the major environmental conditions that adversely affects plant growth and crop yield. In the face of a global scarcity of water resources, water stress has already become a primary factor in limiting crop production worldwide. Drought is the major restriction in maize production. The plant growth reduction under drought stress conditions could be an outcome of altered hormonal balance and hence the exogenous application of growth regulators under stress conditions could be the possible means for reversing the effects of abiotic stress. Phytohormones such as auxine and cytokinine are known to be involved in the regulation of plant response to the adverse effects of stress conditions. Previous studies have shown that endogenous hormones are essential regulators for translocation and partitioning of photoassimilates for grain filling in cereal crops, and therefore could be involved in the regulation of grain weight and yield.
The experiment was carried out in three separately environments included non-drought stress environment (irrigation after soil moisture reached to 75% field capacity), drought stress in vegetative stage (irrigation after soil moisture reached to 50% field capacity in V4 to tasseling stage, but irrigation after soil moisture reached to 75% field capacity in pollination to physiological maturity stage) and drought stress in reproductive stage (irrigation after soil moisture reached to 75% field capacity in V4 to tasseling stage and irrigation after soil moisture reached to 50% field capacity in pollination to physiological maturity stage). Cytokinin hormone in three levels (control, spraying in V5 –V6 and V8-V10 stages) and auxin hormone in three levels (control, spraying in silk emergence stage and 15 days after that) were laid out as a factorial design based on randomized complete block with three replications in each environment at Seed and Plant Improvement Institute (SPII), Karaj, Iran, in 2013. Indole-3-butyric acid and N6-benzyladenin were used as auxin and cytokinin hormones, respectively. Concentration of auxine and cytokinine hormones were 10 and 50 mg per liter, respectively. Harvesting was done from 4.5 m2 at field maturity stage with 14 % grain moisture for estimating grain yield and yield components. SAS software (version 9.1) was used for statistical analysis. Traits means were compared by Duncan's multiple range tests in 5% probably level.
Drought stress effect was significant (P≤0.01) for ear number per plant, row/ear, grain number per m2, 1000 kernels weight and grain yield and it wasn’t significant for kernels/row. Spraying cytokinine hormone was significant (P≤0.01) on ear number per plant, row/ear, grain number per m2 and it was also (P≤0.05) significant for 1000 kernels weight but it wasn’t significant for kernels/row and grain yield. Spraying auxine hormone was significant (P≤0.01) for1000 kernels weight and grain yield and it wasn’t significant forother yield components. The maximum yield was obtained 12.80 and 12.24 tons per hectare in non-stress environment and using auxin hormone in silk emergence stage, respectively. Grain yield was decreased 49.21% under reproductive drought stress and grain yield difference between non drought stress and vegetative drought stress was not significant. Spraying cytokinine hormone increased ear number by 10% in V8-V10 stage. The maximum row/ear was 16.16 kernels per row which was obtained by spraying cytokinine hormone in V8-V10 stage. Spraying cytokinine hormone increased grain number per m2 up to 20.75% in V8-V10 stage but it decreased 1000 kernels weight up to 13.76% in the same stage. The maximum 1000 kernels weight was 313.87 gr that was obtained by spraying auxine hormone in silk emergence stage. Spraying auxine hormone increased grain yield up to 23.38% in silk emergence stage.
Based on the results of this experiment, maize was tolerant to drought stress up to 50% field capacity in vegetative stage, but grain yield was decreased by 48.04% under drought stress condition in reproductive stage, and spraying cytokinine and auxine hormones in V8-V10 and silk emergence stages respectively, could prevent about 20% of decreasing of grain yield. Therefore, under drought stress condition, spraying cytokinine and auxin hormones in V8 –V10 and silk emergence stage can be recommended as the best time for using these hormones respectively, because they can balance hormones rate disturbs under drought stress condition.

This study was conducted to determine some physiological parameters of maize cultivar KSC 704 affected auxin and cytokinin hormones concentration variations under drought stress condition. The experiment was carried out in three environments separately including non-drought stress environment, drought stress in vegetative stage and drought stress in reproductive stage. Cytokinin hormone in three concentrations (control, 50 and 100 mg/lit) in V8-V10 stage and auxin hormone in three concentrations (control, 10 and 20 mg/lit) in silk emergence stage was laid out as a factorial design based on randomized complete block with three replications in each environment at Seed and Plant Improvement Institute, Karaj in 2014. Drought stress in reproductive stage decreased chlorophyll a and b respectively %28.13 and %37.93. The use of cytokinine hormone in concentration 50 mg/lit increased %37.73 chlorophyll a and decreased % 16.58 proline amino acid and also auxine hormone in concentration 10 and 20 mg/lit increased %22.78 chlorophyll a and decreased %18.02 proline.

Fusarium wilt is a restrictive disease of melons in the world and Iran. In this research, fifty seven accessions of Cucumis melo, planted in a randomized complete block design with three replications. The relationship between resistance and changes in biochemical activity were evaluated for these accessions. The wounded root of seedlings after reaching at one to two true leaf stage were placed in inoculum concentrations of 1×106 spores ml-1 of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. melonis for 3-4 min and then they were transferred to cultivation trays. Area under disease progress curve (AUDPC), disease severity and five physiological traits were measured. Analysis of variance showed significant differences among genotypes for all traits. The correlation coefficient between different traits showed that the AUDPC and disease severity have a negative correlation with Peroxidase, Polyphenol oxidase, Phenol Compound, Superoxide dismutase and Catalase. The grouping results of genotypes based on squared Euclidean distance measurement and Ward method were clustered these accessions in three groups; resistant, moderately resistant and susceptible. In this study the farthest distance (28.67) was observed between Isabelle and Shadegani2. These accessions recognized as the most resistant and susceptible genotypes, respectively. It seems that due to the distance between them, with make crossing and use of heterosis, we may achieve to progeny that are more resistant in comparing to the evaluated genotypes of this study.

This study was carried out to investigate the genetic structure of the 36 maize hybrids established from eighteen female lines and two male testers according to line × tester method under normal irrigation and drought stress conditions. Two separate experiments، normal irrigation and drought stress at grain filling stage were performed in Moghan for two years، using a RBCD with three replications. The results showed that the effect of gene action could be both non-additive and additive in the expression of grain yield under both conditions. However، GCA/SCA variance ratio revealed that non-additive genetic variance was more important for grain yield than additive variance. Analysis of general combining ability indicated that the variation of combining ability of lines in non-water stress condition was higher than that in water stress condition. The reactions of general combining ability of lines in both conditions were not similar. Lines L8، L11 and L17 in normal irrigation and lines L15، L16 and L17 in stress condition showed better general combining abilities for grain yield. The K3653/2 tester showed better general combining abilities for grain yield in both conditions. The crosses such as L1×T1، L4×T1 and L8×T1 in normal irrigation condition and L9×T2 in drought stress condition showed better specific combining abilities for grain yield.

One hundred maize new hybrid combinations of four testers with 25 inbred lines were evaluated using randomized complete block design with three replications in 2013 over four locations، Karaj، Dezful، Kermanshah and Jiroft، Iran. Based on the results، hybrids KSC 715، KSC 703، K47/2-2 × MO17، K47/21 × MO17 and K47/2-2 × K166B produced the highest grain yield، (13. 100، 13. 070، 12. 610، 11. 890 and 11. 810 tha-1)، respectively compared to the check hybrids. Combined analysis of line × tester revealed significant effects of lines and line × tester interaction، meaning variability among lines، as well as role of additive and nonaddtitive gene effects in heritability of grain yield. Line K47/3 was identified as a the best general combiner، which could be used as suitable tester in the future programs.

Twenty eight crosses of four temperate maize testers (MO17, K18, K166B and A679) with seven lines originated from CIMMYT germplasm were evaluated using a randomized complete block design with three replications, at seven locations (Karaj, Shiraz, Dezful, Jiroft, Moghan, Gorgan and Kermanshah), Iran, in 2012. In 2013, number of lines were increased to 13, and 52 crosses were obtained with the same testers as in 2012. Hybrids No. 28 (XT02 ×K166B), 10 and No. 23 had 10.160, 9.867 and 9.822 t.ha-1 grain yield, respectively, that revealed to be of high yield potential hybrids. Combined analysis of Line ×Tester showed no significant differences between lines and testers, but significant line × tester interaction effect was observed. Significant general combining ability (GCA) effects were obtained for the four testers, but none of the lines showed significant GCA. Results showed the possibility of germplasm enhancement in temperate maize program, using CIMMYT germplasm (tropical and subtropical), especially those sources produced under similar conditions as Iran (such as CIMMYT program in China). This experiment revealed that crossing these germplasm with temperate maize germplasm prior to selfing, has no significant effect on derived lines. Using more sources, as well as testers, from each group is necessary to facilitate the success in development of adapted maize germplasm.

Fusarium wilt disease is one of the major plant diseases that affect melon production. In this study a total of 23 landraces and breeding lines of melon were collected from different regions of Iran planted in a randomized complete block design with three replications and were studied to find new sources of resistant ones in the tray contained clay، pith mass and perlite in greenhouse. The root of seedlings after reaching at one to two true leaf stages were placed in a high inoculum concentrations of 1×106 spores per ml of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. melon for 3-4 min and then، roots were wounded. Root samples from infected plants of all sensitive، semi-resistant and resistant genotypes were taken to examine biochemical changes for 8 days after 2 days of transplanting in 5 times and were kept in −80°C. The root of control plants dipped in tap water. The activity of peroxidase (POX، EC 1. 11. 1. 7)، polyphenol oxidase (PPO، EC 1. 14. 18. 1)، Catalase (CAT، EC 1. 11. 1. 6)، Superoxide dismutase (SOD، EC 1. 15. 1. 1) and Phenolic compounds (PCs) were measured. Area under disease progress curve and disease severity were studied to identify relationship between disease resistance and enzymatic composition. The results of analysis of variance showed that infection of melon seedling with F. oxysporum race 1. 2 led to many biochemical changes. The level of antioxidant defensive enzyme and PCs content increased in response to infection by the Fom 1. 2. The activity of POX، PPO، SOD، PCs and CAT in different genotypes approached to highest level at 4 days after inoculation. In clustering of cultivars via Ward method، 32 landraces clustered into three groups. Principal component analysis diminished all of variables to two components with 96% cumulative variances. Isabelle and Shadegani 2 landraces had the maximum genetic distance together. The Isablle and Shadegani 2 were identified as the most resistance and the most susceptible genotypes، respectively. The Isablle، Zard Eyvanakey، Charentais Fom1، Japalizi and Maghasi placed in the same group. Therefore، by crossing between these land races، the basic population could be obtained to study the gene action and to identify the effective gene (s) regarding tolerance to fusarium wilt.

Evaluation of the genetic potential of lettuce germplasm by classical methods or using molecular markers is crucial in breeding programs and introduction of new cultivars. Assessment of genetic diversity of Iranian lettuce genotypes collected from different provinces was conducted in laboratory at Seed and Plant Improvement Institute, Karaj. Forty two genotypes of Iranian lettuce with a foreign cultivar were evaluated using 17 RAPD primers. Primers produced total of 807 polymorphic bands. The highest number of polymorphic bands (78 bands) was produced by primer P9 and the lowest number (15 bands) by P6. The size of produced bands of primers varied from 280 to 3000 bp. Jaccard similarity coefficients was calculated for 43 genotypes, that varied from 0 to 0.324. The highest similarity was observed between genotypes no. 13 and 14 (0.324), no. 19 and 20 (0.314) and no. 7and 8 (0.300). Cluster analysis of molecular data, at the similarity level variation 0.25 clustered Iranian lettuces into four groups. Generally, the results of this experiment showed a high genetic diversity in Iranian lettuce genotypes and revealed that RAPD is a useful and effective technique for classification of Iranian lettuces.