a. saremirad

Sugar beet cultivation faces significant challenges from diseases such as rhizomania and cyst nematode, both in Iran and globally. The most effective and straightforward approach to mitigate the damage caused by these diseases is the use of resistant varieties. The Hosna cultivar was developed after extensive preliminary and advanced research. This variety was produced by crossing a pollinator inbred line from the SB27 population, which carried resistance genes for both rhizomania and cyst nematode, with a monogerm single cross maternal line. A value-for-cultivation and use (VCU) test was conducted in Hamadan, Mashhad, Shiraz, and Miandoab under rhizomania-infected conditions and in Karaj under non-infected conditions to evaluate this variety's performance. Simultaneously, the resistance of the hybrids to cyst nematode was evaluated in another experiment under controlled conditions (greenhouse). The results showed the superior performance of Hosna cultivar, which produced an average white sugar yield of 11.52 tha-1, outperforming the foreign control variety Azare (11.36 tha-1) and the domestic control varieties Shokoufa and Arta (10.19 and 10.12 tha-1, respectively). However, no significant difference was found between Hosna and the foreign control Rosier (12.02 tha-1). Hosna is a diploid monogerm cultivar, resistant to both rhizomania and cyst nematode, and suitable for spring cultivation across various regions of the country. In addition to its disease resistance, this cultivar has a high potential for sugar yield.

High yield and yield stability across a range of environmental conditions is one of the main objectives of crop breeding programs. In this study, white sugar yield stability of nine sugar beet cultivars commercially released in Iran from 2011 to 2020 with an introduced foreign cultivar as check was evaluated using randomized complete block design with four replications in six research field stations; Karaj, Ardabil, Kermanshah, Mashhad, Moghan, Miandoab, in four cropping seasons 2017-2021. The combined analysis of variance revealed that effects of genotype, year, location, and year × location, genotype × year, genotype × location and genotype × year × location were significant (p ≤ 0.01) on white sugar yield. Analysis of genotype × environment interaction showed that the first seven components were significant (p ≤ 0.01). Based on AMMI1 analysis, cv. Asia, cv. Shokoufa and cv. Arta had white sugar yield stability. Linear mixed model analysis showed that the effects of genotype and genotype × environment interaction were significant (p ≤ 0.01) on white sugare yield. Based on the BLUP method, cv. Perfecta, cv. Asia and cv. Shokoufa had the highest predicted mean value of white sugar yield. Biplot of white sugar yield with the WAASB index showed that cv. Asia, cv. Arta and cv. Shokoufa had higher sugar yield as well as higher white sugar yield stability. Ranking of sugar beet cultivars based on WAASB/white sugar yield ratio identified cv. Arta, cv. Asia and cv. Shokoufa as high yielding with white sugar yield stability. Simultaneous ranking and selection of cultivars based on 50:50 WAASB/white sugar yield ratio resulted the same. Therefore, cv. Asia followed by cv. Shokoufa and cv. Arta had relatively higher WAASBY indices. Considering the results of this study, cv. Asia, cv. Shokoufa and cv. Arta were identified as high yielding with higher white sugar yield stability.

The promotion and development of winter-sown sugar beet is one of the significant approaches for using seasonal rainfalls and saving irrigation water for its production. For this purpose, the present study was conducted to study the of genotype × environment interaction effect on white sugar yield of 11 winter season short-season sugar beet cultivars, and selection of superior cultivars in three regions of Moghan,(2019, 2020 and 2021) Torbat-e-Jam (2020 and-2021), and Joveyn (2020) using randomized complete block design with four replications. Combined analysis of variance showed that the environment, genotype and genotype × environment interaction had significant (P ≤ 0. 01) effect on white sugar yield. The GGE biplot method revealed that the first and second main components explained 83.64% of the total variation in white sugar yield. Based on the GGE biplot method, in Moghan 2021, cv. SVZB2019 and Dravos, and in Moghan 2019 and 2020, in Torbat-e-Jam 2020 and 2021 and in Joveyn 2020, cv. FDIR19B3021, cv. FDIR19B4028 and cv. SVZA2019 identified as the best cultivars with high white sugar yield and yield stability, respectively. In general, it was concluded that the environment played a significant role in phenotypic expression of the white sugar yield in the winter-sown short season sugar beet cultivars. Therefore, it would be necessary to select and release sugar beet cultivars adapted to climatic and agronomic conditions for winter sowing in target environments.

This study aimed to evaluate the resistance of 58 spring bread wheat cultivars to stem rust at seedling stage. For this purpose, four races of stem rust pathogen; TTTTF, PTRTF, TTKTK, and TKTTF, which are among the dominant races of stem rust disease in Iran, were used. In all experiments, Morocco and McNair cultivars were included as susceptible controls. Based on the reaction of cultivars, no resistance was observed against all races, and only three cultivars; Adl, Dez, and Ofogh were resistant to three different races of the four races of stem rust pathogen. The results showed that 12 cultivars had resistance against TTTTF and TTKTK, 10 cultivars against PTRTF, and seven cultivars against TKTTF, with reaction on scale of "0" to "2+". Cluster analysis using the Ward’s method classified the studied cultivars into five different groups ranging from resistant, moderately-resistant, medium, moderately susceptible, and susceptible reactions for each race. Principal component analysis revealed that cvs. Sivand, Pishtaz, Adl, Niknejad and Ofogh had resistance to TTTTF and PTRTF, and cv. Kaveh showed resistance to TTKTK and TKTTF. Resistance reactions observed in these cultivars may be due to unidentified gene (s) that have not been affected by the pathogen races used in this study. The information about the reaction of spring bread wheat cultivars to stem rust pathogen races at seedling stage can be invaluable for wheat breeders for incorporating stem rust resistance sources in bread wheat breeding programs. Of course, the reaction of spring bread cultivars to stem rust pathogen races at adult plant stage should also be evaluated and considered.

Damask rose (Rosa damascena Mill.) is one of the most important plants in the pharmaceutical and perfumery industry. The present study was carried out to achieve an efficient and effective regeneration instruction for use in breeding programs under laboratory conditions of this economically valuable plant. For this purpose, two damask rose genotypes were used in MS and WPM media. In the proliferation stage, the effect of growth regulator 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP) at six levels of 0 (control), 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 mg.l-1, and in the rooting stage, the effect of growth regulator indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) at five levels of 0 (control), 0.01, 0.05, 0.1 and 0.2 mg.l-1 were investigated. Based on the ANOVA results of proliferation data, genotypes Kashan in MS medium (2.72) and Isfahan in the WPM medium (2.50) had the highest number of shoots. The highest amount of shooting was obtained in MS medium containing 5 mg.l-1 BAP. Genotype Kashan in MS medium containing 5 mg.l-1 BAP had the highest mean shoot length (2.93 cm). In terms of shoots fresh weight, genotype Isfahan had the highest weight in the WPM medium containing 5 mg.l-1 BAP. The interaction effect of genotype × medium × BAP on dry weight was not significant. The highest number and mean root length in both genotypes Isfahan and Kashan were observed in the WPM medium containing 0.2 mg.l-1 IBA. Rooted shoots were transferred to the pots containing a mixture of horticultural soil, peat, and perlite with the same volume ratio (1: 1: 1), and based on observation, the survival coefficient was more than 80%.

 Nowadays, increasing soil contamination by heavy metals is one of the most important issues around the world, and is the focus of attention. Lead as the most dangerous heavy metal and persistent chemical pollutant affects the environment, especially the metabolic and physiological activities of organisms and ultimately cause serious damage to the environment and human health. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of mycorrhizal fungus (Rhizophagus irregularis) on some biochemical traits of 10 wheat genotypes in three different concentrations of lead heavy metal (0, 218 and 437 ppm) in soil.

 The present study was conducted as factorial experiment based on randomized complete block design with three replications. The factors included lead in three concentrations (0, 218 and 437 mg / kg), mycorrhizal inoculum (addition and no addition), and 10 wheat genotypes (Shiraz, Sepahan, Sirvan, Back Cross Roshan, Marvdasht, Sivand, Bahar, Pars, Roshan, and Pishtaz). Soil samples were prepared from a depth of 0-25 cm of the research farm of Islamic Azad University, Karaj Branch. Samples were taken randomly. After soil drying and passing through a 2 mm sieve, they were transferred to the soil science laboratory to determine some of the physical and chemical properties. According to the soil test results, the soil was sandy loam, a semi-light soil with 25% clay, 25% silt and 50% sand, with pH = 7.49 and salinity of 1.63 dS. m-1, and also free of heavy metals. The soil was sterilized for four hours by an autoclave at the temperature of 121 °C and a pressure of 1.5 atm. After soil preparation, the lead was added to the soil at three concentrations of 0, 218 and 437 ppm, and stored in a pre-embedded bag with 60% moisture content to achieve a two-week equilibrium. In order to inoculate the mycorrhizal fungus, after removal of 3-4 cm from the soil surface, Rhizophagus irregularis (35 g) was added to the soil surface, then 30 to 40 seeds were placed on the soil surface and covered with soil. In the control samples without mycorrhizal fungus, a certain amount of mycorrhizal fungus placed at 105 ºC to kill the fungus and then added to the pots.

 Malondialdehyde concentration increased by increasing the concentration of lead. The highest concentrations of proline were belonged to the level 218 ppm of lead, in Pars cultivar in both treatments of with and without mycorrhiza fungus as well as Sirvan cultivar in the treatment of without fungi, respectively. The activity of Catalase was highest in the treatment of 218 ppm of lead without fungus. Roshan cultivar also showed high levels of ascorbate peroxidase activity in 218 ppm of lead. Similar to cultivar, BC Roshan and Pishtaz cultivars also showed high ascorbate peroxidase activity in this concentration of lead. The amount of hydrogen peroxide was reduced by changing the concentration of lead from 0 to 218 ppm, while its amount increased at 437 ppm concentration. With increasing lead concentration, the amount of chlorophyll a decreased while chlorophyll b increased. Using mycorrhizal fungus, the amount of malondialdehyde, proline and hydrogen peroxide and catalase content decreased compared with control. It seems that lead, due to its concentration in the environment, leads to the induction of oxidative stress and the formation of free radicals and thus change in the amount of biochemical traits of wheat such as malondialdehyde, proline, hydrogen peroxide and chlorophyll a and b and activity of catalase and ascorbate peroxidase. The genotype of the plant is very important factor in tolerating the toxicity of lead, and it deals with various protective mechanisms. Not only the plant genotype but also environmental factors such as the use of mycorrhizal fungus are effective in reducing the harmful effects of lead, and helps plants tolerate the stress caused by lead toxicity.

 Lead in the soil causes changes in the biochemical content of wheat cultivars. The amount of change depends on the plant's genotype, lead concentration, and other factors in the soil, such as symbiotic fungi. As shown in the present study, mycorrhizal fungus was effective in eliminating the negative effects of lead during symbiotic with wheat. It is suggested further studies to determine the concentration of lead and even other heavy metals in wheat genotypes and to compare with Iranian national standards in order to overcome the concerns about the entry of these metals into the diet.