محمد جواهری

A new durum wheat cultivar, Taban (DW-92-5) was initially introduced as a breeding line through 42ed International Durum Screening Nursery (42ed IDSN) received from the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) and was evaluated in two research stations of Dezful and Darab in warm agro-climate zone of Iran. In this step, DW-92-5 (Taban) was selected for the further studies based on its high grain yield (7492 kgha-1). This line with 6976 kgha-1 average grain yield was close to Behrang as a control cultivar with 7198 kgha-1 in the regional preliminary yield trial in 2011-2012 cropping season. Line DW-92-5 had an average grain yield of 7782 kgha-1 in the advanced yield trials and was selected for the further evaluations. The regional elite yield trials was conducted in four stations of Ahvaz, Darab, Dezful and Khorramabad in 2013-14 and 2014-15. This line with 6669 kgha-1 had 12% higher yield than Behrang check cultivar with grain yield of 5935 kgha-1 and was selected as superior line based on its grain yield and yield stability. Taban also has high quality of semolina, high protein content (13.2%). The results of on-farm trials showed that this cultivar exhibited a 12% and 13% higher grain than Shabrang and Behrang, respectively, as local checks in Sistan and Baloochestan province as well as a 2% and 18% higher grain yield compared to Behrang and Yavarous as local checks in Kerman province. In total, based on its high grain yield, yield stability, quality of semolina and its good level of resistance to yellow and leaf rusts, line DW-92-5 was released as a new durum wheat cultivar with the name of “Taban” for warm agro-climate zone of Iran.

Non-pathogenic Pseudomonadsare the main biocontrol agents that are used in plant disease management. In this study, effects of four strains of Pseudomonas fluorescens (Pf1, Pf2, Pf3, Pf4), and P. putida (P13) were studied for their ability to elicit induced systemic resistance against diseases caused by Botrytis cinerea and Alternaria alternata on tomato (Super Majar and Queen cvs) and Arabidopsis. The ability of biocontrol agents to colonize roots of tomato cultivars and Arabidopsis and induce resistance was shown to be highest for P13, and Pf3 strains and P13, and Pf3 were able to reduce the average lesion diameter of diseased leaves to 30% and 25%, compared to that of control, respectively. The ability of biocontrol agents for direct control the pathogens was also evaluated. The results revealed that P. putida (P13) was the best biocontrol agent as measured by the reduction in disease severity. P13 reduced the average lesion diameter of diseased tomato leaves by about 45%. Finally, Pf3 and P13 were identified as more powerful strains. Moreover, these strains could induce some level of resistance against various pathogens and they had the ability to enhance plant growth.

Abstract: Belief education is the most important part of the comprehensive educational system of Islam, in which the principles of Islamic beliefs - belief in God, the Prophets, Imamate and Resurrection - are transmitted to Methabi. Meanwhile, belief in the existence of God is the foundation of other beliefs. Given the direct involvement of parents and close relatives of each person, especially children, it is essential to establish the best ways to do this in order to institutionalize and maintain it in the audience. Since Islam, especially in the Shiite tradition, has provided its own educational system, it is necessary to determine these methods based on Islamic teachings. In this field, the sin and the words of the infallibles are very important for the believers. Therefore, in this article, explanations of the methods of reciprocal education with the aim of creating belief in the existence of God based on the soul and the words of Hazrat Raza have been discussed. Repeating obvious assumptions with attractive and innovative ways, creating humankind and feeling of love for God, rationalism, learning science, central argumentation, eliminating doubt, and defeating competing views, highlighting and creating the importance and indirect knowledge, are the most important ways to be taken from the words of the Prophet Reza is in creating belief in the existence of God.

The effect of several levels of DL-β-amino-n-butyric acid (BABA), salicylic acid (SA) and abscisic acid (ABA) on induction of systemic resistance against root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne incognita, in tomato was studied under growth chamber conditions. The experiment was laid out as completely randomized design with three replicates. Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum cv. Moneymaker) was planted in 1 kg plastic pots. At 4-leaf stage, foliar sprays and soil drenches were applied with 0, 0.25, 0.5 and 1 mM of SA and BABA. Foliar spray was also conducted with 0, 50, 100 and 200 µM of ABA. After 24 hours, pots were inoculated each with 1.3 J2 of the nematode per g. of soil. Plant and nematode related parameters were evaluated 60 days after inoculation. The data showed that none of the inducers had significant effect on plant growth indices. On the contrary, different levels of inducers significantly reduced nematode indices including number of galls, egg masses and eggs on root, number of eggs in egg masses and the reproduction factor in induced plants. The reproduction factor decreased about 60% in plants treated with 0.5 mM of SA and BABA and 17% in plants sprayed with 100 mM of ABA.These results indicate that root-knot nematode, M. incognita, can be controlled by application of SA, BABA and ABA, in tomato.

Bacterial wilt caused by Ralstonia solanacearum is one of the most destructive disease which negatively affects the tomato production worldwide. Considering the importance of the disease, searching for resistant varieties and using biological control agents could be effective approaches in reducing the damage of the pathogen. In this study, the cultivars including Super CH, falat-111, Peto, Falkata, Queen and Early Urbana were studied. The experiments were conducted with completely randomized factorial design with a disease factor in two levels as inoculated and not inoculated. Seven cultivars (treatments) with four replicates were evaluated. Statistical analysis were performed using SAS software. The antagonistic strains of Bacillus subtilis B7, Pseudomonas flourecsens CHAO and Trichoderma harzianum T.BI and mobil cultivar were utilized. In vitro anti-bacterial evaluations were conducted and T. harzianum T.BI and B. subtilis B7 showed 3 and 5 mean distance of inhibition zone respectively but P fluorescens CHAO showed no inhibition effects. The results of means comparison showed that the stem length of cultivar Queen had the lowest reduction while the highest reduction in stem length was related to the cultivar early urbana. Regarding the fresh weight, the minimum reduction was related to cv Queen while the maximum ones were relevant to cvs Super CH, falat and Falkata cultivars. Moreover, the minimum decrease of dry weight was associated with the Queen cultivar.The results of using antagonists showed that T. harzianum T.BI and B. subtilis B7 regarding index of stem length, shoot and root fresh weight, dry weight of roots and shoots are the best options to control bacterial wilt.

Chemical input suppliers are one of the main sources of information for farmers, providing training opportunities to increase suppliers’ knowledge is one of the necessary measures to achieve sustainable development in agriculture. The purpose of this research was to determine environmental training needs of pesticide and fertilizer dealers in Shiraz. Borich model was used to assess training needs, and self-assessment and knowledge test were employed for verification. In addition to descriptive statistics, inferential statistics like regression and t-test were employed. Research population consisted of 80 pesticide and fertilizer dealers in Shiraz. A sample of 70 subjects were selected through simple random sampling. A questionnaire was developed to collect data. Face validity of the questionnaire was obtained through a panel of experts on agricultural extension and education, and plant protection, and three input suppliers. Cronbach’s alphas ranged from α = 0.79 to α = 0.91 which indicated the questionnaire reliability. SPSSWin19 was employed to analyze data. Findings indicated that the highest training priorities include knowledge about organic agriculture and non-chemical methods of pest control, knowledge of biological products, and identification of low-risk, high-risk and banned pesticides. T-test revealed that sellers with non-agriculture majors had higher levels of training need than those majoring in agriculture. Regression analysis showed that among independent variables, test score and attitudes could explain 17 percent of the variance in training needs. Finally, recommendations were developed based on the research findings.

From 2008 to 2009 grapevine, rose and sugar beet samples with gall symptoms on crowns and roots were collected from different areas of Fars and Kohgiluye and Boyerahmad provinces. The extracts from galls were cultured on NA, DIM Agar, 1A and RS media. After purification the isolates have been characterized using standard bacteriology tests, the Agrobacterium isolates were identified as A. vitis (from grapevine) and A. tumefaciens (from rose and sugar beet). Pathogenicity tests were done on bryophyllum, tomato and sunflower. Most isolates produced gall on at least one of these plants but some of the isolates did not. The isolates were able to amplify 224 and 730 bp DNA fragments with primers A/C´ and VCF/VCR in PCR test, respectively. The isolates showed high diversity in rep-PCR and the isolates of Fars and Kohgiluye and Boyerahmad were divided into two main groups. Group I was divided into two subgroups which included A. vitis isolates subgroup (isolates from grapevine) and A. tumefaciens isolates subgroup (isolated from other hosts). Group II included a small number of A. tumefaciens isolates. Maximum similarity (88%) was observed in A. vitis species. Clustering based on genotypic characteristics somewhat confirmed clustering based on phenotypic characteristics. The rep-PCR and phenotypic characteristics could differentiate A. vitis and A. tumefaciens species.