darbandi

In recent years, in order to produce organic products and reduce environmental problems, organic and biological fertilizers are used to increase soil fertility, eliminate the nutritional needs and to improve of plants growth. In order to evaluate the effect of organic and biological fertilizers on qualitative and quantitative traits of saffron, a field experiment was carried out as split plots based on a randomized complete block design with three replications at the Research Farm of  Ardebil Agricultural Research Center during two growing seasons of 2015-2016 and 2016- 2017. Treatments included three levels of organic fertilizers: vermicompost (10 t.ha-1), manure (25 t.ha-1) and control in the main plots, and plant growth promoting rhizobacteria in four levels including, control, Azotobacter sp.PTCC 1658, Pseudomonas aeroginosa, Bacillus subtilis and the combination of biofertilizer (A. sp. PTCC 1658+ B. subtilis+ P. aeroginosa( in sub plots. Bio fertilizers were inoculated on the saffron corms before sowing in the first year and were applied mixed with irrigation water in the second year. The results indicated that the interaction effects of organic and biological fertilizers increased the fresh weight of flowers, dry and wet yield of stigma and style and qualitative compounds including crocin (Color factor), picrocrocin (Taste factor) and safranal (Perfume factor) compared to control. So that, the application of manure and vermicompost in combination with the total of bio-fertilizers (A. sp. PTCC 1658+ B. subtilis+ P. aeroginosa), increased the dry matter of stigma from 0.86 kg.h-1 to 2.93 and 2.7 kg.h-1 respectively. By using manure fertilizer with biofertilizers, picrocrocin, safranal and crocin, were increased 73, 77 and 83 percent compared to the control respectively. Based on this experiment results, the combined use of organic and biological fertilizers in addition to reducing the environmental pollution, can enhance qualities and quantities of yield of saffron through synergistic effects.

Extensive evidence shows that morphine impairs cognitive functions. On the other hand, ghrelin is a gastrointestinal hormone that affects learning and memory process. The purpose of the current study was to evaluate the effect of intra-ventral tegmental area (VTA) injection of ghrelin on morphine-induced amnesia in male rats. In this experimental study, 104 male Wistar rats (220-250 g) were randomly divided into 13 groups (n=8 for all groups) including: saline, morphine treated groups (0.5-7.5 mg/kg), ghrelin treatd groups (0-3 nmol/μl) plus morphine (7.5 mg/kg) or saline. Memory was measured in a step-through type inhibitory avoidance apparatus. All groups received intra-ventral tegmental area (intra-VTA) injection of saline or ghrelin immediately after training. After 5 mins saline or morphine was injected subcutaneously. Testing phase was done 24 hrs after training. Data were analyzed using one-way and two-way ANOVA analysis followed by Tukey’s multiple comparison test. The results showed that post-training administration of morphine significantly reduced step-through latency compared with the saline group (p<0.001). Intra-VTA injection of ghrelin also reduced morphine-induced amnesia (7.5 mg/kg) (p< 0.001). Ghrelin plus saline administration had no significant effect on memory retrieval (p>0.05). The results indicate that intra-VTA injction of ghrelin prevents the disrupting effects of morphine on avoidance memory.
Key words: Ghrelin, Inhibitory avoidance learning, Male rat, Morphine, Ventral tegmentum area
Funding: This study was funded by University of Arak.                             
Conflict of interest: None declared.
Ethical approval: The Ethics Committee of Arak University of Medical Sciences approved the study. (1397.139).
How to cite this article: Nazari-serenjeh F, Darbandi N, Yadegary A, Momeni HR. The Effect of Intra-ventral Tegmental Area Injection of Ghrelin on Morphine-Induced Amnesia in Male Rats: An Experimental Study. J Rafsanjan Univ Med Sci 2019; 18 (2): 147-60. [Farsi]

The use of tolerant cultivars is one of the most important methods for parasitic weed managing. In order to screen of 19 Serbian tomato cultivars tolerance to Orobanche aegyptiaca under greenhouse conditions, an experiment was arranged as a factorial experiment, based on completely randomized design with three replications. The tolerance of these cultivars was investigated in the presence and absence of broomrape in separately treatments. The results showed that among the studied Serbian cultivars, express, uragan, donator, red stone and leader cultivars were more tolerant than other cultivars. Despite of high dry weight production in express cultivar, it suffered the least damage (44.75%) compared to other cultivars. The lowest broomrape dry weight was observed at uragan and donator cultivars. However, their aboveground biomass reduced to 35.39% and 58.16% respectively. Despite the higher biomass production in fantom, ox heart, honey and profit cultivars in control treatments, they suffered severe damage (more than 80%) in infected treatments. It seems theses cultivars are more susceptible to broomrape than the others.

To evaluate the comparative phenology of wheat and Lepyrodiclis (Lepyrodiclis holosteoidesFenzl.)growth stages and to determine the best phenological stage for some recommended post-emergence herbicide applications as well as their efficacy on Lepyrodiclis controll, this study was conducted during 2014 – 2015 in the fields of Animal Science Research Institute, Karaj. In the first experiment, comparative phenology between wheat and Lepyrodiclis was determined based on growing degree-days. Results showed that Lepyrodiclis completed its life cycle, from the seedling stage to the end of ripening, during 202 days, by achieving 2673 GDD and its developmental stages were fully adapted to the developmental stages of wheat. The second study was a split plot experiment carried out in randomized complete block design. Treatments were herbicide application time (two different wheat phenological stages; 2nd and 5th stages of Feekes scale) as main plot and application recommended doses of some broadleaved and dual purpose herbicides for wheat farms as sub plot Results showed that application of bromoxynil suppressed Lepyrodiclis effectively and reduced more than 90% of the density and biomass of the weed. Due to its decisive controlling effects, it was the best treatment between all applied herbicides. Although the use of herbicides at 5th stage of the Feekes scale increased the yield of wheat, but because of the mechanism of action of bromoxynil and according to phonological stage of Lepyrodiclis, application of bromoxynil in stage two of Feekes lead to favorable control of Lepyrodiclis in wheat fields.

In order to study the melon genotypes to broomrape,  an experiment was conducted in a randomized complete block design with three replications at Barekat research field of Jovein  in Sabzevar, east of Iran. Seeds of 14 genotypes of melon (Melon, Magasi, Khatouni, Nishabour, Tabassi, Tallebi, Jim Abad, Eyvankay, Tashkendi, Mianeh, Mianeh atashbar, Atrak, Galia kayhan, Galia hybrid) were planted in a farm with a history of broomrape infestation and control treatments for each genotype were also planted in a farm with no history of broomrape infestation,  but with the same physical and chemical properties of soil and management. The results showed that melon genotypes were significantly different based on fruit weight and plant biomass. Infestation broomrape led to a significant reduction in fruit  weight and plant biomass. Melon genotypes tolerance to broomrape were significantly different. Among the melon genotypes, Jim Abad had the lowest fruit and plant weight loss. However its parasitization by broomrape was also the highest. This means that Jim Abad genotype is more tolerant to broomrape compared with other evaluated melon genotypes.

Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) is an important food legume, is presently grown in more than 50 countries and imported by more than 150 countries. It is the second largest grown and produced food legume after dry beans. During 2011, chickpea was grown on 13.2 million ha and about 80% of this area was in south and southeast Asia (India 68%, Pakistan 8.9% and Myanmar 2.3%). The other major chickpea growing countries include Turkey, Australia, Ethiopia, Iran, Mexico, Canada and USA. Weeds are a serious constraint to increased production. Chickpea, however, is a poor competitor with weeds because of slow growth rate and limited leaf area development at early life stages. Weeds compete with chickpea plants for water, nutrients, sunlight and also harbor insect-pests and diseases. If the weeds are not controlled, they can significantly reduce chickpea yield. Significant yield losses (up to 84%) due to weeds have been reported in chickpea, and even more severely (up to 98%) in autumn-sown chickpea. Thus, weed management is crucial in chickpea to realize maximum yields and also to maintain high its quality. Because of the sensitivity of chickpea to herbicides, most effective are the pre-emergence herbicides, and choices for post-emergence herbicides are limited. The pre-emergence herbicides are effective in controlling weeds at early stage of seedling growth, but weeds germinating after crop emergence become dominant in the field and cause substantial yield loses. Therefore, chickpea cultivars with improved herbicide tolerance, which can offer greater flexibility for use of post-emergence herbicides, are required by the farmers. There are few reports on identification of herbicide tolerance in chickpea. However, these reports indicate presence of genotypic variations for herbicide tolerance in chickpea. This study was aimed to identify chickpea cultivars tolerance to pyridate, imazethapyr, foramsulforun and rimsolforun herbicides by screening. In order to study chickpea cultivars toleration against some post-emergence herbicides, a pot experiment was carried out in a completely randomized design in four replications at research greenhouse Ferdowsi University of Mashhad. Factors included herbicides application in 4 levels (foramsulfuron, rimsulfuron, imazethapyr and Pyridate), herbicide dose in 3 levels (100 and 75% of the herbicides recommended dose for weed control with control treatment without of herbicide use) and chickpea cultivars in 5 levels, (Hashem, ILC 482, Kaka, Azad and Arman). Chickpea seeds were prepared from chickpea seed bank of Research Center for Plant Sciences, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad. Plants were in pots with 14 cm diameter and sprayed at 2nd true leaf of chickpea cultivars. To evaluate the effects of experimental results, survival and dry matter of chickpea cultivars were indicated, 2 and 4 weeks after herbicides spraying. Analysis of variance of data was carried out after their conversion to plant with MSTATC software and for means comparisons LSD (p≤0.05) test was used. Based on the results, chickpea cultivars were not significantly different in terms of dry matter, but they had a different reaction to the herbicides application. It is indicated that foramsulfuron and rimsulfuron had the highest phytotoxicity and negative effects on chickpea; and the lowest negative impact was related to pyridate herbicide application. Also reduced dose of imazethapyr herbicide had no effect on chickpea cultivars. According to the results ILC 482 and Azad chickpea cultivars were the most tolerant and Arman cultivar was the most susceptible cultivars toward mentioned herbicides application, especially pyridate and imazethapyr. According to this study, the effects of pyridate, imazethapyr, rimsulfuron and foramsulfuron herbicides in chickpea cultivars were different. The intensity of phytotoxicity effects of investigated herbicides were ranked as rimsulfuron > foramsulfuron> Imazethapyr> pyridate. So, use of rimsulfuron and foramsulfuron herbicides chickpea not recommended in chickpea weed control. The research findings will increase our awareness regarding chickpea tolerance to the above herbicides and provide guidelines for adjustment for minimizing crop injury.

Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive degenerative disease which causes memory disorders, decreases cognitive func tions and behavioural changes. Some studies have indicated that antioxidants have a positive effect on the reduction of neuronal dam age disorders in the brain.
In this study, the effects of N -acetyl-cysteine as a potent antioxidant on serum oxidative stress factors in Streptozotocin-induced Alzheimeric male rats were investigated.
In this experimental study, 24 rats were divided into 4 groups; divided into four groups (n=8): Saline, Streptozotocin) STZ(, Streptozotocin in combination with N-acetyl-cysteineþ(NAC) and NAC alone. Intracerebroventricular administrations of STZ (3mg/kg) on the first and the third day of the surgery and Intraperitoneally administrations of saline(ml/kg) or NACþ(300mg/kg) on the fourth day after the surgery was performed. The animals’ memory was evaluated through passive task and Blood serums were used to measure the levels of malondialdehyde, total antioxidant, superoxide dismutase, glucose and lipid particles.
STZ significantly reduced memory retrieval (p0/05). Administration of NAC improved memory retrieval (p0/05). Also, the injection of NAC led to decreased levels of glucose (p It seems that NAC because of its antioxidant properties can reduce effect of memory impairment induced by STZ and it can be effective in prevention and treatment neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer disease by modulating some risk factors such as glucose, lipid particle and reducing of oxidative stress.

In order to study to evaluate the tolerance of some tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum L.) cultivars and landraces to Egyptian broomrape (Orobanche aegyptiaca pers.) an experiment was conducted as completely randomized design with 3 replications in greenhouse conditions. In this experiment, 23 cultivars and 4 landraces of tomato were planted in two series of treatments (infected and uninfected (control) with broomrape). Results showed that tomato cultivars and landraces had a significant difference in their biomass and broomrape reduced fresh and dry weight of all all tomato cultivars and landraces significantly. Urbana, GS15, Marconi cultivars and all landraces of tomato were the most susceptible hosts to broomrape. In contrast Cal-jN3, Primo, Hyb.Petopride V, Hyb.Xaman and Hyb.Super Set showed lowest loss percent of shoot and root dry weight in present of broomrape compared to other cultivars. Also, comparison of tomato landraces and cultivars showed that despite higher biomass production of the landraces in control treatments, they were more susceptible and suffered more severe damage in infected treatments

In this study, two different input selection methods cross-correlation analysis (CCA), and a combination of mutual information and cross-correlation analyses (MICCA) were used to develop adaptive network-based fuzzy inference system (ANFIS) in Qarasoo basin, in Kermanshah province, Iran. Sixteen daily rainfall-runoff events 10-yearly (2006-2015) were selected which 12 events were used for calibration (training) and the remaining 4 events were reserved for validating (testing) the models. Then, the results of ANFIS models then were compared against the HEC-HMS conceptual model. Investigation statistical indices showed that ANFIS model developed based on MICCA input (ANFIS-MICCA) better performance (CE=0.99 and RPE=10.09%) than the developed based on CCA inputs (ANFIS-CCA) (CE=0.88 and RPE=15.41%). ANFIS-CCA and ANFIS-MICCA were able to perform comparably to HEC-HMS model where rainfall data of all 8 stations; however, in peak estimation, ANFIS-MICCA was the suitable model. Also, the results show that the HEC-HMS model performance deteriorates by reducing the number of rainfall stations to two and three stations 59.8% and 54.6% percent, respectively. In general, ANFIS was found to be a reliable alternative for HEC-HMS in cases whereby not all rainfall stations are functioning.

Studies have indicated that metformine has different effects on learning and memory. In this study, both acute and chronic therapeutic effects of metformin on memory retrieval and some serum oxidative stress factors in Streptozotocin -induced Alzheimeric male rats were investigated.
In this experimental study, 48 rats were divided into six groups (n=8) as follows: saline - saline, streptozotocin - saline, and streptozotocin - metformine (once, one week, three weeks and eleven weeks). Intracerebroventricular administrations of streptozotocin (3mg/kg) were done at the first and third day of the surgery. Intraperitoneally administrations of saline (ml/kg) or metformin (200mg/kg) was started one day before the surgery and continued until the end of the care period. The animals’ memory was evaluated through passive avoidance learning; blood serums were used to measure the levels of malondialdehyde, assessment of Ferric Reducing Ability of Plasma (FRAP), levels of superoxide dismutase and catalase enzymes.
Streptozotocin (STZ) significantly reduced the memory retrieval and the levels of FRAP, superoxide dismutase and catalase enzymes and it significantly increased the level of malondialdehyde compared to the control group (p0/05).
It seems that administration of acute and chronic metformin has different effects on the memory retrieval that it may be due to the effect of chronic metformin in increasing the level of oxidative stress factors in serum.

The epidemiologic study of diabetes is helpful in understanding the high-risk groups and their related factors. This study aimed to determine the epidemiology of type II diabetes in Kermanshah province.
In this cross-sectional study, information was extracted using the records of patients referring to the Kermanshah diabetes clinic during 2013-2014 (2400 records). Data was analyzed using chi-square test and independent t-test.
The average age and standard deviation of 2309 patients was 54.92±10.84 years. Sixty one percent of patients were female. Type of treatment in 76.11% of people was oral. The relationship between total cholesterol, high density lipoprotein, and low density lipoprotein cholesterol with sex was statistically significant in diabetic patients (P According to the results, gender and family history were presented as possible factors associated with diabetes, so prevention and screening programs can be useful in these patients.

The purpose of this study was to induce myocardial infarction (MI) and compare the echocardiographic parameters and mortality ratio of Lewis inbred and Wistar outbred strain before and after the procedure to help choose the best one for MI studies. In this study MI was induced in 46 Lewis and 34 Wistar by occlusion of left anterior descending artery (LAD). Doppler, two-dimensional (2-D) and 2-D guided M-mode images were recorded from parasternal long-axis and parasternal short-axis and apical four-chamber views. The following parameters were acquired. Interventricular septum diastolic and systolic dimension (IVSd, s), diastolic and systolic left ventricular internal diameter (LVIDd, s), diastolic and systolic left ventricular posterior wall dimension (LVPWd, s), ejection fraction (EF), and fractional shortening (FS). The significant changes were observed in systolic IVS, LVID and EF and FS before and after MI and no significant difference was detected between Lewis and Wistar. The high mortality rate of 51% was seen in the procedure, including anesthesia in Lewis compared to 34% in Wistar. As a conclusion the echocardiographic parameters of these two strains were similar, but according to mortality rate and more cardiac anatomic variation in Lewis rats, Wistar is better for MI studies.

Many factors are participated in the snowmelt process, therefore accurate estimation of it is one of the major challenges in water resources management. Snowmelt runoff prediction provides the necessary tools for effective and efficient management of water resources, including reservoir management, groundwater management and flood warning. In most cases there are little earth-observing information for snow properties which is one of the limitations of snowmelt flow modeling. For this purpose, the modified Penman-Monteith equation using climate data from Lighvan weather station in the East Azarbaijan Province was applied in order to estimate runoff from snowmelt. Two-thirds of data were used for training and the rest one-third for verification of the model. Finally, the modified Penman-Monteith equation with mean correlation coefficients values of 0.89 and 0.85 for training and verification stages, mean average absolute error values of 0.57 and 0.37 m3s1 for training and testing stages, was presented as an appropriate model to estimate the snowmelt flow based on climatic parameters.

Selection of optimum interpolation technique to estimate water quality parameters in unmeasured points plays an important role in managing the quality and quantity of water resources. The aim of this study is to evaluate the accuracy of interpolation methods using GIS and artificial neural network (ANNs) model. To this end, a series of qualitative parameters of samples from water taken from Dehgolan aquifer located in Kurdistan, Iran including CL, EC and PH were evaluated by any of the models. In this study, qualitative data from 56 observation wells with good dispersion in the whole plain was used. The data of 46 observation wells were used for calibration and the data of other 10 wells were used for verification of models. The results showed ANNs, IDW, and Kriging excellence and accuracy over other models in estimation of quality parameters CL, PH and EC. However the ANNs model is more accurate than other models. In case of lack of time and the need for acceptable accuracy and less risk in the estimation of qualitative parameters, the use of ANNs model is superior to other statistical models used.

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of organic and bio-fertilizers on trifluralin durability.Herbicide persistence is an important consideration in crop production since residue levels of trifluralin herbicides can persist to the next growing season and may injure sensitive crops in the rotation. Residues of trifluralin persist in the soil for long periods. Extremely small amounts of resides can be devastating to some crops that are planted in the following year. Bioassay experirent is a common and cheaper experiment for herbicide residue detection in soil.In order to estimation of trifluraline halfe life in soila field experiment conducted as a factorial arrangement in completely randomized block designwith 3 replications. Experimental factor included two levels of trifluraline (EC %48) application rate480 and 960 g.Ha-1 a.i.). For determination of trifluralin residue, soil sampling was taken from 0 to 10 cm soil dept at 0, 3, 7, 15, 30, 60, 90 and 120 days after spraying. soil sampling and soil treatments were transferred to the greenhouse. The results of Bioassay experiment with sorghum plants showed decreasing trifluralin durability with the application of organic and biological fertilizer. The highest half life were observed (144 and 130 days), by using 480 g. a.i/ha related to shoot and root biomass and no fertilizer application respectively and the Least a half-life was in shoot biomass related to organic fertilizer treatment (18 and 19 days) and 480 and 960 g trifluralin active ingredient.

Flixweed (Descurainia sophia L.) is a medicinal plant from Brassicaceae family which also known as a weed for winter cereals and oil seed rape. Low temperatures are one of the most important abiotic stresses that threat Flixweed growth and productivity. Therefore it is important to recognize the freeze tolerance of Flixweed for successful planting and utilization in cold regions such as Mashhad in Khorasan Razavi Province (Iran’s north. east). Among many laboratory methods which have been developed to estimate and to evaluate plants response or their tolerance to freez¬ing temperatures, electrolyte leakage (EL) test is widely used. This test is based on this principle that damage to the cell membranes results in enhanced leakage of solutes into the apoplastic water, hence recording the amount of leakage after stress treatments provides an estimation of tissue injury. Indeed continuing integration of plasma membrane is one important factor for survival of plants under freezing stress and any disturbance in membrane structure can lead to damage and death. So determination of LT50 point or critical temperature for electrolytes leakage and survival of plant is the most reliable, quantitative and simple methods for evaluating the cold tolerance of plants. The aim of this trial was to determine the LT50 according to the EL and SU% for Flixweed ecotypes.
In order to evaluate freeze tolerance in Flixweed, a factorial experiment based on completely randomized design with three replications was carried out in college of agriculture, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad. Experimental factors included five ecotypes of Flixweed (Eghlid, Sabzewar, Hamedan, Torbat-e-Jam and Neyshabour) and 10 freezing temperature levels (0, -2,-4, -6, -8,-10,-12,-14,-16 and -18°C). Flixweed seeds were cultivated in pots in autumn of 2008 and were grown until 5-7 leaf stage under natural weather conditions for acclimation. Then to apply freezing temperatures, they were transferred to a thermo gradient freezer. The initial temperature of programmable freezer was 5°C; but gradually decreased in a rate of 2°C.h-1 until reached to desired temperatures. When the temperature reached to -2°C, the plants were sprayed with the Ice Nucleation Active Bacteria (INAB) to help the formation of ice nucleus in them. As well this spraying was conducted to prevent from super-cooling of samples and to ensure that mechanism of freeze resistance is tolerance not avoidance as well. After reaching a desired freezing temperature happened, the samples were removed from the freezer and then were thawed slowly during 24 hours in a refrigerator at 5±1°C. Cytoplasmic membrane stability was evaluated by electrolyte leakage (EL) test, afterward lethal temperature was calculated for 50% of plants according to the electrolyte leakage % (LT50el). In order to evaluate correlation between EL% with survival percentage (SU%), remained plants were transferred to greenhouse and after 21 days recovery, SU% and then lethal temperature was determined for 50% of plants according to the SU% (LT50su). Analysis of variance performed by MSTAT-C software and correlation between data carried out by MINITAB 16 program. LT50el was determined by Slide write software. Mean separation was conducted by least significant difference (LSD) test at 1% probability level.
Results showed that the reduction of temperature to less than -8°C, led to increment of electrolyte leakage % and decline of survival %. Interaction effect of ecotype and temperature on electrolyte leakage and survival percentage was significant at 1% probability level. Enhancement of electrolyte leakage % for Neyshabour ecotype started from -8°C, while the others were affected from lower temperatures. In addition in Eghlid and Neyshabour ecotypes, decline of survival % begun from higher temperatures (-8 °C) compared with the other ecotypes (-10 °C). Cold hardiness is often reported as LT50el, means the temperature at which 50% of the electrolytes leaked from the cells. LT50el often is simply equaled to 50% sample mortality or LT50su. According to the LT50el and LT50su indices, Hamedan, Sabzewar and Torbat-e-Jam ecotypes had better freeze tolerance than Neyshabour and Eghlid ecotypes and according to the LT50su, Hamedan ecotype had potential to freezing tolerance up to -12°C.
In this survey, there was strong and negative correlation between EL% and SU% (r= -0.72***). Furthermore, there was high and positive correlation between LT50el and LT50su (r= 0.53*). These results indicate efficiency and alternative likelihood of each index in assessment of Flixweed freeze tolerance. Regarding to more rapid rate of EL method compared to SU evaluation, it seems better to utilize of this index.

Lancelot Plantain (Ribwort, narrow-leaf or English plantain) is a deep-rooted, short-lived perennial herb from Plantaginaceae family which has been used for various medicinal purposes for centuries, especially in Europe and only more recently has been proposed as a forage plant. The leaf of plantain is highly palatable for grazing animals, providing mineral-rich forage. Recently two productive upright cultivars of plantain have been bred and introduced, Grasslands Lancelot and the more erect winter active Ceres Tonic. Plantain grows moderately in winter but its main growth periods beings in spring and autumn with opportunistic summer growth. Although it reveals suitable winter survival in natural conditions, but there is not a lot of information about cold tolerance of this plant. So it is important to recognize the freeze tolerance of narrow leaf plantain for successful planting and utilization in cold regions such as Mashhad in Khorasan Razavi Province (Northeast of Iran). Determining LT50 point or critical temperature for survival of plant is the most reliable and simple method for evaluating cold tolerance of plants. Another reliable method for freeze tolerance of plants is estimation of temperature at which 50 % of dry matter reduces (RDMT50). This experiment was carried out to evaluate freeze tolerance of five ecotypes of Lancelot plantain according to the LT50su and RDMT50 indices. In order to evaluate freeze tolerance of Lancelot plantain, a factorial experiment based on completely randomized design with three replications was carried out under controlled conditions at college of agriculture, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad. Five ecotypes of Lancelot plantain (Bojnourd, Kalat, Mashhad, Ghayen and Birjand) after three months growth and hardening in natural environment were transferred to a Thermo gradient freezer on January 20th, 2012 and exposed to eight freezing temperatures (Zero, -3, -6, -9, -12, -15, -18 and -21°C). The initial temperature of programmable freezer was 5°C; but gradually decreased in a rate of 2°C.h-1 until reach to desired temperatures. When the temperature reached to -2°C, the plants were sprayed with the Ice Nucleation Active Bacteria (INAB) to help the formation of ice nuclei in them. Then for recovery, plants were transferred to greenhouse and after one month, survival and growth traits of plants were determined by measuring characteristics such as survival percentage (Su%), the lethal temperature for 50% of plants according to the survival percentage (LT50su), number of leaf, leaf area, leaf dry weight and temperature at which 50% of dry matter reduces (RDMT50). LT50su and RDMT50 were determined after plotting survival percentage and dry weight data curves versus experimental temperatures respectively. Analysis of variance performed by MSTAT-C software and correlation between data carried out by MINITAB 15 program. Mean separation was conducted by least significant difference (LSD) test at 1% probability level. Analysis of variance showed significant difference between plantain ecotypes and freezing temperatures for survival %. Means comparison showed that survival percentage of Mashhad ecotype was more than other ecotypes. Interaction effects of ecotype and temperature on survival percentage was significant too and only Mashhad and Bojnourd ecotypes in -15°C were alive. Evaluating the temperature-survival curve allowed estimation of a LT50 value, similar to the LD50 (lethal dose for 50% of the subjects) in a toxicity screen. In this experiment there was significant difference between ecotypes at the point of this indicator view and LT50su of Mashhad ecotype was 5.3°C lower than Birjand ecotype. With decreasing the temperature to less than -12°C, number of leaf and leaf area were decreased. In addition decreasing of temperature to less than -6°C, reduced dry weight of plants noticeably. Mashhad and Birjand ecotypes produced the most and the least leaf number and leaf dry weight but Kalat and Birjand ecotypes produced the most and the least leaf area respectively after the recovery period. Based on RDMT50 index, Bojnourd ecotype was the most tolerant and Birjand ecotype was the most sensitive ecotype. There was high and negative correlation between Survival percentage, LT50su and RDMT50 (r= -0.97*** and r= -0.53* respectively) which confirmed that these indices were suitable alternatives for each other in estimating the freeze tolerance of narrow leaf plantain. Based on these results, Lancelot plantain has the ability to withstand winters which are not colder than -16 °C. Despite this for better perception of Plantain freeze tolerance potential, more experiments under controlled and field conditions are required.

Wheat is the main crop cultivated through out the world. Around 60 percent acreage of world farms belong to cereal crops from which, 33 percent belong to wheat production. In Iran wheat also is the dominant cereal crop accounting for almost 70 percent of cereal production. Iran wheat production in 2013 was about 14 million tones, and average grain yield 3750 Kg ha-1, is much lower than developing countries such as France ( 6800 Kg ha-1 ), Germany (7000 Kg ha-1 ) UK (7500 Kg ha-1 ) Japan ( 5000 Kg ha-1 ) and China (4900 Kg ha-1. The reasons for low yield include conventional planting methods, costly inputs, improper land preparation, imbalanced fertilizer application, lack of coordination between growers and mill owners, natural calamities and shortage of irrigation water and heavy weed infestation. Among these, poor management of fertilizers and weeds are the major cause of low wheat production in Iran. The use of herbicides for weed control in wheat is a common practice in management of weeds. But environmental and economical aspects, uncertainty in the long-term efficacy of chemical weed control methods are the most important issues that have caused researchers and farmers seeking to introduce an alternative to herbicides or to reduce the use of herbicides. Among herbicides, sulfonylurea’s such as sulfosulforun is one of the most important herbicides in wheat field. However, sulfosulforun is an effective herbicide for weed control. But its active soil residual, may damage rotational crops. Due to importance of nitrogen fertilizer management in wheat yield improvement, present study was designed to investigate the effect of nitrogen fertilizer application methods on weed management of wheat and reducing sulfosulforun herbicide under agro-climatic conditions of Mashhad, Iran.
In order to evaluate sulfosulforun reducing dose, by nitrogen application management, an experiment was performed as split factorial plot, based on randomized complete block design with three replications at research farm, Faculty of Agriculture, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, in 2012. Treatments included, nitrogen application methods (Broadcast and Band), the amount of nitrogen application (100, 200 and 400 kg ha-1 )(46% urea source) equal to 46, 92 and 184 kg ha-1 nitrogen per hectare, as complete factorial plots and sulfosulforun doses (100, 75 and 50 % of recommended dose (26.6 g (75% EC (emulsifiable concentrate)) as sub plots, applied at wheat tillering stage. Weed density and relative frequency were recorded 149, 177 and 210 days after wheat planting. Wheat biomass and seed yield per 1 m-2 were recorded at the end of the experiments. Analysis of variance of data was carried out with SAS software and for means comparison LSD (p≤0.05) test was used.
Results showed that band application of nitrogen, reduced weed density and weed biomass significantly. By increasing nitrogen dose, mentioned parameters were increased significantly in both methods on nitrogen application. The highest weed density (29.27 plant m-2) were observed when sulfosulforun was not applied and the method of nitrogen application was broadcasted. The lowest weed density (12.78 plant m-2) observed at solfosulforun recommended dose and nitrogen band application treatment. The method of nitrogen application affected the amount of solfosulforun application. Based on the results, the effect of sulfosulforun at 75% and 50% of the recommended dose, didn’t effect significantly (p 0.05) on weed control when nitrogen applied in band with solfosulforun at recommended dose on weed control when nitrogen applied broadcast. Similar results were observed for wheat seed yield and wheat biomass. Wheat seed yield (343.40 g m-2) and wheat biomass (1141.50 g m-2) at solfosulforun recommended dose, when nitrogen applied in band, was not significantly different from 75% recommended dose of solfosulforun and nitrogen broadcast application method.
Based on the results of experiment, the amount of nitrogen and its application method concludes an acceptable approach for wheat integrated weed management. It can optimize nitrogen fertilizer and solfusulforun herbicide usage, which are the main concerns in wheat production economically and ecologically. However nitrogen band application reduced the amount of nitrogen fertilizer and solfusulforun herbicide. Due to various factors affecting the competitive relationship between weeds and crops, it is suggested that in future the use of other herbicides, in different places and different crops to be considered.

Wild barley has invaded wheat fields ever since flamprop-isopropyl was outdated in Iran. Newly developed herbicides such as sulfosulfuron or sulfosulfuron plus metsulfuron-methyl can control it at higher than recommended dosages, but causing significant wheat injury. Hence, two dose-response experiments were conducted to evaluate their efficacy when tank-mixed with thirteen different vegetable oils, at the Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Iran, during 2013. Moreover, a wheat cultivar (Gaskogen) was also treated with effective dose of 90% (ED90) of both herbicides (21.44 grams active ingredient (g ai) of sulfosulfuron ha-1 and 41.95 g ai of sulfosulfuron plus metsulfuron-methyl ha-1) with and without each vegetable oil to check selectivity. Averaged over vegetable oils, the effective dose of 50% (ED50) was decreased 2.6- and 3.0-fold with sulfosulfuron and sulfosulfuron plus metsulfuron-methyl, respectively. Among the evaluated vegetable oils, cottonseed and coconut oil were the best ones to enhance the efficacy of both herbicides. The castor oil had the least effect. A negative correlation was observed between the efficiency of vegetable oils and its unsaturated/saturated fatty acids ratio. No phytotoxic effect on wheat was observed when these herbicides were applied with or without the vegetable oils.

Assessing the elders’ quality of life (QOL) and its affecting factors such as sleep quality, is a useful method for detecting their health and determining the efficacy of delivered health care. This study aimed to evaluate the association between QOL and sleep quality in elderly people. This cross-sectional study was conducted on 370 elderly people in Kashan in 2013. Data was collected using a three part questionnaire including: demographics, the European Quality of Life-5 Dimensions (EQ5D) questionnaire and the Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS software, version 16. The QOL was moderate and poor in more than a fifth of the elderly. The highest mean score of the QOL was in the area of self-care, and the lowest mean score of QOL was in the area of pain and discomfort. Moreover, the sleep quality was poor in 27.8% of the elderly. The Spearman correlation coefficient showed a significant reverse correlation between the PSQI scores and QOL scores in elderly people (p= 0.001, r=-0.489). This study showed the elderly with higher PSQI scores had lower levels of QOL scores. It seems that lower levels of sleep quality can decrease the elders’ QOL. Then, training the elderly people on the sleep quality may lead them to a higher level of QOL.

In order to study the effect of soil residues of Nicosulfuron herbicide on growth, nodulation and biological nitrogen fixation in chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.), two greenhouse experiment was conducted. Experimental design was completely randomized design in a factorial arrangement with three replications. The experiment was conducted in two stages. In the first experiment, treatments were, residues of Nicosulfuron in soil (Zero, 0. 307, 0.769, 1.53, 3.07, 4.6, 6.14 and 9.21 μg kg-1 soil) and chickpea genotypes (Hashem, ILC482, Kaka, Kermanshahi). In the first experiment, chickpea genotypes did not germinate, therefore levels of residues of herbicide modified, and the effect of five levels (0, 0.0153, 0.0307,0.076 and 0. μg kg-1 soil) of residual of Nicosulfuron herbicide were studied in other experiment on four mentioned genotypes of chickpea. Shoot biomass, root biomass, nodule biomass, number of nodules and total nitrogen of plant were measured, at the beginning of the reproductive stage of plants. The results showed that Nicosulfuron residues reduced all traits of chickpea genotypes, significantly. Based on ED50, among chickpea genotypes, Hashem was the most tolerant genotypes in terms of shoot and roots biomass production to Nicosulfuron residue and ILC482 and Kermanshahi genotypes showed the most sensitivity to residues of Nicosulfuron in terms of shoot and root biomass, respectively.

In order to evaluate cold tolerance of Lancelot Plantain plant a Factorial experiment based on completely randomized design with three replications was conducted under controlled conditions in faculty of agriculture، Ferdowsi University of Mashhad. Experimental factors include plantain ecotypes (Bojnord، Kalat، Mashhad، Ghayen and Birjand) and freezing temperatures (0، -3، -6، -9، -12، -15، -18 and -21°C). Plantain plants after 3 months growth and hardening in natural environment for applying of freezing temperatures were transferred to a Thermo gradient freezer on January20، 2012. In order to assess plasma membrane stability، electrolyte leakage percentage (EL %) and the lethal temperature 50% of plants according to the EL% (LT50el) was determined. Plant survival assessed four weeks after freezing treatment by measuring survival percentage and the lethal temperature 50% of plant according to the survival% (LT50su). Results showed that at the case of LT50el، Mashhad ecotype was the most tolerant and Kalat and Birjand ecotypes were the most sensitive ecotypes. Ecotype and temperature interactions had noticeable effects on EL and Survival percentage، so in -12 °C، Bojnord and Birjand ecotypes had the least and the most EL% respectively. In the same treatment Mashhad ecotype with 94. 4 % and Birjand ecotype with 25. 4% exhibited the most and the least survival percentage. The value of LT50su for Mashhad ecotype was 5. 3°C lower than Birjand ecotype. There was high and negative correlation between EL% and survival percentage (r=-0. 70**) in this survey. Moreover there was significant and positive correlation between LT50el and LT50su (r= 0. 53*). According to these findings، Mashhad and Bojnord ecotypes exhibited suitable freeze tolerance than Birjand ecotype.

A field experiment was carried out in 2014 at Agricultural Research Station, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad to evaluate the use of herbicides in cumin weed control. The experimental design was a randomized block with 17 treatment and 3 replicates. Treatments included full season hand weeding, full season of weed competition with cumin, 2 times hand weeding in 25 and 45 days after cumin planting respectively and the application of trifluralin, metribuzine, oxiflurfen, pendimetalin, eradican, oxadiazon and haloxyfop-R-methyl herbicides at their recommended dose and their reduced dose application plus hand weeding at 45 days after cumin planting. Results showed that applied treatments affected cumin yield and weed control significantly (P≤0.01). Based on the results, the highest cumin seed yield (338 Kg h-1) was recorded in full season hand weeding treatment, that had not significant difference (P≤0.05) with applying of oxyfluorfen herbicide at recommended dose reduced dose (312 kg ha-1) and its reduced dose plus hand weeding at 45 days after cumin planting (321 kg ha-1) applying of pendimethalin herbicide (0.5 kg a.i. ha-1) plus hand weeding 45 days after cumin planting (310 kg ha-1). According to the results, application of oxyfluorfen herbicide at recommended dose and reduced dose plus weeding 45 days after cumin planting and the application of pendimethaline (0.5 kg a.i. ha-1) plus hand weeding 45 days after cumin planting have selective properties in cumin chemical weed control.

Bread wheat germplasm tolerant to salinity with high end-use quality is required to maintain grain production in saline lands. Four spring bread wheat cultivars with different tolerance to salinity and their three F3 progenies were evaluated at four levels of salt concentrations; 0, 150, 200 and 250 Mm NaCl. Na+, K+ and Cl- concentrations in the wheat penultimate leaf and some of the biomass and yield related traits were measured. The allelic variations of Glu-1 loci in the crosses were examined. Salinity had a significant positive effect on Na+ and Cl- concentrations and the Na+/K+ ratio. As salinity level increased, yield and 1000 grain weight and K+ concentration were declined. Most of the F3 progenies did not show much improvement in terms of biomass or yield related traits. However, F3 progenies of the Cajema×Lerma Rojo cross showed an improved quality score.

Information on suspended sediment variation in times of flood is important in management of water resources, particularly management of basins, and in investigation of the causes of erosion. The relationship between discharge and suspended sediment concentration during floods is not similar and homogeneous for different reasons such as precipitation variety, discharge rate and sources of sediment and production of hysteretic loops. In this study, the instantaneous values of suspended load were simulated using genetic programming and regression methods. By comparing the two models, Genetic programming model was selected as the better one with the mean square error and determination coefficient of 0.8 and 0.5, respectively. Then based on this model, loops of suspended hysteretic load were drawn for the six events recorded in the period of 1387-1383. This resulted in 4 linear and 2 clockwise hysteretic loops for the river suspended sediment. Identifying various hysteretic loops is effective in determination of relative contributions of processes to production and transfer of sediment including amount and intensity of precipitation, flow rate and previous moisture conditions of watershed. The results showed that the clockwise hysteretic loops occurred usually in high precipitation and discharge, and linear hysteretic loops in spring because of low intensity precipitation.