میترا رحمتی

Plant growth promoting fungi are often useful for plants and make host plants adapt to living and non-living stressors, including salt stress, in different ways. In this regard, the identification and application of growth-promoting fungi that tolerate salt stress is one of the ways to deal with and adapt to salt stress conditions. On the other hand, different carriers have different ability to maintain the population of these fungi at the standard level and maintain their efficiency. Also, storage conditions, especially temperature, can have a great effect on their population and stability. Therefore, the present research was conducted with the aim of preparing suitable formulations of salt-tolerant fungi in order to preserve and stabilize their population in the long term. In the present study, Chaetomium globosum, Chaetomium interruptum, Clonostachys rosea, Coniothyrium sp., Epicoccum nigrum, Serendipita indica, Trichoderma asperellum, Trichoderma atroviride, Trichoderma harzianum, Trichoderma longibrachiatum and Trichoderma reesei with plant growth-promoting properties were obtained from the collection of the Department of Soil Biology and Biotechnology of the Soil and Water Research Institute in order to identify the fungal species tolerant to salinity. Their growth potential at different salinity levels including 0.045, 0.31, 0.63, 1.04, 1.36, 2.14, 3.04, 3.95 and 4.71 percent of sodium chloridewas evaluated in a completely randomized design with three replications. Also, two salt-tolerant fungal species and different carriers (pepper waste, vermiculite, stone powder, pumice, perlite, sawdust, and compost) were used to evaluate the stability of the fungal population in different formulations. The experiment was laid out in a factorial completely randomized design with three replications. The results showed that T. harzianum, T. atroviride, T. longibrachiatum, and T. reesei were less affected by the salinity of 0.045 to 4.71% sodium chloride and were able to fill the entire surface of the Petri dish (8cm) at different salinity levels. E. nigrum was also able to grow at different salinity levels, although its growth decreased with increasing salinity. T. harzianum was the only species that was able to cover the entire Petri-dish surface in seven days at the culture medium containing 2.14% sodium chloride. The formulation results showed that the carrier effect was significant in both T. harzianum and E. nigrum species. Compost, sawdust, and vermiculite were the best carriers in terms of maintaining the Trichoderma population. The best carriers in maintaining T. harzianum population after six months at cold room temperature was vermiculite (4 × 109 CFU/g), compost (3.66 × 109 CFU/g) and sawdust (3 × 109 CFU/g) and in E. nigrum species was compost (1 × 108 CFU/g) and vermiculite (8 × 107 CFU/g). In general, the results showed that T. harzianum and E. nigrum species were able to grow in culture media containing 4.71% sodium chloride and the best carriers for the formulation of these two fungi were compost and vermiculite.

Acquired morphological traits of seedlings in nurseries are as influential as their originality in their performance and vigor. The evaluation of these traits, including the Dickson quality index (DQI) is considered an efficient method for considering the vigor of various kinds of seedlings, including fruit and forest seedlings. The magnitude of this index for seedlings is a function of the amount and the distribution of dry mass, height, and diameter. Therefore, it is a destructive and time-consuming method for predicting seedling quality in nurseries. Consequently, in order to rank the morphological traits that determine the quality of apricot seedlings, this project was conducted to evaluate the correlation relations between such traits of apricot seedlings of the most important commercial varieties produced in different regions of Iran, based on path analysis and multiple linear regression analysis.

To evaluate the relationship between the morphological indicators in apricot seedlings, bare-root seedlings of 12 commercial cultivars with three replicates from 8 nurseries in four provinces were lifted during the transplanting seasons of 2020-2021. Sapling height, diameter above grafting line (DAGL), root length, number of roots and branches, shoot and root fresh and dry weights, height to diameter ratio, and DQI were evaluated, and simple correlations between them were estimated. The correlation coefficients were broken down into direct and indirect effects through path analysis, with DQI as the dependent variable.

The indices representing apricot seedling vigor, including DQI and some of its components containing DAGL, total dry mass, height to diameter ratio and shoot to root dry mass ratio were a function of the accumulated growth degree-days (AGDD) in different regions. So that by increasing AGDD from 2700 to about 4500 degree, the average DQI, DAGL and total dry mass were increased and height to diameter ratio was decreased. The shoot to root dry weight ratio of seedlings was also decreased in nurseries located in regions with more than 3400 growth degree days. Among the traits which can be evaluated at the nursery site through non-destructive methods, DAGL had a higher correlation with vigor and the other morphological traits, leading to being considered the most important index in the qualitative evaluation of apricot seedlings, followed by shoot and root dry weights. Although later can be evaluated by destructive methods, they had the highest correlations with seedling vigor. The shoot number, height, sturdiness quotient had the weakest correlations with vigor and other morphological traits.

DAGL is considered the most efficient index in the quality assessment of the apricot seedlings due to having the highest correlation with the DQI and other morphological traits.

Considering the adverse effect of changing climate, it is necssary to introduce new commercial high-yielding and marketable almond cultivars with different chilling and heat requirements, flowering time, which can adapt to various regions. Therefore, almond trees of three recently registered cultivars named; Aria, Bardia and Zeighami and two control cultivars grafted on bitter almond seedlings were compared using randomized complete block design with five replications from 2018-21 in an almond orchard in Neyriz of Fars province in Iran. Chilling and heat requirements, tree growth vigor, yield related traits, and relationships between different pomological and morphological characteristics were measured and evaluated. The results showed that cv. Aria was superior to the other cultivars due to its higher trunk cross-sectional area (TCSA) (325 cm2) and production and yield efficiency (100.26 g nut and 25.36 g kernel per cm2 TCSA). The proportion of double kernels and kernels in the Zeighami and Bardia cultivars, respectively, was below the standard classification for almonds. Cv. Aria and cv. Bardia had the lowest chilling requirements (296 CU) and cv. Ferraduel the highest (515 CU). The heat requirement of the newly registered almond cultivars was also lower than control cultivars. Aria and Bardia cultivars flowered two weeks earlier than control cultivars. In conclusion, cv. Aria is a suitable commercial almond cultivar for being grown in regions with no of spring frost risk.

Evaluation of the Dickson quality index (DQI) is an efficient but destructive and time-consuming method for prediction of the quality of different seedlings. Fast and low-cost prediction of the quality and vigor of fruit tree seedlings at harvest time using DQI which has shown to be highly correlated with morphological characteristics, is necessary. In this study, grafted sour cherry and sweet cherry bare-root seedlings of 17 commercial cultivars with three replications from 10 nurseries in four provinces in Iran were harvested during the transplanting seasons of 2020 and 2021. The seedlings were selected from two types of certified and non-certified grafted sour cherry and sweet cherry on the seedling and clonal rootstocks, respectively. Seedling height, diameter above grafting line (DAGL), root length, number of roots and branches, fresh and dry weight, height to diameter ratio, and DQI were assessed, and simple correlation coefficients between them were calculated. Path analysis method employed to estimate direct and indirect effects of variables. The results showed that the average DQI for non-certified seedlings was 15.6. The higher values of DQI were observed in areas with more than 3400 accumulated growing degree-days. For certified seedlings, DQI decreased to 12 which is likely to be the effect of using SL64 semi-dwarf rootstock. Based on the results of the path analysis for DQI, the highest direct effect was related to DAGL. DAGL was determined as the most efficient morphological characteristic for characterization of quality categories of grafted sour cherry and sweet cherry seedlings due mainly to its highest correlation with the DQI and most of the other morphological characteristics.

Applying the Dickson quality index (DQI) is an efficient but destructive and time-consuming method for predicting sapling quality in nurseries.Fast and low-cost prediction of the quality, establishment, and growing strength of fruit tree saplings in the orchard through the identification of morphological characteristics, which are so highly correlated with this index, is necessary for different stages of sapling production.To evaluate the relationship between the morphological characteristics in peach and nectarine saplings, bare-root saplings of 16 commercial cultivars with three replicates from 10 nurseries, located in four provinces, were studied. The samples provided from two types of non-certified sapling, grafted on the seedling rootstocks, and certified sapling on the vegetative rootstocks during the transplanting seasons of 2020-2021. Sapling height, diameter above grafting line (DAGL), root length, number of roots and branches, shoot and root fresh and dry weights, height to diameter ratio, and DQI were evaluated, and simple correlations between them were estimated. The correlation coefficients were broken down into direct and indirect effects through path analysis, with DQI as the dependent variable.The results showed that the average DQI for non-certified saplings, produced in different climates, was 14. The higher values were observed in areas with more than 3100 AGDD. In certified saplings, DQI reached to 47. Based on the results of the path analysis for DQI evaluation, the highest direct effect was related to the DAGL.DAGL is the most efficient index in the quality assessment of the saplings, due to having the highest correlation with the DQI and most of the morphological traits.

The existence of agricultural wastes, especially wood and degradation-resistant wastes and time-consuming composting of these residues, shows the importance of using degrading microorganisms as bioactivators. By inoculating microorganisms into hard-to-decompose agricultural residues, it is possible to increase their composting rate and produce quality compost. The aim of this study was to isolate, identify and determine the efficacy of cellulolytic and ligninolytic bacteria and fungi.

Samples were taken from semi-rotten tissues of trees, organic matter including compost, vermicompost, animal manure, animal samples such as termites, earthworms, amur fish and commercial samples containing bioactivators. In order to isolate bacterial and fungal isolates with the ability to produce cellulose and ligninase enzymes, after preparing a series of dilutions from the extracts of each sample, culture was performed on common culture media. After purification of bacteria and fungi, the efficiency in terms of cellulase and ligninase activity was determined by measuring the diameter of the transparent halo on specific culture media. Molecular identification of selected bacterial and fungal isolates was performed by amplification of 16S rDNA region and ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 region, respectively.

A total of 83 bacterial isolates and 18 fungal isolates capable of producing cellulase were identified. BB12 and CCB9 isolates showed the highest cellulase activity with a ratio of halo diameter to colony diameter of 9.5 and 7.5, respectively. In fungal isolates, the highest cellulolytic activity was related to WF2 and WF4 isolates; the ratio of halo diameter to colony diameter in each of these two isolates was 4.57 and 2.4, respectively. Regarding ligninolytic activity, it was found that Chapak culture medium containing one gram of methyl blue is the best medium to study ligninolytic activity and the highest ratio of halo diameter to colony diameter in Chapak medium was in WB6 and WB5 bacterial isolates, respectively in the amount of 10 and 7. In fungal isolates, ligninolytic activity was observed only in WF2 and WF4 isolates; So that the ratio of halo diameter to colony diameter was 2.17 and 2, respectively. The results of molecular identification showed that the selected bacterial isolates were most similar to Bacillus halotolerans, Bacillus siamensis, Bacillus paralicheniformis, Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus atrophaeus, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, Bacillus circulans, Bacillus sercatus, Bacillus sp. The fungi were more similar to Penicillium corylophilum and Pseudogymnoascus pannorum. The maximum parsimony tree with 1000 bootstrap replications showed that bacterial and fungal isolates were located in 9 and 2 clades, respectively.

Examination of cellulolytic activity showed that Bacillus amyloliquefaciens showed the highest amount of cellulolytic activity and the highest ligninolytic activity was seen in Serratia marcescens. In fungal isolates, the highest cellulolytic and ligninolytic activities were observed in Penicillium corylophilum and Pseudogymnoascus pannorum. Based on the results of this study, further investigation is suggested about the possibility of using a combination of selected microorganisms to prepare initial formulations for faster conversion of agricultural waste into compost.

Apricot (Prunus armeniaca L.) as an important fruit crop belongs to the Amygdaloideae in the Rosacea family and is grown in regions with Mediterranean climates in the world. Apricot species were classified into six eco-geographical groups including: Central Asian, East Chinese, North Chinese, Dzhungar-Zailij, Irano-Caucasian and European. Iranian genotypes which belong to the Irano-Caucasian group are mostly self-incompatible with low chill requirement. The high level of genetic diversity in Iranian apricots is due to sexual reproduction by seeds during the years. In Iran, many of apricot local varieties have been relocated between provinces and subsequently, in some cases their names, have been changed over the years. Hence, to determine the genetically different cultivars and detection of synonyms, screening of apricot germplasm seems necessary in Iran.

Thirty eight commercial genotypes of apricot with five biological replications were collected from 14 nurseries in West Azarbaijan, East Azarbaijan, Esfahan, Semnan, Alborz, and Tehran Provinces in Iran. Additionally Orang Red apricot (Porteghali) included in the study as an outgroup sample. Also DNA sample of previously registered apricots in national list were used in this study. Young and healthy leaves of each cultivar were sampled and stored at -70 °C. Samples were powdered using mortar and pestle in presence of liquid nitrogen. CTAB extraction buffer was used for nucleic acid extraction. Quantity and quality of extracted DNA were measured by spectrophotometry and agarose gel electrophoresis.Thermal cycles were done in Eppendorf thermocycler and the cycling program were set on one cycle of 94°C for 4 minute, 30 cycles of  94°C for 30 seconds, annealing temperature of each primer for 30 seconds and 72°C for 30 seconds followed by one cycle of 72°C for 5 minutes. PCR products were resolved on 10% polyacrylamide gels in 1x TBE buffer. GelRed (Biotium) was applied for gel staining and amplified bands were revealed by UV (300 nm). Eight SSR markers which showed more diversity were selected and scored. Polymorphic alleles were scored as one for presence and zero for absence. For detection of off types, samples were classified by Paired Group method and Euclidean algorithm in PAST software. Then the data of off-types were removed from the dataset and samples were reclassified by the method. Principal Coordinate Analysis (PCoA) was carried out using PAST software. Genetic diversity indices were evaluated in Popgene 32 software.   

Eight SSR loci produced 124 alleles with the average 15.5 allele per locus. Nei’s gene diversity and Shannon’s information index were 0.32 and 0.48, respectively which showed high level of diversity in this collection. Distance matrix based on Nei’s gene diversity showed that the most genetic distance (0.74) was between Askar Abadi and Zodras, Mahali Goushti Zodras and Nasiri cultivars. Clustering of samples indicated that some samples including 19 (Shahroudi), 59 (Nakhjavan), 107 (Shahroudi), 127 (Soltani), 137 (Ghavami), 144 (Tabraze) and 156 (Daneshkade) were off-types.For identification of synonyms the off-type samples were disregarded. Cluster analysis illustrated that some local cultivars with different names had same genetic backgrounds. Thus, the names of these samples should be unified in the germplasm. Depicted graph based on first and second coordinates in PCoA demonstrated that the 38 collected groups of apricots are genetically 26 distinct cultivars and there are some duplicates in the germplasm. Results showed that three loci including UDP98-021, UDP98-409 and UDP98-411 were able to distinguish all 26 genotypes. To check the genetic identity of saplings with the same name, some cultivars including Jahangiri, Askar Abadi, Shamlou, Saltanati, Shahroudi, Shams, Tabarze and Rajab Ali were collected from two different nurseries. Surprisingly, the results showed that Nasiri, Tabraze and Shahroudi which were sampled twice from distinct nurseries and provinces, despite of identical names, had different genetic backgrounds.

Detected off-types among five biological replications of local varieties propagated asexually by nurseries showed that there was not sufficient attention in the selection of propagating material in the nurseries. In this context, establishment of foundation blocks by public sector and mother orchards by private sector of economy from Iranian apricot local varieties can be an effective solution so that nursery operators can provide certified propagating material for production of certified nursery stocks. Moreover, seed and plant certification and registration institute should made inspection and testing procedures in mother orchards and nurseries to ensure that propagated trees are healthy, genetically uniform and original.

Nowadays, horticultural products especially in our country are damaged by the climate change events (rising temperatures, water shortage associated by drought and extreme temperature fluctuations). The greatest economic damage to horticultural crops are caused by winter chilling and / or spring frosts, in which has been increased by seventimes during the last 10 years. Indeed, just during 9 months of 2016-2017 year, the chilling/frost damages were reached to 140 million euro of the total damage value of 240 million euro to agriculture (about 60%). According to the Agricultural Insurance Fund, maximum amount of compensation to farmers of the country was paid to apples, walnuts, grapes, almonds, pomegranates, oranges and pistachios orchardists, respectively. Grape (Vitisvinifera), a member of the Vitaceae family, is the most important horticultural crop in Takestan region, ranking top in producing raisins in Iran. Yearly, horticultural practices in order to reduce the severity of chilling damages to crops cost a lot under orchard conditions. Some of these practices are included burying vines under soil, winter ice-watering, flood irrigation, and turning the heaters on. Nowadays, cheap and fast alternative methods such as anti-freezes spraying havebeen considered to reduce the freeze injuries under orchards. These compounds as mechanical barriers either prevent the ice crystals formation on the sensitive plant tissues or activate the freezing tolerance mechanisms in the plants. Salicylic acid (SA), a type of phenolic acid, is one of the most secondary metabolites in the grape. SA not only plays an important role on the determination of the quality, color and taste of fruit, but also influences on the plant responses into environmental stresses such as drought, chilling, salinity and heavy metals. Natural osmolites such as soluble sugars, amino-acids and ammonium compounds are accumulated inside the plants under natural conditions. Commercial anti-freeze/anti-transpiration compounds on the basis of the mentioned natural osmolites are used to increase the freezing tolerance or postponing the bud break of horticultural crops. For example, Bio-bloom, Tiofer®, Cropaid® and Fosnutren® were used as anti-freeze compounds under almond, cherry, pistachio and apple orchards in Iran. The efficiency of this method to reduce the chilling injuries in vineyards is not well known. Therefore, to consider the effects of plant basis anti-freeze compounds on the freezing tolerance of red seedless grape under Takestan climate conditions, the current experimentation was conducted. In this regard, the important freezing tolerance determining osmolites as well as some of the qualitative and quantitative characters of vines in response to these compounds were evaluated.
In order to study the likely increase in grape spring freezing tolerance using the anti-freeze compounds under the orchard, an experiment was conducted as randomized completeblock design (RCBD) with anti-freeze compounds in Agriculture and Natural Resources Research Center of Qazvin during 2012-2013. Minimum monthly temperature during the autumn and winter months was -12.2 °C. The treatments including the spray of SA, Tiofer®, Cropaid®, Bio-Bloom® and water (control) were used on vines during fourphonological stages: before plant dormancy, during bud swelling, start of clustering and during the final clustering on the three red seedless vines per plot. Quantitative and qualitative characters such as cluster weight, yield and total soluble solids (TSS) were measured. Leaves osmolites contents such as proline (Bates et al.,1973) and glycin-betain (Grieve and Grattan.,1983) as well as the status of the freezing resistance index enzymes activities such as Glutathione peroxidase (GPX) (Updhyaya et al.,), Ascorbateperoxidase (APX) (Nakano and Asada,1981) and Catalase (CAT) (Aebi, 1984) were evaluated. All statistical analyses were made using SAS software. The comparison of mean values for the different treatments was made by ANOVA, followed by the Duncan’s test at the significant level of 0.05.
The results showed that the anti-freeze compounds resulted in an significant increase in the TSS, cluster weight and yield by 22%, 17% and 26%, respectively and the most effectswas observed in Bio-bloom. Our results regarding the effect of SA on the TSS was in accordance with other researchers (ShokrollahFaam, 2011; Sedighi et al., 2011; Champa et al., 2014;Marzouk and Kasm, 2011). However the effect of other anti-freeze compounds on the quantitative characteristics has not studied yet. Tiofer and Cropaid had no significant effect on the grape cluster weight. Proline content increased significantly using anti-freeze compounds compared to control during 2012-2013. But there was no significant difference between the different anti-freeze compounds for proline content. The most important content of betaine-glysine was observed in SA and Bio-bloom treatments. A decrease in air temperature during 2013 dormancy period resulted in higher amount of osmolytes contents (betaine glycine) and freezing resistance index enzymes activities compared to those of 2012. The most important contents of these enzymes activities were obtained in SA, Tiofer, Cropaid and Bio-Bloom treatments, respectively and the less important content was observed in control.
According to these results the commercial anti-freeze compounds could be useful not only for an increase in the grape spring freeze resistance but also for an improvement in the grape cluster weight, total soluble solids and yield. Osmolytes contents such as such as proline and betaine glycine and enzymes GPX, APX, CAT are significantly higher in anti-freeze treated plants compared to control. Since high levels of soluble solids, mentioned osmolytes and enzymes resulted in an increase in cold resistance in plant, the use of antifreeze as an easy and inexpensive way to increase the cold hardiness of grapes is recommended. These results were obtained with this antifreeze in 5 ppm concentration. Therefore more researches on the other varieties using different concentrations of anti-freeze compounds are recommended.

In order to study the sensitivity of vegetative growth to water deficit stress of a late-maturing peach (Prunus persica L. cv. Elberta) under orchard conditions, an experiment was conducted as randomized complete-block design with three treatments and four repetitions in Shahdiran commercial orchard in Mashhad during 2011. Three irrigation treatments including 360 (low stress), 180 (moderate stress) and 90 (severe stress) m3ha-1week-1 using a drip irrigation system (minimum stem water potential near harvest: -1.2, -1.5 and -1.7 MPa, respectively) from the mid-pit hardening stage (12th of June) until harvest (23rd of Sep.) applied. Predawn, stem and leaf water potentials, leaf photosynthesis, transpiration, stomatal conductance and leaf temperature, the number of new shoots on fruit bearing shoots and vegetative shoots lengths during growing season as well as leaf area at harvest were measured. The results showed that water deficit stress had negative effects on peach tree water status, thereby resulting in decreased leaf gas exchange and tree vegetative growth. As significant decreased assimilate production of tree was resulted from both decreased leaf assimilation rate (until about 23 % and 50 %, respectively under moderate and severe stress conditions compared to low stress conditions) and decreased leaf area of tree (until about 57% and 79%, respectively under moderate and severe stress conditions compared to low stress conditions at harvest). The significant positive correlation between leaf water potential and vegetative growth of peach revealed that shoot growth would decrease by 30% and 50% of maximum at leaf water potential of –1.56 and –2.30 MPa, respectively.

In order to compare the antioxidant capacity, total phenolic content and physico-chemical characteristics of commercial peach cultivars, an experiment based on randomized complete design (RCD) with 6 treatments and 6 replications was conducted. The treatments included six cultivars of white peach, Fig peach, Green peach, Elberta, Redhaven and GHHale collected from Shahd Iran commercial Orchard in Mashhad. The analyzed parameters included fruit and stone weight, length and width fruit, soluble solids, titratable acidity, pH, color variables like as L, a, and b, vitamin C, total phenolics compounds and total antioxidant activity in skin and pulp. The results showed that the heaviest and the lightest fruits in weight were produced by GHHale and Elberta, respectively. Total antioxidant activity and total phenol content varied up to 13-48 mg.ml-1 and 47-209 mg GA.100g-1 fresh weight, respectively. The antioxidant capacity of skin was higher than that of pulp. The best quality fruit in terms of highest vitamin c, total phenolics, total antioxidant activity and soluble solids was produced by green peach. White peach cultivar was suitable in terms of vitamin c, soluble solids and fruit weight, whereas its total phenolics and total antioxidant activity were the lowest. Some color parameters are usable in selecting fruit with high vitamin c and total antioxidant activity.

In order to study the effects of different drying methods including oven, microwave and ambient (shade condition) on drying time, essential oil content, antioxidant activity and phenol compound of two populations of Tarragon (Artemisia dracunculus L.), two separate experiments were carried out on two populations (Mashhad and Nishabur). The experiment was performed in a completely randomized design with three replications and 13 drying treatments (oven temperatures: 40, 50, 60 and 70 °C, six microwave powers: 100, 180, 300, 450, 600 and 900 w, shade drying and combination of drying with microwave (600 and 900 w) and shade drying). In addition, a comparison was performed between fresh sample and the mentioned treatments. Results showed that moisture content and measured active substances were different between studied populations. In both experiments, the longest drying time (about 30 hours and 32 h for Mashhad and Nishabur population, respectively) and the shortest drying time (about 5 minutes) was obtained at ambient temperature and 900 w microwave power treatments, respectively. In both experiments, the highest essential oil content (2.27 and 3.2% for Mashhad and Nishabur population, respectively) was obtained from fresh samples and then ambient temperature and microwave 900 w treatments. Essential oil content was decreased by increasing drying temperature. Essential oil content was in an average in all combination treatments. The highest antioxidant activity (82.5 and 81.8% in Mashhad and Nishabur population, respectively) was obtained by fresh samples while the lowest amount was obtained for Mashhad (60.7%) and Nishabur (53%) populations in ambient temperature and in 40°C oven dry, respectively. Maximum phenol compound was recorded for Mashhad population (165 mg GA/g DW) in 600 w microwave power and Nishabur population (524/7 mg GA/g DW) in 900 w microwave power, respectively

Plants gums, hydrophilic colloids, hydrocolloids, mucilages and hydrophilic polymers are compounds that can produce gel. Coating materials which applied on food products increased shelf life of food by affecting water loss, gas exchange, oxidation process and decreasing the food spoilage and affect shelf life of food products. Coating material could carry antioxidant, antibacterial and/or other compounds responsible of food color and flavors. Some advantages of edible coating are antibacterial activity, improvement of nutritional values, flavors and also decreasing the environment pollutions. In order to develop biodegradable nanoparticles from plant polymers and study of the effect of nanoparticle application as edible coating on shelf life of cucumber fruits, the experiment was conducted at the research laboratories of Ferdowsi University of Mashhad (FUM) and industrial laboratory of School of Pharmacy, Mashhad University of Medical Science. At the first, some plant mucilage including tragacanth (Astragalus gummifera), marshmallow flower (Malva silvestris) and seeds of plantain (Plantago lanceolata), basil (Ocimum basilicum), psylium (Plantago psylium) and lallemantia (Lallemantia royleana) were extracted by water as natural polymers at room temperature. Ethyl-cellulose™ also used as semi-artificial polymer. Then acetone fraction of the extracts prepared and dispersed in water solution which had different Hydrophile–Lipophile Balance (HLB) values (5-15) during different stirring level (500, 750 and 1000 rpm) by phase dispersion method for production of nanoparticles. Nanoparticle properties and morphological characteristic determined by Particle Size Analyzer and electronic scanning microscopy (SEM) respectively. The solution contained nanoparticles sprayed on fresh cucumber fruits (as a model) as edible coating and the shelf life evaluated. Results showed that mucilage of tragacanth (Astragalus gummifera), marshmallow flower (Malva silvestris), Lallemantia (Lallemantia royleana) and ethyl-cellulose™(as a control) produced particles at nanometer scale (100-200 nm) but plantain (Plantago lanceolata), basil (Ocimum basilicum) and psylium (Plantago psyllium) had no significant acetone fraction. The best solution’s HLB for production of suitable nanoparticles (app. 100 nm in size) in the mentioned natural polymers were 7 at 1000 rpm. The results of the second set of experiment showed that application of the solutions containing nanoparticle as edible coating decreased cucumber spoilage caused by mold and improved shelf life of the commodity in the package. The results of the present study showed that medicinal plants mucilage are valuable source of natural polymeric compounds and could be used as edible coating using nanotechnology.

In order to compare the growth indices and phenological stages of development of two local and commercial varieties of radish in response to different levels of population, an experiment was conducted as factorial on the basis of completely randomized block design in the greenhouse in Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Iran during 2009-2010. Treatments were included two varieties of radish as first factor and three levels of population containing 85, 120 and 170 Pl m-2 as second factor. Phenological stages and growth indices including fresh and dry weight, leaf area, relative growth rate, special leaf area, leaf area ratio, net assimilation rate, edible part yield and dry matter allocation to leaves and roots in optimal conditions since the beginning of germination until final harvest were analyzed. The results showed that there is no significant difference between two varieties in relation to the germination time and 2 and 4 leaves stages in different planting densities. But two varieties responded differently to the different planting densities since the beginning of tubering. The local variety showed higher leaf area ratio and leaf area index, and higher intercepted radiation, but the allocation of photosynthate was more to leaves than edible root. Commercial cultivar showed significantly more economic yield than local cultivar. Increasing the population to170 pl m-2 significantly increased leaf area and leaf area index, radiation use efficiency, leaf weight and biomass, but it had no significant effect on the radish root weight.

To compare the effects of different drying temperatures and different microwave powers and two different natural methods (shaded and sunny area) in chamomile (Matricaria recutita (L.) Rauschert CV. Germania (diploid)) essential oil and chamazolene content, drying time and drying rate, an experiment was carried out at the research field of Ferdowsi University of Mashhad (FUM), Iran during 2007-2008. The experimental design was completely randomized block design including three temperatures: 50, 60 and 70 °C, six microwave powers: 100, 180, 300, 450, 600 and 900 w and drying in shaded and sunny area, with three replications. The drying process was continued until the mass of the sample reduced to a moisture content of about 0.10 on a dry basis or 10% on a wet basis. The results indicate that different treatments of drying had a significant effect on the drying time, drying rate and essential oil and chamazolene content. The maximum essential oil content (%0.72) obtained at drying in shaded area and the lowest one was obtained at drying by microwave and high temperatures of oven. Maximum chamazolene content obtained at microwave drying (except 100w power) and natural method (both shaded and sunny areas). Minimum chamazolene content was obtained at drying by oven.

To evaluate the effects of different plant densities and different levels of nitrogen fertilization on morphological characters, dry flower yield, essential oil and chamazolene content of an improved chamomile cultivar (Germania (diploid)), the experiment was conducted on the base of two factor factorial completely randomized block design with three replications at the research field and experimental laboratory of Ferdowsi University of Mashhad (FUM), Iran, during, 2007-2008. The main plot was plant density at four levels, including D1=20 pl/m2, D2=25 pl/m2, D3=40 pl/m2 and D4=50 pl/m2 and the sub plot was nitrogen in the form of urea (46% nitrogen) at three levels, including N0=control (absence of fertilization), N1=10 g/m2 and N2= 20 g/m2. During the flowering period, growth indices such as plant height, anthodia diameter, dry flower yield, essential oil and chamazolene content were measured. The results showed that the increasing of plant density up to 50 pl/m2 increased flower and essential oil yield and chamazolene content, whereas the highest content of essential oil was obtained at 40 pl/m2. Urea (10 g/m2) produced maximum percent and yield of essential oil (0.77 w/w), but dry flower yield increased with highest level of urea (20 g/m2). Interaction effects of urea and plant density was significant just on the percent and yield of essential oil (p<0.05). Under the climatic conditions of Mashhah, the maximum yield of dry flower and essential oil for this cultivar were observed at 40 pl/m2 with 10 g/m2 urea fertilization.

Field experiment was carried out at the Ferdowsi University Research Field, Mashhad, Iran during 2007-2008, to determine the effect of different drying temperatures, microwave powers and natural method (shaded and sunny area) in Chamomile (Matricaria recutita L., Asteraceae) essential oil content, chamazolene content, drying time and drying rate. The experimental design was completely randomized block design having three temperatures: 50, 60 and 70 °C, six microwave powers: 100, 180, 300, 450, 600 and 900w and drying in shaded and sunny area, replicated thrice. The drying process was continued until the mass of the sample reduced to a moisture content of about 0.10 on a dry basis or 10% on a wet basis. The results indicate that different treatments of drying had a significant effect on the drying time and rate and essential oil and chamazolene content. The maximum essential oil content obtained at drying by the lowest temperatures and drying in shaded area. Whereas, higher drying temperatures of oven and microwave powers and drying in sunny area decreased the essential oil content. Maximum chamazolene content obtained at microwave drying (except 100w power) and natural method. Minimum chamazolene content was obtained at drying by oven.

Field experiment was carried out at the Ferdowsi University research field, Mashhad, Iran during 2006-2007, to determine how much effective the N-fertilization is, to find out the most suitable plant density which could be used in chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla L. Asteraceae) to increase the yield of anthodium flowers and content of essential oil. The experimental design was as two factor factorial completely randomized block design having four plant densities (D1=20pl/m2, D2=25pl/m2, D3=40pl/m2 and D4=50pl/m2) as first factor and three levels of Urea™ fertilizer (%46) (N0=0g/m2, N1=10g/m2 and N2=20g/m2) as second factor, replicated thrice. During the flowering period, growth indexes such as plant height, anthodia diameter, dry flower yield, essential oil content and chamazolene were measured. The results indicate that plant density and urea do not have a significant effect on morphological characters. Plant density had significant effect on dry flower yield and essential oil yield. So, maximum yield of dry flower and oil were obtained at 50 pl/m2. In the other hand, the increasing of Urea up to 20g/m2 caused dry flower yield, essential oil content and yield and chamazolene content to be increased significantly. The significant interaction between plant density and Urea levels had been recorded in the case of yield of dry flower and essential oil of Bodegold.