مقالات رزومه دکتر فرزانه نجفی

Madder (Rubia tinctorum L.) is a perennial and herbaceous plant. Madder's root is known as its most important economic part, and it is rich in anthraquinone derivatives. Madder is a plant with medicinal, nutritional, color and health benefits. Recent pharmaceutical studies have shown that the anthraquinones of the madder root have selective inhibitory effects on cancer cells. In this research, according to the water and soil limitations of the tested area, the use of biodegradable calcium carbonate and phosphate fertilizers to produce madder was suggested. So, considering climate change and water shortage as severe risks to sustainable development, the cheapness of madder production and its multiple uses, the planting and production of this plant are mainly used in semi-arid areas. 
In field conditions in Ardakan, Yazd, this research was tested in factorial form in a randomized complete block design with two factors and four replications. Calcium carbonate agent was supplied at five levels of 0, 20, 50, 100 and 150 kg hˉ1 and phosphate from triple superphosphate fertilizer at four levels of 0, 50, 100 and 150 kg hˉ1. In each four-by-four-meter plot, four rows of seeds were planted, two side rows and two plants from the sides of the remaining lines were removed as marginal effects, and the rest of the plants were considered statistical populations. Irrigation water's electrical conductivity was measured during the growth period, and its average was 11.6 ds mˉ2. The plots were irrigated immediately after planting the seeds. Four days later, irrigation was done again. In the fall of the second and third years, soil was again given to the plants along with the desired treatments. Madder plants were harvested in the third winter year. Root fresh-weight biomass was weighed immediately after harvesting. After drying the roots at 104 °C, the dry weight of the roots was measured. A spectrophotometer also determined the content of anthraquinone and hydrogen peroxide in the roots.
The results of bivariate analysis of variance of the data showed that the simple and reciprocal effect of different calcium carbonate and phosphate treatments on functional indicators of biomass, root fresh weight, root dry weight, anthraquinone content and root hydrogen peroxide in this research was significant at P≥ 0.05. The comparison of averages showed that the highest values of biomass, root wet weight, root dry weight, anthraquinone and hydrogen peroxide were observed in the combined treatment of 20 kg h-1 of calcium carbonate and 100 kg h-1 of phosphate, compared to the control. The lowest value of performance indicators investigated in this research was observed in the combined treatment of 150 kg h-1 of calcium carbonate and 150 kg h-1 of phosphate, compared to the control. The simultaneous use of these two fertilizers had a complementary effect on each other. This was because the application of 20 and 50 kg h-1of calcium carbonate and 100kg h-1 of phosphate had an increasing impact on the anthraquinone and hydrogen peroxide content in madder roots. The comparison of the averages showed that in the combined treatment of 20 kg h-1of calcium carbonate and 100 kg h-1of phosphate, compared to the control, the highest wet weight of the root increased by 71%, the highest dry weight of the root increased by 91%, and the highest anthraquinone content increased by 142% was observed. The comparison of the averages showed that in the combined treatment of 50 kg h-1 of calcium carbonate and 100 kg h-1 of phosphate, compared to the control, the highest biomass index was observed, with an increase of 79%.
The results showed that the functional indices of root fresh weight, root dry weight, anthraquinone content and biomass of madder increased significantly under the combined treatment of 20 kg h-1 of calcium carbonate and 100 kg h-1 of phosphate. It is suggested that madder be cultivated using calcium carbonate and phosphate fertilizers to increase the anthraquinone compounds under the influence of biodegradable and inexpensive external environmental stimuli in regions similar to the climatic conditions studied in this research.

Rice is one of the important crops that is sensitive to salinity stress, especially in the early stages of growth. Today, the use of plant growth regulators such as salicylic acid has made plants resistant to environmental stresses such as salinity.The purpose of this research was to study the effect of salicylic acid application on some morphological and biochemical characteristics of rice plants under salt stress. For this purpose, factorial plant stabilization based on completely random design with 5 levels of salinity (0, 25, 50, 75, 100 mM sodium chloride) and 3 levels of salicylic acid (0, 0.5, 1 mM) was performed in 3 repetitions. The measured traits included germination percentage, length of shoot and root, amount of total protein, malondialdehyde, proline and activity of some antioxidant enzymes. The results of this research showed that salinity caused a significant decrease in germination percentage, stem and root length, and decreased protein activity, while in plants treated with salicylic acid, the amount of this reduction is moderated. The highest germination percentage was observed in control and 25mM salt stress treatment and decreased by increasing salt treatment up to 100 mM treatment. The highest shoot length observed in 25 mM salt with salicylic acid in 0.5 mM concentration. The highest and the lowest root length derived by 75mM salt stress with 1mM salicylic acid and 100 mM salt stress without any salicylic acid treatments respectively. Protein measurement in different treatment indicated that increasing of salt stress cause decreasing the leaf protein content especially in 100 mM salt concentration. In all salt treatments, salicylic acid increased the leaf protein content, and raising the salicylic acid from 0 to 1 mM cause increasing the leaf protein content. The highest leaf protein content was measured in without salt treatment with 1mM salicylic acid. Salt stress caused rising the malondialdehyde content in 100 mM salt treatment rather than other treatments, but salicylic acid application in 0.5 and 1 mM concentration decreased it. On the other hand, the increase in the amount of biochemical traits including proline, antioxidant enzyme (superoxide dismutase) shows the role of one millimolar salicylic acid consumption in increasing the tolerance of this plant against salt stress. While the salinity stress, the activity of malondialdehyde, the activity of the antioxidant enzyme (catalase) increased, the use of salicylic acid reduces the oxidative stress by reducing the activity of these traits, which increases the resistance of the plant under stress.

Alfalfa is one of the most important forage corps in the world. The Medicago plant is a major genus from the fabaceae.High concentration of heavy metals in soil is one of the most important problems in the environment . Cadmium is a heavy metal that can cause oxidative stress in plant cells. In this research effects of different concentrations of cadmium (0 , 25 and 50 µM) and gibberellic acid (0 , 5 and 10 µM) were investigated on certain physiological parameters in Medicago sativa L. Alfalfa seeds were sterilized and cultured in pots containing sand which were irrigated with Hoagland nutrient solution. plants were treated with cadmium chloride and gibberellin 22 - old day.after twenty two days Plants were harvested to assay some physiological parameters. All treatments were conducted with four replications. Experiment results showed that increasing cadmium chloride concentration in Hoagland nutrient solution, decreased growth parameters and pigment contents and GPX activity.But , but proline contents, SOD and CAT activties in roots and leaves of plants increased. by additionof gibberellin concentrations. . It is concluded that gibberellic acid could alleviate the adverse effects of stress cadmium chloride in Medicago sativa L.

Madder (Rubia tinctorum L.) is a herbaceous and perennial plant, which has bioactive compounds with high medicinal and pigment potency. Local farmers believe that increasing soil lime increases the color composition of this plant. To investigate the effects of calcium carbonate and phosphorus fertilizer on some physiological parameters and root alizarin content in madder, a field factorial experiment was conducted in a randomized complete block design with four replications. Experimental treatments included calcium carbonate at five levels (0, 20, 50, 100, and 150 kg.ha-1) and triple superphosphate at four levels (0, 50, 100, and 150 kg.ha-1). Means comparison showed that the highest root dry weight (an increase of 75% compared to control), total plant dry weight (an increase of 58% compared to control), root alizarin content (an increase of 78% compared to control), and root catalase activity were obtained with calcium carbonate increase up to 20 kg.ha-1 and triple superphosphate increase up to 100 kg.ha-1. The highest root length (an increase of 54% compared to control) and leaf catalase activity were observed in the 50 kg.ha-1 calcium carbonate and 100 kg.ha-1 triple superphosphate treatment. The highest leaf and root peroxidase activity was obtained in the treatment of 150 kg.ha-1 calcium carbonate and 150 kg.ha-1 triple superphosphate. Simultaneous application of these two fertilizers had a complementary effect on each other, so that the 20 and 50 kg.ha-1 calcium carbonate application along with the 100 kg.ha-1 triple superphosphate had an increasing effect on the alizarin content of madder root. This method can be used for the future development of a non-destructive tolerance test that shows madder increased response to calcium carbonate and phosphorus fertilizer, to further produce madder root medicinal compounds as a targeted drug for cancer treatment.

The study of vegetative structures of plants is effective in the development of biology and is one of the research methods in the field of taxonomy. Agrimonia eupatoria L. is a valuable medicinal plant of the Rosaceae. Due to weak germination and time-consuming growth in the natural habitat, tissue culture is a good method to accelerate the propagation of this plant. In the present study, the anatomical structure of vegetative organs in the in vivo plants was compared with the in vitro plants. Roots, stems, leaves, and petioles of plants in both groups were sampled and fixed in alcohol-glycerine and manual cutting was performed. The samples were stained with Carmen/Methylene blue. The results showed that the general structures in both samples are similar but in the regenerated plants, the density of protective tissues was lower than the in vivo plants (number of layers of collenchyma tissue was less and there was no sclerenchyma). Vascular bundles in the stem, leaves, and petiole of both groups were seen as bicollateral. The number of palisade parenchyma layers and spongy parenchyma layers in the leaves of both groups was similar. The macle crystal structures were observed in the parenchyma of stem and petiole in both groups, but its number was lower in regenerated plants. On the stem and leaves of this plant, there were numerous trichomes that the numbers of trichomes in the regenerated plants were less than natural plants.

The rapid expansion of the use of nanomaterials, including nano silicon (SiNP), in industry, medicine and agriculture has increased the risk of their introduction into the environment, and evaluation of their potential effects on organisms, including plant species, is essential. In this study, the effects of SiNP on growth factors, antioxidant enzymes and anatomy of Avean sativa L. were compared with sodium silicate. The experiments were conducted in laboratory with four concentrations of 2.5, 5, 7.5 and 10 mM sodium silicate and SiNP, and the plants received only silicon treatments only 7days at the germination stage. The results showed that SiNPs didn’t have toxic effect on the growth and tissue structure of treated plants and also had a positive effect on many measured parameters. Both forms of silicon increased the growth of leaves, especially the vascular sheath cells, the diameter of the meta-xylem openings and the thickness of vascular cell wall, as well as the diameter of the stem, the vascular poles and the meta-xylem openings II. Unlike the leaf and shoot, both forms of silicon had no positive effects on the most measured-parameters of roots. The activity of superoxide dismutase increased in the presence of SiNP that accompanied with significant increase in vascular cell was thickness compared to the other treatments. These changes can be due to the expression of genes that have been induced in germination phase. In general, the positive effect of sodium silicate on growth and anatomical factors was far greater than that of SiNP.

One of the main factors that limit post-harvest shelf-life is ethylene hormone. Therefore, it has been suggested to genetically manipulate this hormone. The present study investigates transgenic lines of rose containing the mutant etr1 gene. Complementary molecular, physiological, and morphological assessment of these lines was performed to select the long-lasting line. In addition, physiological responses to treatments with gibberellin (0 and 80 mg l-1) and ethylene (0 and 1µl l-1) were investigated in long-lasting and control lines. The evaluation was carried out in budding and half-open commercial stages. Tests were performed in factorial form and totally random design with three replicates. The results of molecular studies showed the successful transfer of the target gene to these lines. Then, given the desired shelf-life, slower flowering process and preserving petals on the pedicel until the last day of physiological and morphological studies, line six of the seven transgenic lines was chosen as the lasting line. The results further showed a significant reduction in the production of ethylene in both budding and half-open stages in the longer-lasting line compared to control line with both external ethylene and gibberellin treatments. Therefore, etr1-1 gene appears to be the right candidate for delaying ethylene-dependent aging in sensitive flowers.

Roses are one of the most important cut flowers in the world and therefore many studies have focused on keeping post-harvest quality and longevity. Ethylene is one of the major factors that limits post-harvest longevity. Therefore, genetic manipulation has been considered to reduce the adverse effects of this hormone and the present research investigates transgenic roses containing the mutant etr1-1 gene. In addition, according to antagonist effects, the change of gibberellin concentration to ethylene in favor of higher gibberellin concentration in the present research has been studied.

The content of phytohormones in long-lasting line (transgenic) and control (non-transgenic) after application of ethylene (0 and 1 µL L-1) and gibberellin (80 mg L-1) treatments were investigated in bud and half-open stages. Application of ethylene treatment was performed by injecting pure gas into polyethylene bags by syringe. For the application of gibberellin treatment, cut flowers were placed in gibberellin solution at the desired concentration. The treatments were applied for 24 hours and samples were taken from the outermost ring of petals. Experiments were conducted as factorial in a completely randomized design with four replications in order to measure phytohormones.

The results showed a decrease in the amount of gibberellin, benzyl adenine and indole acetic acid hormones and an increase in the amount of abscisic acid and ethylene hormones in bud and half-open stages in long-lasting line were significant compared to the control. In addition, the highest content of gibberellin, indole acetic acid and benzyl adenine hormones and the lowest content of ethylene and abscisic acid belongs to the GA3-treated long-lasting line.

Therefore, etr1-1 gene appears to be the right candidate for delaying ethylene-dependent aging in sensitive flowers and with GA3 treatment could be considerably improved longevity by reduction of oxidative damage.

Drought is one of the abiotic stresses that limit plant growth and crop production. Salicylic acid is one of growth regulators plays an important role in biotic and abiotic stresses.  In this study the effect of salicylic acid on reduction of drought stress in safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) were studied. The effect of the concentrations of SA (0, 0.25 mM) and water stress (levels 100%, 75%, 50% and 25% FC) on antioxidant enzymes activities and expression of the SOD gene were studied. When plants had three expanded leaves, they were sprayed with SA and after 2 days, ther were exposed to drought. After seven days, plants again were sprayed by SA. After two weeks plants were harvested for studying of physiological and molecular parameters. The results showed that drought stress 25%FC increased leaves and roots antioxidant enzyme activity, H2O2 and malondialdehyde contents, leaf Mn-SOD and leaf and root Fe-SOD. Interaction of SA and drought increased root antioxidant enzyme activity and reduced leaf antioxidant enzyme activity, root and  leaf gene expression of Fe-SOD and Mn-SOD, leaf and  root  H2O2 and  malondialdehyde contents  . As a result, salicylic acid had a significant role in the reduction of damage of drought stress in safflower plants

The high quality and quantity of extracted DNA is necessary for a variety of molecular biology studies. Low yields and poor quality of genomic DNA extracted from petal due to high levels of secondary metabolites. Carotenoids, anthocyanins, phenolic acids and flavonoids are the most effective secondary metabolites in petals, which are considered as contaminating compounds and could lead to interfere with DNA during extraction and purification. Considering that the basis of the most molecular research in genetic engineering and genomics is high-quality of DNA, therefore, it seems that finding an efficient method for reducing adverse effects of these contaminating compounds for the exteraction is essential. In this regard, iron-magnetic nanoparticles have been used to improve the exteraction of high yields and quality of DNA from rose petals in the present work. In the following, to compare the efficiency of DNA extraction, modified CTAB (Cetyl Trimethyl Ammonium Bromide) and rapid detection methods were used. The results showed that petal’s extracted DNA quantification and qualification by iron-magnetic nanoparticles procedure was much more reliable than two other methods. Inaddition, this method could extract optimal amount of DNA with the lowest amounts of samples within few minutes. Due to high qualification and quantification of DNA purification by iron-magnetic nanoparticles, the present procedure could be recommended as an efficient protocol for rose petal DNA extraction.

NO is an important signaling molecule in plants, which mediates growth and developmental processes. Among the different environmental stresses, drought is one of the most important limiting factors for growth and production around the world. In this study the effect of sodium nitroprusside (SNP), as a NO donor on the reduction of drought stress in safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) was studied. The effect of the concentrations of SNP (0, 15, and 25µM) and water stress (levels 25, 50, 75and 100% FC (Field capacity)) on shoot fresh weight, shoot dry weight, shoot length, leaf area, relative water content (RWC), catalase (CAT), ascorbate peroxidase (APX) superoxidase activities (SOD) and proline content in leaf and root were studied. When plants had three expanded leaves, were treated by SNP and after 24 hours, exposed to drought. After 7 days, plants again were sprayed by SNP. After 2 weeks plants were harvested to evaluate of growth and physiological parameters. The results showed that drought stress reduced shoot fresh weight, shoot dry weight, shoot length, leaf area, RWC and increased CAT and SOD activities and proline content in leaf and root. Interaction of nitric oxide and drought increased growth parameters, CAT and SOD activities and decreased APX activities and proline content. The results showed that the plants treated with NO are more resistance to drought stress. Keywords: Drought stress, Sodium nitroprusside, Safflower, Nitric oxide

Global warming, due to the excessive use of fossil fuels, rising prices, environmental pollution, and greenhouse gas emission, have made scientists produce a renewable fuel as a replacement for fossil fuels. The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential of four species of green algae as raw materials for biodiesel production. After purification, samples were kept in BBM and N8 culture medium at 25° C, pH 7, and under constant light. Growth rate, chlorophyll content, carotenoid concentration, and lipid content were measured. The total fatty acid contents and fatty acid profiles were measured with FTIR and GC-Mass, respectively. Findings showed that the highest growth rate and biomass production, and the minimum division time and also the maximum lipid contents belonged to the green algae Scenedesmussp ISC 94. Moreover, palmitic acid (42.74%), stearic acid (29.56%), palmitoleic acid (10.2%), oleic acid (6.72%), linoleic acid (1.72%), and α-linolenic acid (1.64%) were measured in Scenedesmussp ISC 94. The fatty acid composition of the microalgal lipid comprised over %80 of saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids with a double bound. Also, palmitic and oleic acids were the majore fatty acids isolated. Therefore, ecause of high lipid production and the best lipid content, Scenedesmussp ISC 94 is recommended for its potential as a biodiesel feedstock.

Salinity is one of the main obstacles to the successful growth and production of plants. Hormonal factors such as gibberellin as plant growth regulators can have different physiological and biochemical effects in plants under salt stress. In present research, the effects of different concentrations of sodium chloride (0, 30, 60, 90 and 120 mM NaCl) and gibberellin (0 and 100 µg L-1) on photosynthetic pigments, proline, malondialdehyde, phenol and flavonoid contents were studied. Results showed that with addition levels of salinity and application of gibberellin, rate of chlorophylls a and b also decreased. In the other hand, different concentrations of NaCl caused significant increase in contents of proline, phenol and flavonoid in comparison with control. In interaction of salinity and gibberellin also contents of these compounds increased significantly in comparison with control and individual treatments of NaCl. The accumulation of malondialdehyde that shows the rate of degradation and peroxidation of membrane lipids were significantly increased by salt treatments, while combined application of GA3 and NaCl caused reduction in malondialdehyde (MDA) content. These results showed that gibberellin can reduce negative effects on lipids peroxidation and thus increases the resistance of plants to salt stress conditions.

Drought stress is a major factor that reduces growth, development and production of plants especially in generative phase. Among crop plants, wheat (Triticum aestivum), which often experiences water-shortage conditions, is an appealing study system because there are so many natural genotypes differing in drought tolerance. Wheat as well as the most cereals is especially threatened by water deficit during flowering and grain filling period in relation to decreasing yield potential (Khanna-Chop and Selote., 2007). Phytohormones play an important role in plants tolerance of abiotic stresses by mediating a wide range of adaptive responses although some of them act differently. Abscisic acid (ABA) and cytokinin (CK) are two antagonist hormones that play useful roles when stresses as drought appear. But, recent data implied that abscisic acid (ABA)/CK ratios in xylem sap are important for stress signaling. Therefore, this experiment was established to study and compare the influence of exogenous treatments of individual CK and ABA and also CK and ABA interaction on flag leaves relative water content (LRWC), chlorophyll florescence and gas exchange in related to yield were studied in Triticum aestivum cv. Pishgam (drought-tolerant) and cv.MV-17 (drought-sensitive) under irrigation and drought conditions after post-anthesis stage.
The influence of CK, ABA and their combination CK/ABA on LRWC, photochemical efficiency and gas exchange in Triticum aestivum cv. Pishgam (drought-tolerant) and cv.MV-17 (drought-sensitive) flag leaves and yield under irrigation and drought conditions during the grain-filling period. Factorial experiment was based on based on split plot in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Chlorophyll fluorescence as photochemical efficiency was assayed by OS1-FL, a pulse modulated fluorometer (OptiScience Corporation, Tyngsboro, MA). Gas exchange traits were determined at flowering using a portable gas exchange measuring system (Li 6400, Li-Cor, USA). For yield assay, 60 plants were selected randomly to assess grain weight 1000 and grain yield per plant. One-way ANOVA was applied to determine the significance of the results between different treatments and then Duncan multiple range tests (p Drought stress decreased LRWC in Pishgam cv. more than MV-17, significantly. Among hormonal treatments, the interaction of CK and ABA increased LRWC in both cultivars, significantly more than other hormonal treatments during drought stress. Chlorophyll florescence results showed that ФPSII and qP decreased and NPQ increased significantly in sensitive cv. more than tolerant cv. when irrigation was interrupted. CK and ABA interaction increased Fv/Fm, ФPSII and NPQ more than other hormonal treatments. Also CK/ABA application caused the significant increment in qP in Pishgam cv. Stomatal conductance (gs), net photosynthesis (A), transpiration (E) and Mesophyll conductance (MC) decreased in both cultivars when drought occurred while sub-stomatal CO2 concentration (Ci) and photosynthetic water use efficiency (PWUE) increased. These changes were more significant in sensitive cv. than tolerant cv. CK and ABA interaction increased Ci, A and PWUE in both cv. more than other hormonal treatments, while ABA treatment was the most effective hormonal treatment in reduction of gs, E and MC under drought condition. Yield reduced in both cultivars when drought stress appeared. Yield reduction was more in sensitive cv. CK and ABA combination was the most effective treatment for increment of yield, especially in sensitive cv. under drought stress. More Physiologic damages and yield reduction under drought exposure in susceptible cultivars were reviewed in the previous study (Chaves et al., 2003). CK effects on chlorophyll stability, protein synthesis in chloroplast and ABA effects on reduction of oxidative damage in photosynthesis system under drought and salt stress are reasons for production efficiency in plants (Pospisilova, 2003; Pospisilova et al., 2005). óAlso assesment of correlation coefficient showed the most significant relation between NPQ, A and PWUE with 1000-grain weight and grain yield.
It seems that CK and ABA combination is the best treatment in related to improvement of chlorophyll florescence, photosynthesis and yield efficiency in both cultivars under drought stress. Also, MV-17 (sensitive cv.) could use the hormonal treatment better than Pishgam (tolerant cv.) to improve photosynthesis and yield stability.

Salinity adversely affects crops metabolism and yield. The present work was conducted to evaluate the singular and interaction influences of Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi and brassinolide, as an active group of (brassinosteroids) BRs, on some physiological parameters of wheat plants to cope with salt stress14-day old mycorrhizal (Glomus mosseae) and non- mycorrhizal wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). Plants were foliar sprayed with 0 and 5 µM epibrassinolide 3 times once every two days. Then, each group was treated with 0 and 150 mM NaCl once every 3 days for 10 days. After salt treatment, some plants were harvested to estimate the leaf reducing sugar and glycine betaine contents. After the final growth, all wheat plants were harvested to measure some yield parameters. Synergistic influence of brassinolide and AM fungi was observed in protein and 1000-grain weight. It seemed that this was rooted in the increased accumulation of reducing sugars and glycine betaine, both helping to maintain osmotic potential in cells under high salinity in soil.

Water scarcity causes rice yield loss more than 30% under drought stress at field conditions. Hence, employing drought tolerant cultivars in this condition is an effective way to overcome such a challenge. Therefore, in current research, we have used three Iranian rice cultivars named Amol3, Sang-tarom and Neda, which is originated from a cross between Amol3 and Sang-tarom, in order to investigate responses of the selected rice cultivars to drought stress. In this study, several important physiological characteristics were evaluated under drought stress during a growth period. Therefore, present study was aimed to achieve some information about mechanisms and responses to drought stress and to use them in identifying tolerant cultivars in drought stress situation as well as employ them in rice breeding program.
The rice seedlings of three genotypes were tested at greenhouse under three levels of water treatments as: control (FTSW=1.0, Fraction of Transpirable Soil Water), mild drought stress (FTSW=0.5) and severe drought stress (FTSW=0.2) in four replications in 28±2ºC in day and 25± 2º in night and in 14 L/10 D light period in a factorial arrangement of treatments in randomized complete block design in PVC pipes with 1-meter-long and 10 cm in diameter. The root length, stomatal aperture size, ABA content in leaves and wet and dry weights of panicles were measured as essential features in these cultivars in both drought stress levels and in control treatment. For data analysis SPSS and SAS software was applied.
In this study, we found that in rice cultivar Neda, showed a significant reduction (P In Neda, no significant reduction was observed in stomatal aperture size while the maximum dry and fresh weights of panicles was found in Neda under mild drought stress condition, which could be a remarkable sign among the cultivars in long-term drought stress. A total of 30% reduction was observed for grain yield of Neda while the yield loss for Amol3 and san-tarom were 58% and 50%, respectively. Reduction in ABA level in leaf, root length stimulation and stomatal aperture size regulation could be assigned to the behaviors in highly tolerant cultivars under drought stress condition. Neda showed more similar responses to Amol3, one of its parent, than to Sang-tarom regarding increasing in root length and reduction in ABA level in leaf in response to drought stress. A good correlation between root length and reduction in ABA level or redistribution of ABA in root for better hydraulic conductivity and also preventing ethylene action in drought stress that needs to be more studied.

Salinity is one of the most harmful environmental factors limiting the productivity of crop plants. Selenium (Se) is a metalloid element which regarded as an antioxidant in plants, animals and human nutrition. Se have shown enhanced resistance to certain abiotic stresses including salinity, drought and etc. The present study investigates the effect of exogenous selenium mitigating the salt induced damage in sunflower plants. In this research, the plants were treated with NaCl(0, 25, 50 and 75mM) and Na2SeO4( 0, 10 and 20µM) in nutrient solutions. Plants were harvested after 23 days for biochemical assay. The results showed that in plants only treated with sodium chloride, with increasing of sodium chloride concentration, photosynthetic pigments and protein contents decreased as compared with those of control plants. In plants exposed to sodium chloride and Na2SeO4, photosynthetic pigments and protein contents were higher than of plants only exposed to sodium chloride. Antioxidant enzymes activities including catalase, guaiacol peoxidase, ascorbate peroxidase and superoxide dismutase increased in plant exposed to sodium chloride. In plants exposed to sodium chloride and Na2SeO4, the enzymes activities were higher than of plants only exposed to sodium chloride With increasing NaCl concentration, lipid peroxidation increased, however, with addition of Na2SeO4 to NaCl, MDA content decreased and antioxidant enzymes activity, significantly increased. The results showed that sodium selenate can protect plants against stress and increase antioxidant capacity.

Drought with its osmotic stress effects inhibits plants growth and limits agricultural crops production. Nitric oxide (NO) is a stable free radical gas which acts as a signaling molecule in plants and participates in various plants physiological and developmental processes and also in plants responses to environmental stresses. In this study sodium nitroprusside (SNP) was used as NO donor. Oilseed rape seedlings were subjected to various soil moisture contents including, 100%, 60% and 30% field capacity (FC) with and without SNP (0, 25, 50, 75 and 100 µM) for a period of 21 days. Results showed that drought stress alone reduces both shoots and roots dry weight. The amounts of proline, soluble sugars, anthocyanin, flavonoids and total phenols were significantly higher in seedlings subjected to drought stress. Of the various concentrations of SNP used, treatments containing 25 µM, increased both growth and the amounts of proline, soluble sugars, anthocyanin, flavonoids and total phenols under drought stress. Higher concentrations (75 and 100 µM) of SNP caused oxidative damages to the seedlings.

The most important abiotic stresses is salinity, the high levels of sodium which is toxic to most varieties of plants species, and more importantly affect plant growth and limit the plants yield capacity. Hyssopus officinalis L. has been known as a culinary and medicinal herb for hundreds of years, it is cultivated globally. Although Hyssopus officinalis L. is one of valuable medicinal plants and its cultivation is continuously being extended in the world, no information is available on the responses of this plant to salinity. Since the growth stages are very sensitive to stress, in this research the effects of salinity on growth parameters of Hyssopus officinalis L. in seedling stage were studied. The treatments were six levels (0, 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 dS m-1 of saline water). The results showed that with increasing the salinity stress, protein, cartenoids, oligosaccharides and reducing sugar, MDA and H2O2 contents significantly increased however total chlorophylls, chl a and chl b contents and total sugar and polysaccharides significantly decreased. It seems that increasing the amount of protein, cartenoids and carbohydrates are important risk factors for resistance to salt Hyssopus officinalis L.

Chickpea is highly sensitive to salt stress. Several compounds are examined to minimize the harmful effects of salt stress. In this research the effect of gibberellic acid (10 and 20 µM) on physiological parameters in two cultivars of Iranian chickpea (Jam and Kaka) under salt stress (80mM NaCl) were studied. The results showed that chlorophylls and protein contents were decreased in plants treated with NaCl. However, the activity of peroxidase and superoxide dismutase increased and catalase activity decreased. In plants treated with GA and NaCl, chlorophylls and protein contents were accelerated and the activity of peroxidase and superoxide dismutase were diminished and catalase activity increased. It is concluded that gibberellic acid could alleviate the adverse effects of salt stress in chickpea plants.