دکتر محمدرضا عباسی

In order to study the effect of deficit irrigation on RWC, proline concentration, antioxidant enzymes content, chlorophyll concentration and forage yield of five clover species, a field experiment was conducted during the cropping season 2019-2020.  The experimental design was split plots arranged based on randomized complete blocks design (RCBD) with three replications. Deficit irrigation  at three levels (0 (Full irrigation), 20 and 40% less than the irrigation requirement) were considered as main plots and  five clover species (Trifolium resupinatum ، T. alexandrium ، T. lapaceaum ، T. echinatum و T. diffusum) were allocated as sub plots.The results showed by increasing deficit irrigation up to 40%, proline concentration increased by 93% and the content of antioxidant enzymes catalase, peroxidase and superoxide dismutase increased by 12, 98 and 83% respectively. However, RWC, yield of fresh and dry fodder decreased by 22, 24 and 29% respectively. The highest RWC, chlorophyll concentration and content of antioxidant enzymes were observed without significant difference in T. resupinatum and T. alexandrium species. The interaction effect of two factors (deficit irrigation × species) showed by increasing deficit irrigation, fresh and dry forage yield of all five species decreased significantly. In all three levels of deficit irrigation, the highest yield of fresh (20.39, 18.81 and 13.94 t/h) and dry forage (4.59, 4.25 and 3.06 t/h) were obtained in T. resupinatum species. In general, the results showed that all 5 species do not have the required stability under stress conditions. Therefore, deficit irrigation for the proposed species will be justified only if a 20 and 40 percent irrigation water reduction is more beneficial than the yield reduction.

Millets have short growth cycle, and tolerant to drought and salt conditions, so they are good candidate to produce fodder in marginal lands. There are many millet landraces in the country. Development and extension of new varieties and farms or changing in cropping patterns result to extinct local landraces. This study was conducted to collect of millets landraces all over the country. Totally, 140 accessions were collected consisted of 85 accessions of common millet, and 55 accessions of foxtail from 15 provinces. Geographical altitude of the collection sites differed from 820 to 1970 m. Some millet germplasms collected from high salty lands. Statistically, as well as correlation coefficients were calculated for 25 characteristics of the collection site and 10 seed traits. There were good levels of diversity for seed traits in 2 studied crops. Endosperm texture differed from completely waxy to completely starchy in the 2 species. Pearson correlation coefficients showed there was a positive significant correlation between geographical altitude and grain color (p<0.01, r= 0.583), in the fox tail millets. During this study the Iranian millet genetic resources increased to 90% of the first collection. Since there were high levels of genetic diversity for grain characters, it can be expected for other agro-morphological traits too, that makes the collection suitable for millet breeding.

 Powdery mildew of sainfoin (Onobrychis viciaefolia Scop) is one of the most important diseases of this crop, which primarily spreads in the last cuts and causes loss. If this disease spreads widely on plants, it will cause the loss of leaves and, as a result, reduce the crop's forage yield. On the other hand, because there is little research in this field in the country, it was necessary to conduct research to identify the superior populations that are tolerant to the disease and have desirable agronomic traits, which was the goal of this study.

For investigating the reaction of different populations of sainfoin (Onobrychis viciaefolia) to powdery mildew, an experiment was conducted using a randomized complete block design in three replications in Karaj, Iran, with ten treatments including two improved populations and eight ecotypes of cultivated sainfoin collected from its habitat and identified from different regions of the country. Evaluation of powdery mildew disease was done in natural conditions in the last cut of plants in the summer of 2021. Disease evaluation of treatments in the field was done by recording traits such as disease incidence and severity. Also, a greenhouse experiment was conducted on the same populations using a completely randomized design with four replications of the treatments, and at least five plants were considered for each ecotype in each replication. The inoculum was prepared by creating a spore suspension with a concentration of 106 spores per ml and sprayed on sainfoin seedlings of different ecotypes at the four to five-week stage that had eight to ten leaves in a greenhouse with a temperature of 23 to 29°C and relative humidity of about 75%. The reaction of ecotypes to the disease was evaluated two weeks after inoculation, and the infection percentage of each population was recorded. The evaluation in the greenhouse and the scoring scale similar to the field evaluation was conducted following a scoring scale of one to four based on the treatments' disease severity percentage. Also, the dry matter (DM) yield of populations for four cuts was calculated. 

Based on the variance analysis data of the field trial in Karaj over two years, it was concluded that there was a significant difference for both disease severity and disease incidence at α=1% level. Also, there was a significant difference in disease severity and incidence at α=1% level among all populations in greenhouse trials. The results related to the disease incidence of the populations in both years showed that in the field trials among all the populations in the first and second years of the research, population number 2 had the minor disease incidence in the field, with values of 33 and 30 percentages, respectively. In the greenhouse test, the same population with values of 47 and 60 percent, respectively, had the lowest DI rate among the populations. Also, the results related to the disease severity (DS) of the populations in two years showed that population number 2 was known to be the most tolerant to the disease, with values of 18 and 10 percent in the first and second years, respectively, and other populations were considered as susceptible to the disease. In greenhouse trials, population number 2 was recognized as the most tolerant population, with 23% and 22% disease severity in the first and second years, respectively, and other populations showed a semi-susceptible to susceptible reaction to the disease.

In total, by comparing the average data in field and greenhouse tests over two years, it was concluded that population number 2, with an average disease severity of 14% and an average dry matter yield of 14.68 tons per hectare, was known as a disease-tolerant population coupled with desirable dry matter yield. Although this population was not completely resistant to powdery mildew, it was introduced as a semi-resistant variety (MR) to the disease, as its disease severity was less than 25% in all experiments.

Berseem clover (Trifolium alexandrinum), is one of the most important imported species of cultivated clover that cultivated for many years in the south and north of Iran. To increase the diversity of clover in agricultural systems, the genetic resources of annual wild clovers have been collected and evaluated over the past years in Iran. But, the reaction of these resources in semi-humid temperate regions of the north of Iran has not been investigated the forage production. For this purpose, 17 accessions of clover from eight species, including three cultivated species as: T. alexanderinum, T. resupinatum, and T. incarnatum; and five wild species of T. angostifolium, T. echinatum, T. diffusum, T. lappaceum, and T. purpureum along with the local cultivar of Berseem clover were cultivated and evaluated based on randomized complete block design with three replications, over two years (2018 and 2019) under rainfed conditions in Gorgan, Iran. The required moisture to the plant was provided by natural rainfall. After harvesting, the dry forage yield of each plot was calculated and the data of the two years were analyzed using nested ANOVA and mean comparisons were made using Duncan’s test. Results showed a significant difference among the species for forage yield. Forage dry matter yield ranged from 2063 kg/h in T. diffusum to 6120 kg in T. resupinatum, respectively. Based on coefficient of variation (CV) and fluctuation of forage production over two years, T. resupinutum and T. incarnatum had the highest and T. lappaceum and T. purpureum had the lowest forage production and CVs. This study showed that the genetic resources of Barseem clover available in the Iranian National Plant Gene Bank, as well as accessions of 50TN00250 (Persian clover), and 50TN00708 (T. echinatu) could be used as direct cultivation for forage production in the northern regions of Iran within the range of annual precipitation (212-425mm). But, the wild clovers 50TN00555 (T. purpureum), 50TN01238 (T. lappaceum), 50TN01548 (T. angostifolium), and 50TN01443 (T. diffusum) due to their low CV in different rainy conditions and their low yield, need further breeding researches for improve varieties in northern regions of Iran.

forage grasses included a large group of annuals and perennials belonged to Poaceae in Iran and all over the world. In the many countries, these crops are used as grazing, haylage, silage and cultivated in mixed cultures with forage legumes. However, there are little utilization of these forages in Iran, although use of these crops has been initiated in recent decade. A preliminary characterization on of 280 accessions of forage grasses has been done. The object of this study is the estimation of forage yield and survey the relationships among agro-morphological traits and forage yield. Finally, it tries to identify and proposed the superior germplasms for utilization based on multivariate analysis procedures.

The research was conducted in two experiments, one for annuals (15 accessions), and the other for perennials (11 accessions) in a complete randomized block in two replicates in October in Mashhad. Annuals were planted in the second year too. Agro-morphological traits were evaluated according to standard descriptors. Data were analyzed with ANOVA, comparison of mean, correlations, factor analysis and cluster analysis.

Annuals: ANOVA showed significant differences for dry forage yield within accessions. Accessions 10TN00039, 14TN00072, and 14TN00091 as well as Broms diandrus showed the highest dray forage yield based on Duncan analysis. Whereas, all genus located in the same rank for this trait. Correlation analysis showed a positive significant relationship between dry forage yield with plant height and growth. Factor analysis indicated that 82.2% of community variance was explained by four first factors. Accessions with high forage production and low susceptibility to lodging were identified by produced bi-plot of factors 1 and 2. Cluster analysis grouped the materials in to 4 groups.Perennials: ANOVA showed significant differences for dry forage yield. Accession 12TN00012, species Phalaris tuberosa، Lolium persicum, and Festuca pratensis, and genus Phalaris showed the highest dray forage yield based on Duncan analysis. Correlation analysis showed a positive significant relationship between dry forage yield with NDVI and leaf area. Factor analysis indicated that 82.4% of community variance was explained by four first factors. Accessions with high forage production re-growth rate were identified by produced bi-plot of factors 1 and 2. Cluster analysis grouped the materials in to 3 groups.

The superior germplasms (high yielding) were proposed in both groups of annuals and perennials. In the annuals, the plant height can be used as estimator trait for forage yield; it can be proposed in the first cut for the perennials. However, NDVI can be used for this purpose in the both. Resulting bi-plot confirmed the comparison of means, however it showed other aspects of the germplasms that could not be identify by comparison of means. This finding is proposed to select superior accessions for utilization. Ultimately, the superior germplasms were proposed as following: in the annuals: 10TN00039(Bromus diandrus), 14TN00072 (Lolium rigidum), and 14TN0009 (L. rigidum); in the perennials: 12TN00012 (Phalaristuberosa) and 13TN00016 (Festuca pratensis).

One of the main issues in plant breeding is the knowledge of situation of conservation in plant genetic resources. This research was conducted to study on on-farm conservation efficiency by using molecular markers and morpho-phenological traits in soybean landraces. The subjected plants had been collected in two times with 10 years intervals. Twenty-eight accessions were planted in a field and subsequently characterized their traits according to standard descriptors. Eighty samples of DNA were extracted by the CTAB method, then RAPDs fragments were produced using 24 10-mer(base) selected-primes. Data was used in the cluster analysis as well as to estimate genetic variability within accessions using NTSYS and SPSS softwares. These analyses showed the genetic relationships among accessions. In the dendrogram, only in one accession the individuals in the new and old accessions appeared in the different clusters. These two accessions were different in their morpho-phenological traits too. Genetic variability coefficients in the new landraces were higher than the old ones, exception to one landrace. As soybean is highly self-pollinated (99.9%) crop, high genetic variability in the new landraces could not due to allo-pollination by foreign pollen. But, it could be because of seed exchange by farmers. In this research was shown that the genetic variability coefficient within the improved line is too much less than landraces. Also, this research showed that on-farm conservation could not conserve genotypes, on the other hand this type of conservation will cause some changes in genetic structures of genetic resources during the times.

One of approaches to reach sustainable agriculture is to exploit crop diversity, especially in legume species. Since Melilotus spp. (sweet clover) is a forage crop with a suitable yield especially in the marginal lands; therefore collection and characterization of this germplasm is the first effective step for its conservation and utilization in the country. Few accessions of Melilotus genetic resources had been collected in the National Plant Gene Bank of Iran, before this study.

Sweet clover genetic resources were collected all over the country using standard descriptors during two years. Twenty-six characteristics of collection sites were recorded and their descriptive statistics were estimated. The collected materials were planted in an experimental field to identify their life cycle. The seeds of collected germplasms were conserved in mid (2-4 °C)- and long (-20 °C)-terms conditions for further using.

A total of 258 accessions were collected. The geographical altitude of plant origin differed from -11 m in Babolsar to 3090 m in Noor Abad in Lorestan. The materials were mostly collected from non-saline habitats. However, eight accessions were collected from mid to high salinity locations. Taxonomically, M. albus, M. officinalis, and M. indicus were identified with a number of 21, 201 and 36 accessions, respectively. M. dentatus and M. sulcatus, which have been mentioned in the former researches in Iran, were not collected in the recent study.

The collected germplasms from marginal lands (saline, low drainage and low fertility lands) may be tolerant to such marginal lands, therefore they can be exploited for the future research. All M. indicus species were annual; whereas there were annual as well as facultative and obligate biennial accessions in the two other species. Lack of access to M. dentatus and M. sulcatus may be an alarm that they may be threatened species in the country. Collected materials in this study along with the former collection in the Iranian National Plant Gene Bank (80 accessions) have provided high potentials of Melilotus genetic resources for exploitation in the further. Highlights: 1- The three-fold increase in the Melilotus germplasms in the ex-situ conservation system. 2- Alarm for M. dentatus and M. sulcatus which may be threatened with extinction in the country.

IEvaluation of cold-tolerance in genetic resources of some annual forage crops under cold climatic conditions Introduction Temperature influences plant physiological processes, cellular structure and development. Habitat from which plants originate has undeniable effects on plant tolerance to cold temperatures. Plants from higher latitudes exhibit more tolerance to cold stress than plants from lower latitudes. When plants are exposed to cold stress, a sequence of events is triggered inside them, leading to an improved tolerance to the environmental condition. This phenomenon is known as plant hardening. Having access to winter-hardened species and cultivars is one of the important necessities for the development of crop production systems in local microclimates of cold regions. Utilizing genetic diversity in crop plant resources is an important approach towards achieving sustainable agriculture. Diversity in Iran`s forage germplasm for traits such as early maturity, high ratio of leaf to stem, dense ground cover and high yield has been shown in temperate regions such as Karaj and Mashhad (Abbasi, 2009, Abbasi et al., 2017). Testing a selection of these germplasm accessions can determine their potential for growing under water-limited conditions in cold regions. Hence, different genera and species of legumes in national plant gene bank of Iran originated from high latitudes were used to be evaluated under cold growing conditions. Materials and Methods A total of 124 annual-forage accessions from 40 species and 10 genera were selected based on the previous research works and were planted in an experimental filed at Jolge-Rokh agricultural research station. The number of accessions in each genus included Trifolium (36 accessions), annual medics (28 accessions), Onobrychis (9 accessions), Vicia (21 accessions), Melilotus (17 accessions), Lolium (6 accessions), Bromus (5 accessions), and Phalaris (1 accession), Lathyrus (1 accession) and barley (1 accession). Each accession was planted in two 2-meter long rows spaced 50 cm apart using an augmented experimental design. Some of the traits characterized in this study from autumn to spring included growth rate in spring and autumn, cold-tolerance score, plant height etc (IPIGRI, 1984). Statistical descriptive parameters were determined for the evaluated traits. One-way ANOVA (analysis of variance) and Duncan's multiple tests were performed on data of each trait. The analyses were carried out by SPSS 15. Results and Discussion Meteorological data showed that there were a total of 68 days of freezing temperatures in the region from November till March. The lowest absolute temperature recorded was - 17.4 °C in December. Also, the mean of daily minimum temperature for December, January, February and March was below zero and the mean of daily maximum temperature for December, January and February was -10 °C, indicating the occurrence of cold stress in the region. The results of one-way ANOVA analysis for the investigated genera and species showed that there were significant differences among their traits at 1 % probability level, particularly prior to cold stress. Lolium and Bromus were the most tolerant species among the narrow-leaved forages and the tested germplasm. Among forage legumes, sweet clover exhibited the highest tolerance to cold temperatures. Although the species vicia, Lathyrus and Iranian clover were not tolerant to cold, they were found to be beneficial in terms of soil conservation and sustainability due to the production of proper vegetative cover prior to the cold spell, which lasted till the spring of the next year. Based on the results of this investigation, the studied species and genera can be classified into the following groups: 1- Cold-tolerant forage grasses including accessions of Lolium: 14TN00072, 14TN00038, 14TN00052, 14TN00054 and accessions of Bromus: 10TN00049, 10TN00012, 10TN00036, 10TN00039, and 10TN00026. 2- Cold-susceptible forage grasses such as accessions: KC126013 (L. temelentum) and barley. Although this group was sensitive to cold, they produced good vegetative cover on ground before the occurrence of cold, which can be used as mulch for soil protection throughout the year. 3- Cold-tolerant legumes, such as accessions of Melilotus: 58TN00025, 58TN00047, MahNo313, 58TN00182, 58TN00223, 58TN00140, 58TN00181, 58TN00080, and 58TN00190 4- Cold-susceptible forage legumes: they were categorized into two groups, one group produced good vegetative cover on ground before the cold spell such as accessions 44TN00047, 44TN00041, and 44TN00005, and the other group failed to produce enough vegetative cover on ground such as some accessions of annual medics, Onobrychis, and Trifolium.

Salinity is one of the most important tensions in global agricultural production. About 20% of the irrigated lands are facing salinity problems in arid and semi-arid regions of the world, and salinity in these areas is increasing. In Iran, the salinity is about 44.5 million hectares, which has varying degrees of salinity and alkalinity (Banaei, et al., 2005). Selection of salt tolerant genotypes in farmer conditions is a practical and dealing ways in using saline water and soil. Millet cultivation in Iran has a long history and according to the short growth period, is able to feed forage in conditions where other sources of forage are not available. The cultivated area in Iran is about 10,000 hectares (Aaron, 2006). According to recent studies, it is possible to develop plant cultivation in all regions of the country. The area under cultivation of this plant in the south khorassan province is about 1000 hectares and the cultivation of this plant has long been rooted in the culture of farmers in this area (Bina, 1993). According to the adaptability of this plant to unfavorable environmental conditions, soil poverty and environmental stresses that are characteristic of arid and semi-arid regions such as South Khorasan. One of the easiest ways to identify and selection of resistant genotypes is explosion to stress and selection the genotypes that tolerate these conditions better than the others. In order to evaluation of salt tolerance in foxtail millet genotypes, two separate experiment with 15 genotypes in saline and none-saline conditions arranged in randomized complete block design with three replications conducted in two years of 2012 and 2013 at the Research and Education Center of Southern Khorasan. Combined analysis of variance showed that salt stress lead to a significant reductions in days to heading, days to maturity, plant height, panicule length, number of panicule per plant and thousand seed weight.In the end, after determining the grain and forage yield in stress and non stress conditions, MP, GMP, TOL, HARM, STI and SSI indices were calculated and using SAS software, correlation between the indices with grain yield and The dry forage was examined and using the SigmaPlot software, the three-dimensional distribution chart of each sample was plotted in A, B, C, and D ranges. Millet seed yield and dry forage yield in saline condition decrease about 40 and 38 percent, respectively. Genotypes number 15-118, 15-24 and 15-120 with averages of 3827.8, 3805.1 and 3803.2 kg/ha had the highest and number 15-80 with 1977.2 kg/ha had the lowest two year averages of yield, respectively. Results of correlation of seed yield and dry forage yield of millet genotypes in saline and none-saline conditions with tolerance and sensitivity indices revealed that STI, MP and GMP are the best indices for selection and recognition of salt tolerance genotypes of foxtail millet. Genotypes numbers of 15-24, 15-76, 15-118 and 15-120 indentified as the most tolerant genotypes to salinity stress on the basis of 3D scattering graph.

Sainfoin is a forage legume that can be cultivated in irrigated and rainfed areas. This study was conducted to study genetic diversity in agro-morpho phonological traits of Onobrychis germplasms for exploiting in sainfoin breeding programs. A total of 159 accessions belong to 20 species, naturally distributed in the country, were planted in field. Nineteen agro-morpho phonological traits were characterized in these materials over 2 years. There was high degree of diversity in the studied traits. Species were divided into 4 clusters based on cluster analysis. In this analysis, those species with similar agronomic traits revealed in the same cluster. In factor analysis, the first factor was affected by forage quantitative and qualitative traits, whereas generative characters had the most effect on the second factor. Produced bi-plot in factor analysis confirmed cluster analysis results. Based on theses analysis, wild species of O. pulchell Schrenk., O. hohenackeriana C.A.Mey, O. subnitens Bornm., O. chorassanica Bungeand O. schahuensis Bornm wereproposed as suitable species for forage production.

This experiment was conducted to investigate the genetic diversity، relationship between morphological، agronomic and qualitative traits and to identify components of forage yield using some multivariate statistical methods in local sainfoin populations. The experiment was conducted as randomized complete block design with three replications in Agricultural and Natural Resources Research Center of West Azerbaijan. Results indicated that correlation coefficients of forage yield with number of branches per main stem، number of leave and number of stem were significantly positive but with harvest index leaf and degree day emergence was significantly negative. Forage yield had no correlation with plant height but plant height was correlated with number of leave. Principal component analysis revealed six component which justified more than 76 percent of the total variation، and classified as “Yield”، “Dry weight”، “Plant size”، “Harvest index leaf”، “Morphological-phenological traits” and “Flowering rate”، respectively. On the basis of stepwise regression analysis، number of stem، plant height and number of leave justified the majority of hay yield variation. Hence، these characters could be use for selecting high yield cultivars. Thus، direct effect of these three traits on forage yield were calculated 0/726، 0/226 and -0/984 respectively by Path analysis. Finally، on the basis of the current result in this research compared with previous findings، it can be concluded that multivariate statistical methods can be useful to find relationships between quantitative characters in sainfoin.

To evaluate the tolerance of 13 accessions of foxtail millet to terminal drought stress, two separate experiments were carried out at Agricultural Research Station of Birjand, Southern Khorasan, Iran, in 2005 and 2006, using randomized complete block design with three replications. In first experiment (stress condition) irrigation was stopped at the beginning of flowering stage (10% panicle emergence) and in second experiment (non-stress condition) the irrigation interval was seven days. Agronomic traits including; panicle number.m-2, grain number.panicle-1, 1000 grain weight, grain yield and dry forage yield were measured. Results showed that drought stress reduced all measured traits and grain yield was affected the most. Accessions 15-143, from Southern Khorasan and, and 15-24, from Yazd, had higher grain yield (1544.8 and 1468. kg.ha-1, respectively) and dry forage yield (3522.3 and 2653 kg.ha-1, respectively). Evaluation of foxtail millet accessions for tolerance to terminal drought using MP, TOL, SSI, GMP, STI and HARM and their correlation with grain yield and dry forage yield in stress and non-stress conditions showed that HARM, GMP and STI were suitable indices for identifying drought tolerant accessions. Three dimensions graph study showed that accessions 15-143 and 15-131, from Southern Khorasan, and 15-24, from Yazd, had higher grain yield and were tolerant to terminal drought stress.

Research was conducted during 1999 to 2009 to develop and introduce a new common millet (Panicum miliaceum) cultivar suitable for areas with short growing seasons in Iran. Several common millet populations collected from different locations of Iran were evaluated in research farm of Seed and Plant Improvement Institute in Karaj and based on yield، agronomic traits and tolerance to abiotic stresses such loding، 21 superior lines were selected. During years 2000 to 2009، these lines were evaluated in different research experiments in Karaj، Gorgan and Dezful and also in farmers fields in Yazd، Kerman and Zabol، finally a superior line coded as KCM7 was selected. Based on the results of these experiments، the new line was early maturing with high and stable fresh forage yield of 35. 5 tha-1 and dry forage yield of 7. 6 tha-1. The panicle length of KCM7 is 26. 87 cm، its 1000 seed weight is 4. 2 g with yellow color seeds and yield of 1. 69 tha-1. Line KCM7 was officially introduced in 2009 by Seed and Plant Improvement Institute after approval of Seed Registration Committee of Agricultural Research، Education and Extension Organization with name of Pishahang as the first common millet cultivar in Iran.

The main objective for development and introduction of the new cultivar was to a achieve a high yielding and adaptative to short growing period or a catch crop، suitable for growing in different areas of Iran. After preliminary selections carried out during 1998-2000، 72 foxtail millet populations which had been collected from different parts of Iran، were examined and based on different agronomic characteristics، fifteen superior genotypes were selected and evaluated in a randomized complete block design. Line No. 12، coded as TN-15-93-1 in National Plant Gene Bank، with 29. 4 tha-1 forage produced the highest yield among the genotypes. This line with the new code of KFM9 was compared with eight other advanced lines and a local check cultivar in multilocational yield traits in Karaj، Gorgan and Dezful during 2001-2003. Based on the results of these experiments، line KFM9 with 30 tha-1 fresh forage yield، 3. 2 tha-1 dry forage yield، 2. 5 tha-1 seed yield، 1000 seed weight of 3. 54 g and other good characteristics such as earliness and tolerance to lodging was selected as the superior line. The new line was officially introduced through Seed and Plant Improvement Institute in 2009 and named Bastan.

One of the approaches to agricultural sustainability is using diversity of plant species, including forage crops. A total of 64 accessions of forage grass genus: Agrostis, Bromus, Dactylis, Festuca and Phalaris were sown in a field experiment, and their agro-morphological traits were characterized according to standard descriptors. A high diversity was observed for most of the studied traits on the genus. F test was significant for most of the traits based on one-way ANOVA. Duncan mean comparison method was performed to grouping genus based on the recorded traits. Phalaris located in the highest rank for herbage summer yield followed by Bromus, Festuca and Dactylis in the next group and Agrostis and Poa located in the last group. Results showed forage grasses can be seemed as candidate to be used in agronomy systems due to the existence of high potential for forge yield in the studied materials.

In order to select and release of Bastan a new cultivar of foxtail millet, after preliminary selections in small millet germplasm a research was carried during 1997-2003 in Karaj, Golestan and Dezful. During these years production potential of 10 foxtail millet genotypes was determined in a randomized complete block design for 3 years. The different characteristics include, leaf size, stem diameter, plant height,1000 seed weight, growth period, plant type, response to fungal diseases (in terms of natural inoculation), respond to lodging, Birds damage, seed falling and finally seed and forage yield was recorded. Result showed, genotypes No. 1, 3, 6, 9 and 10 are the best, but the genotype No. 9 (KFM9) the superiority to other genotypes. These genotypes, while has been the desirable traits such as earliness, tolerance to the natural losing, tolerance to birds’ damage and no lodging. It’s mentioned also having yield 2.5t h-1, dry forage yield 3.3 h-1 and fresh forage yield 20 t h-1, as a dual purpose genotype was released, and introduced and named as Bastan.Before the releasing of the Bastan it was evaluated and compared to local varieties at two locations (Yazd and Zabol). Bastan showed higher yield (dry matter, fresh and dry forage and grain yield) than local varieties.

This study was conducted in order to sustainable conservation and utilization of Trifolium genetic resources. A total of 1333 accessions of Trifolium under 32 species from 27 provinces were collected according to IPGRI descriptors. Collected germplasms are conserved in mid- and long-term conservation at National Plant Gene Bank of Iran. Statistical parameters of tendency to center and dispersion were estimated for 26 characters of samples collection site. The most collected germplasm related to T. pretense L.، T. repens L. and T. resupinatum L. with 214، 188، and 142 accessions، respectively. Altitude related distribution of collection sites were differed from -21 m in Noshahar to 2850 m in Orumieh and Marand. The results revealed that over grazing and natural erosion were as the most important factors resulted in genetic erosion of Trifolium genetic resources in Iran. Whereas agriculture was not an effective factor on genetic erosion of clover landraces، because the farmers prefere to conserve their landraces. A few numbers of T. pretense، T. repens and T. resupinatum accessions were collected from saline sites. Distribution of clover species showed that West and North-West of the country could be considered as primary centers of clover genetic diversity in Iran.

In order to select and release of Alborz-1, the new cultivar of Crimson clover suitable for cropping systems based on clover planting, several research projects were carried out at Seed and Plant Improvement Institute (SPII) during 1997-2008. These studies were carried out using a split plot design (based on a RCBD) with 12 treatments and four replications in Karaj, Dezful and Esfahan research stations during 2003-2005. In the Mazandaran Research Station, this experiment was performed using 12 treatments and four replications with a RCBD during 2006—2008. The results showed that production potential of Alborz-1 cultivar was different in the different regions. Mean comparison for forage yield showed that Alborz-1cultivar with 27.14 T/ha fresh forage yield and 5.21 T/ha dry forage yield in Karaj, Dezful and Esfahan; whereas in Mazandaran the figures were 35.34 T/ha and 5.52 T/ha, respectively, indicating that Alborz-1 have been the best performing cultivar among the cultivars studied. The results of quality analyses for Alborz-1demonstrated that this cultivar contained 16% protein, 60% dry matter digestible (DMD) and 70% palatability. It is emphasized that Alborz-1cultivar have shown characteristics such as earliness, high fresh forage yield in early spring season, suitability for being grown as second and/or third crop in summer cropping systems. Alborz-1 is tolerant to deficit irrigation and cold stress as well as tolerance to disease and pest. It was also indicated that this cultivar is suitable to be grown in cold and foothills areas under cropping systems based on clover and rice rotation.

Scince 1990 research on clover has been commenced in Karaj and other field stations of Seed and Plant Improvement Institute، Iran. One of the achievements of this initiative is selection، improvement and release of Alborz 1 Crimson clover cultivar. New Crimson clover cultivar، Alborz 1 was primarily selected from clover germplasm received from Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)، The United Nations، in Seed and Plant Improvement Institute، Karaj، Iran. Agronomic and yield trials were carried out in Karaj، Dezfoul، Arak، Mazandaran and Esfahan. Demonstration plots and research-extension verifications were performed in Karaj، Golpayegan and Shahr-e-Kord. The important agronomic characteristics of Alborz 1 cultivar are: earliness، high fresh forage yield in early spring season، suitability for being grown as second and third crop in cropping systems as well as tolerant to diseases and pests. Alborz 1 is also tolerant to deficit irrigation and cold، therefore، it is also suitable to be grown in cold and foothills areas. This cultivar is a reliable substitute for Berseem clover in paddy cropping systems. Alborz 1 cultivar had very good performance in agronomy and yield trails with 30-35 t ha-1 fresh forage and 5-5. 5 t ha-1 dry forage yields of 16% protein content، 60% digestibility and 70-80% platability.

Red clover (Trifolium pretense) has wide adaptability to different soil and climatic conditions, and suitable digestibility of forage compared to the other clover species. New red clover cultivar, Nasim, was primarily selected from clover germplasm received from Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the United Nations, in Seed and Plant Improvement Institute, Karaj, Iran. Agronomic and yield trails were carried- out in Karaj, Shahr-e-kord, Arak, Gorgan, Sanandaj, Kermanshah. This clover cultivar has the potential to increase the productivity and production of forage in the country. Nasim cultivar is a prennial and late maturing clover (4-5 cuts season-1) which can produce forage during whole growing season and is also suitale component in short-term crop rotation systems. Nasim cultivar is tolerant to powdery mildew and other fungal diseases and pests as well as cold. Nasim performance was excellent in agronomy and yield trails with 60-90 t ha-1 fresh forage and 12-15 t ha-1 dry forage yields.

In order to select and release of Nassim, a new cultivar of Red clover, the researcher carried out the researches at the field of Seed and Plant Improvement Institute (SPII) in Karaj and some research stations such as Shahrekord, Sanandej, Kermanshah, Arak, Gorgan during years 1996-2006. The experimental research was carried out design RCBD with six treatments and four replications during years 2003-2005. The results showed that there is significant difference between Nassim and the other cultivars based on dry and fresh forage yield in different years and locations. Two years data of mean comparison showed that fresh forage yield of clover cultivars was 51.08 – 60.44 tons per hectare and dry forage yield was 10.12-12.11 tons per hectare in all locations. The results showed that Nassim with 59.6 tons per hectare fresh forage yield and 12.01 tons per hectare dry forage yield (with 10-12%) is the best cultivar. Clover cultivars had the highest potential for forage production in first year and the lowest amount in third year among all locations. Nassim was the most tolerant to powdery mildew disease among all cultivars. The mean comparison of two years data for all locations indicated that Karaj had the highest amount of yield with 87.99 and 15.5 tons per hectare for Fresh and dry forage yield and Shahrekord had the lowest amount of yield with 39.14 and 8.76 tons per hectare for Fresh and dry forage yield, respectively.