گلاله مصطفوی

Red seaweeds contain compounds such as agar and hormones that have many uses in industry. This research was done to determine biomass and extract two hormones and agar from Gracilaria corticata algae. Methods Sampling was done from December 2014 to November 2015 in Bushehr port, one month apart. Biomass and environmental parameters were measured and algae harvested in the selected transect. After the extraction steps, hormones are separated by the HPLC method and identified by standard injection. The highest amount of agar occurred in July with 63.3%, Zeatin in September with 21.9% and indole butyric acid with 19.21% in January. The highest fresh weight of this algae was measured in March at 423.33 grams per square meter. The results of the ANOVA and Chi-squared statistical tests showed a significant difference in 6 months of sampling in all samples (P<0.05). The amount of agar showed a significant correlation with the biomass. Also, among environmental factors, agar was correlated with salinity and temperature. Butyric indole of acid in January caused the growth of alga, but Zeatin did not show a significant effect on the growth of this species. In general, in order to extract these materials, harvesting can be done in the months that have the highest amount. Considering the exorbitant price of these hormones and the need to use them in algae extracts and algae liquid fertilizer, this research is a starting point for extracting all kinds of hormones from these algae.

Brown seaweeds contain compounds such as alginate and phytohormones that have many uses in industries. This research was conducted to determine biomass and extract two phytohormones and alginate from Sargassum muticum. Sampling was done from January 2014 to November 2015 in Bushehr port, one month apart. Biomass and environmental parameters were measured in the selected transect and the algae were sampled. After extraction, hormones were separated by HPLC and identified by standard injection. The highest biomass of alga was in January (679±2.12g/m2) and the lowest was in September (20.67±0.76 g/m2). Alginate reached the lowest leve (40.67±1.03%) in November and the highest level (54.67±2.25%) in January, which had a positive correlation with biomass. The highest amount of gibberellin (5.86±1.11%) was in July, which had a positive correlation with temperature. Zeatin was obtained only in May (0.18±0.07%). According to the results, in order to extract alginate, gibberellin and zeatin from this alga, it should be done in January, July and May, respectively. Considering the high price and the necessity of using these materials in industries, agriculture and as algae liquid fertilizer, this research is a starting point for extracting substances and hormones from this alga.

Salvia multicaulis is a widespread medicinal plant growing in north, northwest, and center of Iran. In this study, the aerial parts of 29 specimens belonging to five geographical populations were collected and dried at full flowering stage. AFLP molecular markers were applied for genetic diversity analysis. Essential oil was extracted by hydro-distillation and its chemical compositions were analyzed by GC/MS. AFLP results led to the recognition of two different genotypes. The results demonstrated high molecular affinity among Azerbaijan and Kurdistan populations. However, Tehran showed much more correlations with Isfahan and Kohgiluyeh-o-Boyerahmad populations. The AMOVA test results, demonstrated high within population genetic variability. STRUCTURE analysis revealed some degree of population genetic fragmentation that was principally due to genetic difference occurred between Azerbaijan and the rest of the studied populations. Overall, 40 constituents were determined among which, a-pinene (11.2–19.9%) and 1,8-cineole (10.2–20.4%) were distinguished as two major compounds. Tehran showed closer affinity to Isfahan and Kohgiluyeh-o-Boyerahmad. The results of molecular studies were in accordance with those obtained by the chemical compositions. Therefore, ecological factors and geographical distance as well as genetics play an important role in the species evolution and distribution in different parts of the country.

In the present study, two regulatory phytohormones, abscisic acid and auxin, were extracted from two different macroalgae, Sargassum muticum and Gracilaria corticata, for the first time. Sampling was performed each month with three replicates, from Bushehr Province shores located in the north region of Persian Gulf for six alternative months. The alteration of seaweeds biomass and the probable impacts of some environmental factors were measured. The extracted phytohormones were isolated employing HPLC method and identified by injection of standards. The highest amount of ABA phytohormone in the two species, occurred in November. Also, the highest amount of Auxin in Sargassum muticum was reported in May, while the highest amount of this hormone in Gracilaria corticata was observed in January. In January, the maximum mean biomass in Sargassum muticum was 679gr/m2, while the minimum mean of 20.66gr/m2 was observed in September. Moreover, the highest average biomass in Gracilaria corticata was 423/33gr/m2 in March and the lowest mean of 158g/m2 was reported in November. ANOVA and Chi-squared test results showed a significant difference in all samples. These phytohormones could be applied in preparing algae liquid fertilizer in future studies.

The genus Ononis, embraces more than 85 species worldwide. In the present study, materials of two subspecies of O. spinosa from different localities of Iran alongside some other native species of the genus were included in phylogenetic analyses. In addition, over 50 accessions were obtained from GenBank. In order to clarify the exact number of subspecies of O. spinosa in Iran, datasets were obtained from sequencing of nuclear ribosomal ITS (nr DNA ITS) and trnL-F plastid (cp DNA) regions and analysed. Three taxa belonging to O. spinosa L. complex (O. spinosa subsp. leiosperma, O. spinosa subsp. antiquorum, and O. arvensis=O. spinosa subsp. arvensis) were previously reported from Iran. Based on Maximum Parsimony and Bayesian analyses of the molecular datasets, it is shown that, unlike the previous reports, Iranian O. spinosa complex belongs to only two subspecies (i.e. leiosperma and arvensis subspp.). In addition, we also found that, O. spinosa subsp. antiquorum is not present in Iran. It was also demonstrated that, seed sculpturing does not provide valuable characters in diagnosing different subspecies of O. spinosa.

Iran is one of centers of diversity for Trifolium species in Asia with 49 species in 6 sections . There are high similarities between species specially in calyx tube, so taxonomic identification are difficult. In this research, major pollen grain characters were studied in 34 species of this genus by used Scaning Electron Microscopy (S.E.M). The results showed that, pollen grains are trizoncolporate, the equatorial view was oblong to circular shapes and sculpture of exine were reticulate, irregular reticulate, perforate, scrobiculate and foveolate. T. tomentosum and T. bullatum was distinguished with their sculptures, also in T. campestre exine surface was reticulate but in T. aureum was regulate. In the other hand, T. pilulare has the most different sculpture between other species. Based on cluster analysis, two main groups were detected. One cluster is containing both species of Vesicaria and Trifolium sections and another clade divided into three subclades, but the species of all sections are complex .Our results showed that Trifolium is the heterogenous with variation in morphology and pollen grain.

A progressive revision of the Iranian material belonging to Minuartia L. (Caryophyllaceae) led to the recognition of a new species Minuartia sabalanica based on the material from NW Iran. The new species is morphologically related to M. rimarum, an endemic only known from the central and southern Turkey, and M. umbellulifera known from Turkey and Iran. Diagnostic characters of the new species are discussed. In addition, a Latin diagnosis, description and illustration of the new species are given.