دکتر جعفر حاجی لو

Cultivating salt-tolerant species and inoculating them with beneficial soil microorganisms can be an effective solution to alleviate the salinity problems. The aim of this experiment was to investigate the physiological responses and nutrient uptake of the almond cultivar 'Supernova' grafted on GN15 rootstock when inoculated with mycorrhizal fungi at different salinity levels.

The current study followed a factorial design in the form of a randomized complete block design with two factors: (1) inoculation with fungi at two levels (non-inoculated and inoculated with Rhizophagus intraradices) and (2) salinity at three levels (0, 60 and 120 mM) with three replicates under greenhouse conditions.

The results showed that inoculation with mycorrhizal fungi improved growth indices, Fv/Fm and chlorophyll content under high salt stress. Inoculation with R. intraradices significantly reduced H2O2 and MDA content, while antioxidant capacity and proline content increased compared to non-inoculated plants under high salinity conditions. Inoculated plants showed significantly higher phosphorus and potassium content in the leaves at all salinity levels and in the roots at medium salinity compared to non-inoculated plants. Under salt stress, the sodium content of leaves in inoculated plants was significantly lower than in non-inoculated plants, while the opposite was observed for root sodium content.

The use of mycorrhizal fungi in combination with a tolerant rootstock can be an effective and environment-friendly approach to mprove the salt tolerance of almond trees. In this regard, it seems necessary to conduct more experiments with different almonds genotypes under garden conditions.

Peach (Prunus persica L.) is from the Rosaceae family and one of the most important fruit trees. Fruit quality is one of the important factors in the development and marketing of this product. Application of some chemicals and hormones have a great role in increasing the shelf life and quality of fruits. In this researc the effects of pre-harvest treatments of Spermidine on some fruit quality characteristics in two peach cultivars, an experiment to evaluate the possibility of increasing fruit quality in two peach cultivars (Anjiri e Khooni and Gajir Ganat) using different spermidine treatments (0, 1, 3 and 5 mM) in a randomized complete block design (RCD) with four replications. Spermidine foliar application was performed on peach trees 10 days before commercial arrival (based on total solubility solids index). After harvest, the fruits were transferred to the Flowering Biology and Fruit Laboratory of Tabriz University of agriculture and quality parameters such as fruit firmness, total soluble solids (TSS), titrable acid (TA), fruit juice pH, vitamin C , Total phenol compositions, total flavonoid and total antioxidant capacity (DPPH) were evaluated. The results showed that pre-harvest application of spermidine had significant effects at 5% and 1% levels on the quality traits of peach fruit. In both varieties, fruit firmness, titrable acid, total phenolic, flavonoid, vitamin C and total antioxidant of fruit increased and fruit pH decreased slightly. The highest firmness of fruit, flavonoid, TSS and titratable acid were observed in “Gajirganat” cultivar and the highest total phenol, antioxidant and vitamin C were found in “Anjiri e Khooni” fruits. The highest values were observed in 5 mM spermidine and the lowest in control fruits. In both cultivars, the highest amount of fruit firmness, titratable acidity and flavonoids were observed in 3 and 5 mM spermidine.Peach (Prunus persica L.) is from the Rosaceae family and one of the most important fruit trees. Fruit quality is one of the important factors in the development and marketing of this product. Application of some chemicals and hormones have a great role in increasing the shelf life and quality of fruits. In this researc the effects of pre-harvest treatments of Spermidine on some fruit quality characteristics in two peach cultivars, an experiment to evaluate the possibility of increasing fruit quality in two peach cultivars (Anjiri e Khooni and Gajir Ganat) using different spermidine treatments (0, 1, 3 and 5 mM) in a randomized complete block design (RCD) with four replications. Spermidine foliar application was performed on peach trees 10 days before commercial arrival (based on total solubility solids index). After harvest, the fruits were transferred to the Flowering Biology and Fruit Laboratory of Tabriz University of agriculture and quality parameters such as fruit firmness, total soluble solids (TSS), titrable acid (TA), fruit juice pH, vitamin C , Total phenol compositions, total flavonoid and total antioxidant capacity (DPPH) were evaluated. The results showed that pre-harvest application of spermidine had significant effects at 5% and 1% levels on the quality traits of peach fruit. In both varieties, fruit firmness, titrable acid, total phenolic, flavonoid, vitamin C and total antioxidant of fruit increased and fruit pH decreased slightly. The highest firmness of fruit, flavonoid, TSS and titratable acid were observed in “Gajirganat” cultivar and the highest total phenol, antioxidant and vitamin C were found in “Anjiri e Khooni” fruits. The highest values were observed in 5 mM spermidine and the lowest in control fruits. In both cultivars, the highest amount of fruit firmness, titratable acidity and flavonoids were observed in 3 and 5 mM spermidine.Peach (Prunus persica L.) is from the Rosaceae family and one of the most important fruit trees. Fruit quality is one of the important factors in the development and marketing of this product. Application of some chemicals and hormones have a great role in increasing the shelf life and quality of fruits. In this researc the effects of pre-harvest treatments of Spermidine on some fruit quality characteristics in two peach cultivars, an experiment to evaluate the possibility of increasing fruit quality in two peach cultivars (Anjiri e Khooni and Gajir Ganat) using different spermidine treatments (0, 1, 3 and 5 mM) in a randomized complete block design (RCD) with four replications. Spermidine foliar application was performed on peach trees 10 days before commercial arrival (based on total solubility solids index). After harvest, the fruits were transferred to the Flowering Biology and Fruit Laboratory of Tabriz University of agriculture and quality parameters such as fruit firmness, total soluble solids (TSS), titrable acid (TA), fruit juice pH, vitamin C , Total phenol compositions, total flavonoid and total antioxidant capacity (DPPH) were evaluated. The results showed that pre-harvest application of spermidine had significant effects at 5% and 1% levels on the quality traits of peach fruit. In both varieties, fruit firmness, titrable acid, total phenolic, flavonoid, vitamin C and total antioxidant of fruit increased and fruit pH decreased slightly. The highest firmness of fruit, flavonoid, TSS and titratable acid were observed in “Gajirganat” cultivar and the highest total phenol, antioxidant and vitamin C were found in “Anjiri e Khooni” fruits. The highest values were observed in 5 mM spermidine and the lowest in control fruits. In both cultivars, the highest amount of fruit firmness, titratable acidity and flavonoids were observed in 3 and 5 mM spermidine.

In sour cherry, as in other species of the genus Prunus, there is a gametophytic self-incompatibility (GSI) phenomenon. In this research, relations between pollen and pistil of 10 superior sour cherry genotype were investigated by using biological and molecular methods. In biological methods, pollen grains are prepared in balloon stage (D phenological stage) and then after evaluating the growth and percentage of pollen germination in medium, in suitable time flowers were emasculated, open pollination, controlled self and cross pollination were carried out in the orchard. In the molecular method, PCR-based methods were used to identify S alleles. The results showed that the highest pollen germination was observed on the stigma in self-pollination, and regarding of the number of pollen tube at the upper and lower parts of the pistil and ovary, the highest was related to open pollinating. Nine known S-haplotypes (S4, S6, S9, S6m2, S24, S26, S35, S36b and S36a) were identified, that alleles S6/S6m2, S9, S24 have a high frequency. Our study showed the low diversity of S alleles between studied genotypes. According to the growth of pollen tubes in style and ovary in all cases of pollination all of studied genotypes are compatible.

The most important factors affecting the blossoming of trees in temperate regions is the amount of temperature received by the buds. In order to evaluation of chill and heat requirement in flower buds of three cultivars of sweet cherry (Zard mash-had, Zoodras and Siah Shabestar) and one genotype of sour cherry, an experiment was conducted at the flower biology laboratory of faculty of agriculture, Tabriz University in 2015.From the 3rd of Aban, branches of one year old with diameter and length of about 1 and 30 cm recpectively, each week after harvest from the tree were transferred to the growth chamber. The weight changes of buds during the dormancy were evaluated weekly and analyzed in a randomized complete block design with 5 replications so that each cultivar was selected as a main plot and four varieties and different sampling dates were selected as sub factor.5 different models were used for estimating of chilling requirement and also GDH model was the basis for determining the heat requirement of the bud. In all models sour cherry had the lowest (752 hours) and Siah Shabestar (961 hours) had the highest chilling requirement, and also Zoodras and Zard Mash-had were 780 and 867 hours. Sour Cherry and Siah Shabestar had the least and the most heat requirement (4053 and 5458 GDH) respectively and the value of this feature was 5421 and 4614 respectively, for Zard Mash-had and Zoodras. Also the highest and lowest fresh and dry weights before and after placement in the growth chamber were observed in Siah Shabestar and sour cherry respectively.

Apricot is one of the most important horticultural crops because of its attractive taste and nutritive value. Different cultivars of apricot contain highly variable content of ascorbic acid, cartenoids, and phenolic compound,which are good sourecs of antioxidant. Fuit quality is an important trait for concumers and producers. The purpose of this work was to estimate the effects of pre-harvest application of polyamines on quality characteristics of apricot fruits at the end of fruit ripening process.

The experiment was carried out as a factorial based on the randomized complete block design (three concentrations of spermidine at three harvesting time) with four replications. The selected branches of trees were sprayed as a pre-harvesting application method by three concentrations of spermidine (0, 2, and 3 mili molar) 7 days before commercial harvesting time. Fruits were harvested during harvesting times (3 days interval) and then some fruit characteristics such as total soluble solids (TSS), total ccidity (TA), vitamin C, firmness of fruit tissue, pH of fruit extract, total phenol, flavonoid, and total antioxidant capacity were measured in the laboratory of flower biology and fruit growth development at the department of horticulture, faculty of agiculture, university of Tabriz.

The results showed that the effects of different harvesting times were significant regarding all traits. The best results were observed in 3 mM spermidine and this treatment improved all the measured characteristics of fruit. The highest value of total antioxidant capacity (3.01%), vitamin C (3.29%), and fruit firmness (3.27%) were found in 3 mM spermidin at three harvesting times. In some characteristics such as TSS and TA, there was no significant difference between 2 and 3 mM spermidine, but among treated and non-treated fruit a full significant difference was observed. We assume that the second harvesting time can be the best harvesting time regarding fruit quality parameters. During fruit ripening, the amount of TSS and TA increased, while firmness, total phenolic, and flavonoids compounds and total antioxidant capacity decreased gradually.

Fruit physicochemical properties are very important for understanding the product behaviour during the harvesting, transporting, packaging, and storing of fruit crops. The results of this study showed that the pre-harvesting application of polyamines delayed the ripening and increased the quality of fruit during the different harvestings times.

Apricot fruit is a carbohydrate-rich commodity and is a good source of fibers, essential minerals, vitamins and organic acids. It is also rich in bioactive compounds i.e. polyphenols and carotenoids that have certain antioxidant character in biological system. It is consumed in fresh, dried and frozen forms or used for the preparation of jam, juices, nectars and extruded products. Therefore, apricot being an attractive nutritious fruit is appreciated by consumers and farmers all over the world and has gained great economic importance over the years. Apricot is a climacteric fruit that presents a high respiratory and metabolic rate and, among stone fruits, is the one that presents the highest ethylene emission. One of the major problems of apricots is the rapid postharvest softening, which limits its storability and marketability. These features results that, at the postharvest, have an extremely short shelf-life of only 1-2 weeks in the cold storage, and pass quickly from maturity to overripe. One of the major problems of apricots is the rapid postharvest softening, which limits its storability and marketability. For this reason, to have acceptable quality fruits, they must be stored with adequate techniques to limit the post-harvest losses. As apricot production and export increase, demands for practical methods of post-harvest quality retention are necessary to improve the post-harvest quality of apricots during postharvest life. Several pre- and postharvest technologies have been used to control postharvest losses, but the use of chemicals as fungicides is restricted in most countries and consumers demand agricultural commodities without pesticide residues. Consumers around the world demand for food of high-quality, without chemical preservatives, and extended shelf life. Therefore, an increased effort has been made to develop new natural preservatives and antimicrobials. Many storage techniques have been developed to extend the marketing distances and holding periods for commodities after harvest. Among these technologies, edible coatings are traditionally used to improve food appearance and preservation. Edible coatings are thin layers of edible material applied to the product surface in addition to or as a replacement for natural protective waxy coatings and provide a barrier to moisture, oxygen and solute movement. They are applied directly on the food surface by dipping, spraying or brushing. Edible coatings are used to create a modified atmosphere and to reduce weight loss during transport and storage. In fact, the barrier characteristics of gas exchange for films and coatings are the subjects of much recent interest. Recently, researchers have developed a gel based on Aloe vera that prolongs the conservation of fresh fruits. This gel is tasteless, colorless and odorless. This natural product is a safe and environmental friendly alternative to synthetic preservatives such as sulfur dioxide. This gel operates through a combination of mechanics, forming a protective layer against the oxygen and moisture of the air and inhibiting the action of micro-organisms that cause food-borne illnesses through its various antibacterial and antifungal compounds. Aloe vera gel-based edible coatings have been shown to prevent moisture and firmness losses, control respiratory rate and delay ripening process slow oxidative browning and reduce microorganism proliferation in fruits. Present study was conducted to evaluate the increasing of apricot storage time, introducing suitable cultivars based on Aloe vera gel coating, effects of Aloe vera gel on the qualitative characteristics of fruit and obtain the optimum concentration of Aloe vera gel required to coating apricot fruits.

Therefore, a factorial experiment was carried out based on a completely randomized design with four replications. The evaluated factors including cultivars “Dorosht-e Malayer” and “Ghermez-e Shahrood”, concentrations of Aloe vera gel [control (non-gel coating fruits), 25% and 33%] and storage time [0 (Harvest), 7, 14 and 21 d)]. Moreover, total soluble solids (TSS), titratable acidity (TA), fruit firmness, pH, percentage of weight loss, antioxidant activity and vitamin C content were determined during storage time.

The results showed that treatment of apricot fruits with Aloe vera gel, especially at 33% concentration, significantly enhanced vitamin C content, titrable acidity, antioxidant capacity and improved tissue firmness, but also reduced soluble solids, weight loss and pH content. Moreover, it was found that vitamin C content, titratable acidity and fruit tissue firmness significantly decreased during storage time, while soluble solids content, weight loss and antioxidant capacity significantly increased. Among the cultivars, “Ghermez-e Shahrood” cultivar had higher soluble solids content, weight loss, pH and antioxidant capacity during storage time, whereas “Dorosht-e Malayer” cultivar had higher titrable acidity, tissue firmness and vitamin C at the end of storage time. double and triple interaction effects of evaluated factors significantly affected all characteristics, except in antioxidant activity, where just storage time had a significant effect. It was found that the highest vitamin C content in “Dorosht-e Malayer” and “Ghermez-e Shahrood” was obtained at the end of the second week in coated fruits with 33% of Aloe vera gel. TSS content in fruits of “Dorosht-e Malayer” cultivar that coated with 25% and 33% of Aloe vera gel was less than “Ghermez-e Shahrood” cultivar, while Aloe vera gel had no significant effect on TSS content in “Ghermez-e Shahrood” cultivar. Aloe vera gel had no defined pattern on TA concentration but generally, “Dorosht-e Malayer” fruits had higher TA concentration comparing “Ghermez-e Shahrood” fruits During the storage time, the fruit weight loss and firmness were higher in “Ghermez-e Shahrood” as compared with “Dorosht-e Malayer”, however, in the both evaluated cultivars, treatment with Aloe vera gel had a significant positive effect to controlling of fruit weight loss and firmness. Furthermore, coating with Aloe vera gel improved the antioxidant capacity in both evaluated cultivars.

Overall, according to the results, it can be concluded that as compared with “Ghermez-e Shahrood” cultivar, “Dorosht-e Malayer” cultivar showed better quality based on the evaluated parameters and maintained its quality for a longer time. As a conclusion, considering the positive effects of Aloe vera gel, it can be in order to increase the shelf-life and maintaining the quality of apricot fruits.

 The ability to tolerate cold will not be possible without stopping or inducing sleep, which is one of the important steps in the life cycle of plants in temperate regions. This period is one of the important factors in preventing cold damages in winter and spring in temperate regions. Various studies in controlled conditions on plants have shown that in plants, when entering and leaving this period, various changes occur in materials such as proteins, enzymes and hormones. In order to control the harmful effects of active oxygen species, plants have defense mechanisms. Catalase, peroxidase and superoxide dismutase enzymes are a defensive team whose common goal is to defend against the destructive effects of active oxygen species. This study was carried out to determine the chill requirement and its relationship with the changes in the activity of antioxidants enzymes and proline.

 The experiment was conducted at agricultural Research Station of Khalat-Pooshan and the Laboratory of Flower Biology and Physiology of Fruit Growth in the Department of Horticulture, Faculty of Agriculture, Tabriz University in 2015-2016. Flower buds needed for testing were selected from ‘Siah Shabestar’, Zard Mashhad, Zoodras cultivars and a local genotype of sour cherry. Once a month, enough buds were harvested and until the experiments began, they were kept inside the freezer inside an aluminum foil at -80 ° C. In order to estimate the chill requirement, four replicates (4 geographic directions) from each cultivar and from each replication four branches with the same length and diameter were removed. The amount of chilling accumulation and chilling requirement in each month was calculated according to Utah model. In order to estimate fresh weight, four replicates in each cultivar were selected and in each replication five buds were selected from different parts of the branch. The statistical design used in the determination of the chill requirement was a randomized complete block design. Enzymatic and proline data were analyzed in a completely randomized design as factorial

 Chill requirement: Based on the Utah model, the chill requirement of sweet and sour cherry cultivars contains Zard Mashhad, Zoodras and Siah Shabestar were calculated 752, 780, 867 and 961 CU, respectively. There was a significant difference in the activity of superoxide dismutase enzymes between cultivars and different sampling times at 1% probability level. Siah Shabestar cultivars with the highest chill requirement had the lowest SOD enzymatic activity and Zard Mashhad and Zoodras were intermediate cultivars in terms of enzymatic activity. Sour cherries, which had the least chill requirement, showed the highest levels of SOD enzyme activity. This is consistent with the results of some researchers regarding apricot stated that the low chill apricot cultivars had the highest SOD enzymatic activity. The sour cherry had the highest amount of POX enzymatic activity with the least amount of chill requirement, and also Siah Shabestar has the least chill requirement. Like the two previous enzymes, the activity of catalase was highest in sour cherries and the lowest was observed in Siah Shabestar. In terms of the presence of free proline, there was no significant difference between the Zard Mashhad cultivars and Zoodras, while there was a significant difference between these two cultivars and Sour Cherry and Siah Shabestar. Zoodras cultivar has the highest and our cherry has the lowest amount of free proline. Between different cultivars, in terms of fresh weight of buds, there is a significant difference at 1% probability level before and after placement in the growth chamber. The increase in fresh weight of sour cherry and Zard Mashhad, Zoodras and Siah Shabestar cultivars were 25, 27, 31.5 and 33%, respectively. The highest fresh weight before and after placement in growth chamber was observed in Siah Shabestar and sour cherry was the lowest. In all the cultivars, the activity of all three enzymes were initially at maximum (369 CU), then, with the cooling of the air and the initiation of deep dormancy, the activity of these enzymes were greatly reduced (820 CU) and then again increased in the activity of this enzyme (963 CU), which is similar to other studies.

Conclusions :

The results of this study showed that the antioxidant metabolism in plants is influenced by seasonal cycle changes and enzymatic activity changes depending on temperature, so that sour cherry with the least chill requirement has the most activity of the enzyme catalase, peroxidase and superoxide dismutase and Siah Shabestar, which have the most chill requirement, have the least enzymatic activity. Accordingly, the enzymatic antioxidant system activity of the flower buds was relatively high at the beginning of the dormancy period, but decreased during the end of dormancy. Also, the amount of free proline at the end of dormancy and the stage of dormancy breaking was highest and the lowest was in the deep dormancy period.

Recognition and evaluation of qualitative traits of peach fruit is an important step in breeding programs and preservation of germplasm. For this purpose, the qualitative and biochemical properties of 18 peach cultivars and genotypes in East Azarbayjan province were investigated in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Some pomological traits like firmness, TSS, pH, TA, vitamin C, total phenolic content, antioxidant capacity, total flavonoid and total anthocyanin of peel and flesh were evaluated. In order to determine the relationship between traits, a Pearson correlation between traits was calculated. Results showed that the effect of cultivar and genotype on the traits was significant at P

In order to evaluate the effect of Benzyl Adenine (BA) on qualitative characteristics and shelf life of plum fruits CV “Gold Drops”, an experiment was conducted as a factorial based on randomized complete block design with three replications. In this experiment different concentrations of BA (0, 50, 75, 100 and 125 mg L-1) were applied as a foliar application. After harvesting, fruits were stored at 0.5-1 °C and 90% relative humidity for 6 weeks. Fruit characteristics including weight loss, firmness, titratable acidity, soluble solids, pH, ascorbic acid, antioxidant capacity, phenolic and total flavonoid content, were measured once a week at Tabriz University, Tabriz, Iran. The results showed that effects of BA treatments and storage time were significant in all traits. The lowest percentage of weight loss was found at 125 mg L-1 BA in the first week of storage. The highest and lowest content of TSS were obtained at 125 mg L-1 BA during the six weeks of storage and control treatment in the first week, respectively. The amount of ascorbic acid gradually reduced during storage and the lowest content was found at the end of storage. The highest phenol content of fruit was occurred in 125 mg L-1 BA in the 2nd week and the lowest one in control at the 6th week of storage. According to these findings, BA spraying can bear positive effects on postharvest quality sustainment and shelf life of plum fruit.

In this study, 24 peach genotypes were studied to determine the overall degree of polymorphism and to detect similarities among early, medium and late ripening peach genotypes by morphological and microsatellite (SSR) markers. Morphological characters in three groups based on ripening time (early ripening from 74 to 119 DAFB, medium ripening from 120 to 160 DAFB and late ripening more than 160 DAFB).were considered according to UPOV peach descriptor. The variation was observed for traits related to morphology and fruit quality. Among the early ripening genotypes of peach, a crispy texture (called slow ripening) was detected. Factor analysis showed that the first four factors explained 86.74% of the total variation among the 24 genotypes. Cluster and principal component analysis showed a considerable phenotypically diversity in the peach germplasm. The cluster analysis by Wards method divided the genotypes into three main groups. In order to estimate their genetic diversity and to clarify their possible relationships, 20 SSR primer pairs, were used. A total of 112 alleles were produced with an average of 6.5 alleles per locus. The number of alleles (Na) varied from three for BPPCT036 to 10 for the UDP98-406. The effective number of allele (Ne) ranged from 2.08 in BPPCT036 to 06.06 for UDP98-414 with an average of 57.3 per locus. Expected heterozygosity ranged from 0.33 for BPPCT036 to 0.85 for UDP98-414 with an average of 0.70 per locus. The cluster analysis divided the genotypes into four groups. The Kosari peacch was isolated in one subgroup. The second group consisted of two subgroups; most of them were late harvest genotypes.

Plum as a fruit is used in fresh market or processed form. This research was conducted to evaluate the effect of pre-harvest application of methyl jasmonate on qualitative characteristics and shelf life of plum cv" Gold Drop". Experiment was carried out as a factorial based on randomized complete blocks design with four replications. Treatments were included in five levels of methyl jasmonate (0, 5.0, 1, 5.1, 2 mM) that were used as spray on selected branches of trees. After harvesting, fruits were stored at 2 °C and 95% relative humidity for 6 weeks. The qualitative characteristics including firmness, soluble solids, titratable acidity, vitamin C, total phenol- and flavonoid, total antioxidant activity and pH of fruit juice were measured every week. The results showed that methyl jasmonate had significant effects on qualitative traits and shelf life of fruits. The pH of fruit juice in treated fruits were less than control and the amount of soluble solids, firmness, titratable acidity, vitamin C, total phenol- and flavonoid and antioxidant activity in treated fruits were more than control fruits. Methyl jasmonate at 2 mM concentration were resulted in better preservation vitamin C, soluble solids, pH, firmness, phenol, flavonoid and antioxidant activity was compared to other concentrations.

This experiment was conducted to evaluate the proline and enzymes changes after termination of chilling requirement and during heat accumulation. Four apricot cultivars including “Tabarzeh”, “Shekarpareh”,”Shamloo” and “Asgarabad” were selected at Khalaat Pooshan Agricultural Research Station, Tabriz University, Iran. In this study, changes in enzyme activity of catalase, peroxidase and superoxide dismutase as well as proline content were measured monthly just after the end of dormancy period until 50% blooming for each cultivar. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed that there was a significant difference in enzymes activity within different cultivars. Enzymes activity had the minimum value immediately after terminating chilling requirement while reached the maximum value during the bloom. Comparing the average superoxide dismutase, catalase and peroxidase activity in different cultivars showed that “Asgarabad“ had the highest enzyme activity in March with the 3254 Grow Degree Hour (GDH), while the least amount of enzyme activity was recorded in “Tabarze“ during February with 214 GDH. Also, significant change in proline content was revealed in studied cultivars at different sampling times, so that, the highest and lowest proline contents was observed in “Tabarzeh” with 254 GDH and “Asgaraabad” with 214 GDH, respectively.

In order to evaluate the effects of BA on thinning, qualitative characteristics and antioxidant capacity in plum cv "Golden Drop", this research was conducted in Research Station of Agriculture, Tabriz University. A randomized complete block design (RCBD) with 5 treatments of BA (0, 50, 75, 100 and 125 mg / l) and 4 replications was arranged. Treatments were applied 14 days after full bloom on the selected branches. The thinning percentage and fruit quality parameters including total soluble solids (TSS), vitamin C, fruit diameter, length, volume, total flavonoids, total phenolic compounds and antioxidant capacity were measured. Results showed that BA significantly increased the amount of fruit thinning fruit, length, diameter, volume, soluble solids, vitamin C, titratable acidity and antioxidant capacity. Fruit firmness, total flavonoids and, total phenolic compounds were not affected by BA treatments. The highest fruit thinning belonged to 125 mg/L BA. In conclusion, BA caused significant thinning intensity and improved fruit quality of plum cv. "Golden Drop".

Fruits and vegetables have special importance as a very important part of the human food supply. And from the beginnings of life, man has used these products to supply a part of his food. Nowadays, horticultural products are widely used in the diet. Cherry is one of the deciduous trees in the temperate regions, which is potassium rich. Use of Oxalic acid significantly reduces frost injury in pomegranate fruits during storage at a temperature of 2° C. In fruit trees, the importance of calcium is due to a delay in fruit ripening process and this way products have better portability. Firmness test was measured using the FT011 model of penetrometer. For determination of titratable acidity, the 0.1 N sodium hydroxide (NaOH) titration method was used. Total Soluble solids content (SSC) of fruit was measured by a digital refractometer (PAL-1). For determination of vitamin C in fruit juices, titration method with the indicator, 2,6-di-chlorophenolindophenol was used. Fruit juice pH was measured using pH meter model HI 9811.In order to investigate the effect of postharvest soaking treatment with Oxalic acid on the qualitative specifications and storage life of single grain sweet cherry fruit a research was conducted. This experience was conducted in a completely randomized design with 3 replications separately for the two materials. In this experiment Oxalic acid, in four levels (0,4,6 and 8 mM) and Calcium chloride in four levels (0, 40, 55 and 70 mM) were applied on the single grain sweet cherry fruit in the form of soaking and sampleswith7-day intervals for a period of 28 days from the fridge out and quanti tate and qualitative traits such as stiffness, weight loss, Titratable acidity, total soluble solids, vitamin C and pH were measured. The results showed that compared with control ones all of the concentrations of Oxalic acid and Calcium chloride caused significant differences in the amount of weight loss, firmness, Acidity, TSS, vitamin C and pH, so that weight loss rate on the fourth week for control samples was 39/79%, for samples treated with 8mM oxalic acid, 22/77%, and for 70 mM Calcium chloride, 21/19%; total soluble solids weight on the fourth week for control samples was 24/53%; for samples treated with 8mM Oxalic acid 21/43% and for 70 mM Calcium chloride 21/13%; and vitamin C weight on the fourth week for control samples was 2/65; for samples treated with 8Mm Oxalic acid 3/06 and for 70 mM Calcium chloride 3/16; also firmness and acidity were more than that of control. In fruits treated with different concentrations of calcium chloride, the amounts of firmness, acidity and vitamin C were significantly higher than that of control. Also in treated fruits, the amounts of weight loss, total soluble solids and pH during storage were significantly lower than that of control. In fruits treated with different concentrations of Oxalic acid in fruits, the amounts of firmness, acidity and vitamin C were significantly higher than that of control. And in fruits treated with different concentrations of Oxalic acid, the amounts of weight loss, total soluble solids and pH were significantly lower than that of control. According to the results of this test calcium chloride treatment was better when compared with Oxalic acid.

To determine the effects of pre-harvest salicylic acid (SA) treatments on postharvest life and quality of apricot fruits، four different concentrations (one، 1. 5، three and 4. 5 mM) were applied six days before harvesting of apricot fruits cv. ‘Shamlou’. Fruits harvested at commercial maturity stage and stored at 2ºC with 90 percent RH on the same day for a period of three weeks. The fruit was evaluated for weight loss، flesh firmness، total soluble solid (TSS) contents، titratable acidity (TA)، ascorbic acid contents، total phenolic contents and total flavonoids in treated and nontreated fruits. Results showed that salicylic acid treatments significantly exhibited weight loss and flesh firmness compared with control. At the end of storage، the highest ascorbic acid content and total phenolic content was observed in 4. 5 mM SA treated fruits. The highest flesh firmness، titratable acidity and flavonoids were observed at three mM SA treated fruits and at the end stage of storage. The lowest weight loss، TSS and pH were recorded at 3mM SA treated fruits.

For evaluation and determination of genetic capacity of existing apricot genotypes in Iran, an experiment was performed in RCB design with seven treatments and three replications on August 2004 in Sahand Horticultural Research Station. Selected promising genotypes with numbers of 177, 190, 390, 414, 416, 464 and 269 were compared with Ordubad 90 cv. (as control) for a period of seven years. The results demonstrated that there was no significant difference between yielding and full blooming dates of the genotypes and control. The range of fruit maturation between the most early and the most late maturity genotypes was 45 days. Genotype 414 had the maximum fruit weight (57.6g) and the highest fruit to stone weight ratio (30.3). From the viewpoint of fruit flesh thickness, the lowest difference was observed between control and genotype 464, and the highest significant difference was detected between control and genotype 269 (p≤0.05). Despite relative height of stigma to anthers in genotypes 269, 414, 464 and 177, no problem was observed in fruit setting of them. Based on the biochemical traits results, the highest significant differences were observed between TSS value of genotypes 416 and 177 with 7.7% and also between total organic acids content of genotypes 390 and 177 with 1.2% (p≤0.05). Difference between fruit active acidity (pH) of genotypes was not significant. There was also a negative and significant correlation (r2 = 0.8) between total organic acids content and pH of the genotypes fruit. Based on all results, genotype 177 was recognized for fresh consumption, genotypes 464 and 390 for processing and genotypes 190, 414 and 269 for dual.

The effect of putrescine, calcium chloride and salicylic acid was investigated on quality attributes and post harvest life of plum fruit cv. "Shablon" as a factorial experiment with a complete randomized design with three replications. Fruits were treated by dipping in 1 and 2 mM putrescine, 60 and 80 mM calcium chloride and 1 and 3 mM salicylic acid and then they were kept in cold storage at 1-2 °C and 80% relative humidity for 6 weeks. Quality parameters incloding weight loss, fruit firmness, total soluble solids contents, titratable acidity and ascorbic acid content were evaluated once a week. Results showed that the effect of treatment and time was significant in all characteristics at 1% level, and hat all treatments maintained the fruit quality characteristics during the storage period. Time and treatment interaction on weight loss, fruit firmness and soluble solid contents were not significant. The results showed that the effects of treatments on these traits were independent of time while the interaction between treatment and time on titratable acidity and ascorbic acid was significant at 5% level. With the progress in the fruit maintenance period, the amount of acidity and vitamin C content was reduced. Mean comparisons showed that there were significant differences between control and other treatments for all characteristics. Calcium chloride was effective for weight loss prevention. Calcium chloride and Putrescine solution were better than salicylic acid for maintenance of fruit vitamine C content.

In this research, the effect various temperatures was studied on pollen tube dynamics in in vitro and controlled conditions ‘Nec Plus Ultra, ‘Sahand, and ‘Ferragnes, almond cultivars and ‘K100’ genotype. The collected pollens were cultured in a suitable medium. Cross-pollinations were performed in the chambers at different temperatures. Germination and pollen tube growth were studied at different temperatures. Results showed significant differences among the studied cultivars and genotype in different temperatures for pollen germination and pollen tube growth. The highest percentage of pollen germination in in virto condition and under controlled condition was observed in ‘Sahand’. The highest percentage of pollen tube at style base was observed in ‘Nec plus ultra’.

In order to study the effect of CaCl2 treatment on postharvest quality and storage behavior of peach fruit cv. Anjiri Maliki, the fruits were dipped in CaCl2 solution, at concentration of 0 as control and 60mM, in different temperatures (4, 8, 16, 32 and 64°C) for 5 minutes. The trial was carried out as a factorial experiment if frame of complete randomized design (CRD) with three replications. The fruits were stored at 2-3°C and 85-90% R.H for finally 28 days, and then the fruit parameters were measured weekly. Traits such as titratable acidity (TA), total soluble solids (TSS), vitamin C, weight loss, tissue firmness and calcium concentration were determined. Results showed that in total storage period (four measurements times), treatment with CaCl2, at temperature of 64°C was the best treatment according to maintaining flesh firmness, maintaining TSS, preventing the degradation of ascorbic acid, reducing the TA changes, modulation of weight loss and increasing the amount of calcium content in fruits. Also thermal treatments at temperatures of 32 and 64°C, alone end without CaCl2, had significant effects on maintaining fruit firmness, TA and acid ascorbic and caused to modulation in weight loss. On the other hand the application of calcium chloride at temperatures of 4 and 32°C had significant effect on quality parameters.

In order to study stigma receptivity in peach cultivars: (‘Makhmali’، ‘Anjiri-ye-tabestane’، ‘Anjiri-ye maleki’، ‘Haj-kazemi’ and ’Zoodras’) controlled pollination was done in both field and laboratory conditions. Before pollination trials the in vitro germination of the pollen was tested in petridish. Branches with adequate number of flowers were chosen for controlled pollination. Self Pollination was carried out by hand، on the same day as emasculation (day 0) and thereafter every two days (2، 4، 6، 8 days after emasculation). To allow for growth of pollen tubes pollinated pistils were collected four days after pollination and fixed in FAA. Pistils were washed several times and autoclaved in a solution of 5% sodium sulfite for softening. After staining with aniline blue، the pollen germination at the stigma and pollen tubes growth in each section of style (upper and bottom) and ovary was determined by means of fluorescence microscopy. Results revealed that the stigmas of studied cultivars were receptive at balloon stage and reach their optimum receptivity between 2 and 4 days later. Our studied cultivars in confrontation to occurrence of temperature oscillations in field condition had different reactions at different pollination times. Regarding to pollen germination at the stigma surface and in vitro condition and existence the pollen tubes inside the ovary، became clear that studied cultivars are self-compatible and male-fertile.

This experiment was conducted to study the effects of application of partial root zone drying technique on quantitative and qualitative characteristics of strawberry (Fragaria ananassa cv. Selva). The experiment was arranged as randomized complete blocks design with five treatments and four replications. One week after planting the seedlings, different irrigation regimes including FC: FC (moisture content in both sides of the roots at field capacity), FC: 1/2 FC (moisture content in one side of the roots at field capacity and in the other side at half field capacity), FC: Dry (moisture content in one side at field capacity and the other side is dry), ½ FC: Dry (moisture content in one side at half field capacity and the other side is dry) and 1/2 FC: 1/2 FC (moisture content in both sides of the roots at half field capacity) were applied by emitters (and controlled by moisture sensors). Traits such as fresh weight of vegetative parts and fruits, leaf number of leaves, chlorophyll index, leaf area index, leaf leakage of electrolytes, proline, and soluble solids were measured. Results showed that the highest fresh weight of vegetative parts and fruits, number of leaves, chlorophyll index and leaf area index were measured in FC: FC and FC: 1/2 FC treatments. Maximum electrolyte leakage, proline and soluble solids were in 1/2 FC: Dry treatment. Plants under this technique showed resistance mechanisms, against drought stress, such as proline production and reduction of number and surface of leaves.

Salinity affects the yield and quality of fruits crops as result of modifying water and nutrient uptake. In split root system، it should be possible to reduce the deleterious effect of salinity on the plant growth. Therefore، an experiment was conducted on strawberry with different concentration of NaCl (0، 30، 60 and 90 mM) in a completely randomized blocks design in studding hydroponic greenhouse. The roots were divided into two portions and either even or uneven salinity was applied to the root portions. The treatments consist of 0:0، 0:30، 0:60، 0:90، 30:30، 60:60 and 90:90 with three replications. In general، the increased salinity reduced photosynthesis rate but in uneven salinity the photosynthesis rate was increased. Proline concentration was reduced in 0:0 treatments but increased in 0:30 and 30:30 treatments. Ca، N، P and K concentrations were reduced by increasing salinity، but were increase in uneven salinity. The highest concentrations of Cl and Na were observed in 60:60 and 90:90 salinity treatments. Na and Cl concentrations were reduced in uneven salinity in the root zone so that in 0:30 treatments، the concentration of Na were 20% lower than that in 30:30 treatments. Based on the results of this study the application of uneven salinity in a concentration of 30 mM could be recommended for growing strawberry in salinity stress conditions.