mohammad khajeh-hosseini

Book publishing is one of the measures of progress in any society. The main objective of the current research is to investigate the status of book publishing by the Department of Agrotechnology, Faculty of Agriculture, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad (FUM) during nearly half a century of its establishment. The statistical population of the research includes all the books published by the Department since establishment in 1975 to 2022. A checklist was used to collect information and data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. The research findings showed that during the study period, 196 book titles were published in the Department, of which 79.6% and 20.4% were authored and translated, respectively. In total, 34 publishers contributed to the publication of books. The most significant number of books (85 titles) have been published by the FUM Press. Books on “Agroecology” were more frequent than books on other subjects, with a frequency of 27%. The most prolific member of the Department is Professor Alireza Koocheki, who authored or translated 88 books. In general, due to the newness of the major of “Seed Science and Technology” in the Department, it is necessary to pay more attention to translating and authoring books related to this subject

It seems mucilaginous seed coat is an aspect of plants evolutionary adaptation to desert environments. Because of mucilage production, seed coat of Balangu Shirazi (Lallemantia royleana) absorbs water multiple times more than of its initial weight. To determine the possible role of mucilaginous seed coat, two mucilaginous (M) and demucilaged (DM) seeds were examined in two separate experiments of drought with six levels (0 as control, -0.1, -0.2, -0.3, -0.4,and -0.5 MPa) and salinity with six levels (0 as control, 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 ds.m-1) through factorial experiment as completely randomized design with three replications of 25 seeds. Germination of demucilaged seeds significantly was higher than mucilaginous seed in drought trial; though in salinity stress, there was no significant difference between germination of mucilaginous and demucilaged seeds. Mean germination time (MGT) in mucilaginous seeds was higher than the demucilaged seeds in both salinity and drought stresses. In salinity experiment, length of root, stem and stem/root length ratio in mucilaginous seed was higher than the demucilaged seed significantly; while there was no any differences in drought stress. Interaction of seed with drought was not significant but there was significant interaction between seed and salinity.

To study the effect of gibberellic acid and potassium nitrate treatments on germination and seed dormancy of 14 medicinal plant species from the Lamiaceae, that were collected in the spring and summer of 1392 from their natural habitates in Kerman province, two separate laboratory experiments were conducted at 20-24 centigrade degree, based on completely randomized design with 4 replications of 25 seeds. In the first experiment, seed germination was considered in H2O. The results indicated that the highest germination percentages were observed in Ocimum basilicum (%96) and Salvia macrosiphon (%95) while the lowest germination were obtained in Marrubium crassidens (%5) and Nepeta bracteata (%0). In the second experiment, the effect of seed dormancy breaking treatments such as gibberellic acid (GA3) with 3 concentrations (250, 500 and 1000 ppm) and potassium nitrate with 2 concentrations (500 and 1000 ppm) were practiced on the germination of 10 plant species with low germination (below %80) in H2O. Dormancy breaking treatments were effective on 9 species (i.e. Marrubium crassidens and Ocimum santum) out of 10 species. In most studied species, dormancy breaking treatments increased germination percentage and Mean Germination Time were reduced. Therefore, based on their reactions to the treatments, it was found that these 9 species have physiological dormancy.

In order to study the seed germination and dormancy of three weed species (Chenopodium album, Convolvulus arvensis and Setariaviridis) of pistachio orchards in Rafsanjan, Iran, three separate factorial experiments (with 2 factors) were conducted based on a completely randomized design with four replications, at the faculty of agriculture, Vali-E-Asr university of Rafsanjan, Iran, in 2014. Weed seeds were collected from five different regions of Rafsanjan, including Markazi, Anar, Koshkoiyeh, Kabotarkhan and Nogh. Dormancy breaking treatments for Chenopodium album included distilled water (control), KNO3 (at 500 and 1000 ppm), chemical scarification by sulfuric acid (for 5 and 10 min), and cold stratification (for 1, 3 and 5 weeks). Treatments for Convolvulus arvensis included distilled water (control), scarification by sandpaper, chemical scarification by sulfuric acid (20 and 30 min), and boiling water (for 15 and 30 min). Treatments for Setaria viridis included distilled water (control), gibbereilic acid (250, 500 and 1000 ppm), KNO3 (500 and 1000 ppm), and cold stratification (for 1, 3 and 5 weeks). Results showed that seed germination percentage (SGP) and mean germination time (MGT) of three weed species were significantly different among weed populations and dormancy breaking methods. For Chenopodium album, 5 weeks cold stratification resulted in highest SGP (97%) in Nogh population. For Convolvulus arvensis and Setaria viridis, highest SGP obtained after scarification by sandpaper (98% in Kabotarkhan population), and using 1000 ppm gibbereilic acid (60% in Kabotarkhan population), respectively. Also, SGP increased as increasing 1000 seed weight in three weed species.

Seeds of seven species of medicinal plants collected from the natural habitat in Lorestan province in the summer 2011. Germination test carried out in a completely randomized design with four replications of 25 seeds in H2O. Species of Smyrnium cordifrolium، Kelussia odoratissima، Dorema aucheri and Ferulago angulata had no germination while Heracleum persicum، Bunium luristanicum and Falcaria vulgaris showed germination of 30، 96 and 97% respectively. Different treatments of breaking dormancy applied to the species with germination below 30% [moist-chilling for periods of 2، 4، 6، 8، 10 and 12 weeks، with two concentrations of 250 and 500 ppm of gibberellic acid، a combination treatment (gibberellic 250 ppm + 4 weeks moist-chilling and gibberellic acid 500 ppm + moist-chilling for 4 weeks) and potassium nitrate 2 g/l]. The results showed that moist-chilling was the most effective treatments to break seed dormancy of Heracleum persicum (6 weeks)، Dorema aucheri (12 weeks)، Kelussia odoratissima (12 weeks) and Ferulago angulata (12 weeks). Therefore، based on their reactions to the treatments، dormancy of Kelussia odoratissima and Ferulago angulata could be classified as deep physiological dormancy and species of Dorema aucheri and Heracleum persicum intermediate physiological dormancy type.

Allelopathy is the biochemical interaction of inhibition and promotion that have significant roles in research involving sustainable agriculture. In order to evaluate the allelopathic effects of saffron (Crocus sativus L.) corm and petal aqueous concentrations on germination characteristics and preliminary growth of three weed species including redroot pigweed (Amaranthus retroflexus L.)، whitetop (Cardaria draba L.) and flixweed (Descurainia sophia L.)، an experiment was conducted based on a completely randomized design with four replications at Special Crop Laboratory، College of Agriculture، Ferdowsi University of Mashhad during 2010. Treatments included aqueous concentrations of saffron corm (C) and petal (P) at 25، 50 and 100%. Distilled water was used as control. Studied traits were final germination percentage (FGP)، mean germination time (MGT)، germination rate (GR)، cumulative germination، radicle and plumule lengths، radicle to plumule length ratio and fresh weight of seedling for three weed species. Results showed that the corm and petal extracts had significant effects on FGP، GR، MGT، radicle and plumule lengths and seedling fresh weight of seedling for three weed species. P100 and C100 had the most potent inhibitory effect on FGP. By increasing in concentration enhanced MGT and decreased redicle length for three weed species. Also، inhibitory effect of aqueous extract on radicle growth was more than plumule. C25 had a stimulatory effect on plumule length of three weed species. C100 and P100 were reduced plumule length of weeds with 11. 8-22. 3 and 16. 7-39. 4 percent compared to control، respectively. Seedling fresh weight of whitetop and flixweed were increased in C25 compared to the control، but other treatments reduced weed seedling fresh weight.

To investigate the spreading possibility of spotted spurge (Euphorbia maculata) as a new-introduced and troublesome weed species of soybean field in Golestan province, viability of this weed seed in soil, water and elevated temperature conditions were examined. Experiments were conducted as completely randomized design with eight replications. Treatment levels of seed viability in soil and water included 1-11 months of seed burial at 10-15 cm depth, and 1-9 weeks of seed soaked in water, respectively. Evaluation of high temperature effect were carried out as three-factor factorial experiment that consisted of 5 temperature levels (ambient temperature (25 ˚C as control), 80, 100, 120 and 140 ˚C), two exposure times (1 and 5 min), and seed moisture status in two levels (dry and wet). The results indicated that buried seed in soil after 11 months showed germination above 95%. Seeds were not able to germinate under submergence. Removed seed of water after 2 weeks germinated above 90%, but it reduced with increasing immersion time, as after 9 weeks lost their viability. Elevated temperature had significant effect on germination. Germination was significantly reduced by increasing temperature, as the maximum and minimum of germination was observed at control and 140 ˚C, respectively. Elevated temperature, exposure times and seed moisture content had interaction effect. Germination of wet seeds completely inhibited at 140 ˚C for 5 min. Based on these results, spotted spurge seeds had high persistence in the soil. Seed viability in water for a few weeks will provide the chance of dispersal by water irrigation.

Bromus kopetdaghensis is one of perennial plants of Poaceae family and it is important in biodiversity of arid and semi arid grasslands of Iran. This experiment was conducted as a completely randomized design with 4 replications in laboratory of faculty of Agriculture، Ferdowsi University of Mashhad، Iran. Treatments were different constant temperature of 5، 10، 15، 20، 25، 30، 35، and 40°C with 4 replications and in each replication 25 seeds were used. The results showed significant effects on different germination features of Bromus kopetdaghensis. The lowest germination rate (with 2. 26 seed per day) was obtained at 5°C and the highest (with 11. 39 seed per day) at 30°C. The maximum and minimum length of caulicle was obtained at 35°C (with 9. 41cm) and 10°C (with 2. 48cm)، respectively. Maximum length of radical was also observed at 35°C (with 9. 62cm) and minimum length of radical was observed at 10 and 20°C، without significant different with 3. 63 and 3. 48 cm. Based on the regression analysis between rate of germination and temperature the cardinal temperature of maximum، optimum، and minimum were obtained in the range of 0. 71-4. 25، 24-30. 36 and 41. 01-45. 48، respectively.

Nineteen irrigated farms of canola from six cities of Khorasan selected to assess the seedling emergence one month after sowing in 2009. Soil texture of each farm determined using the Hydrometer method. The results showed that weather conditions of sowing areas had no significant effect on emergence of oilseed rape. With increasing the temperature (within the range of 19. 5 to 21. 5 ˚C) emergence percentage was not increased significantly. Rainfall also caused no significant effect on seedling emergence. The percentage of emergence in machine-sowing and hand-sowing were 38. 4% and 28%، respectively. Soils with loam silt، silt clay loam and loam texture had emergence of 27. 2%، 31. 2% and 47% respectively. It seems soil texture plays a great roll on the emergence of oilseed rape with epigeal seedlings.