rajab choukan

In order to study the effect of Plant Growth Promoting Bacteria and Mycorrhizae Fungi application as seed coinoculation on three late maturity maize single cross hybrids seed germinability and seedling vigour a laboratory research conducted. 

Experiment conducted as 18 treatments (3 single crosses × 6 seed inoculations) two factorial based on complet randomized blocks design by four rplications. Studied Plant Growth Promoting Bacteria were Azotobacter chroococcum, Azospirillum lipoferum, Azospirillum brasilence and Pseudomonas fluorescens and studied arbascular mycorrhizae fungi were Funneliformis mosseae and Simiglomus hoi. Also studied late maturity maize single cross hybrids were SC700, SC704 and a new promising late maturity maize single cross hybrid B73×K18. Effect of coinoculation of seeds by studied Plant Growth Promoting Bacteria and Mycorrhizae Fungi on germination ability and seedling vigour of studied late maturity maize single cross hybrids evaluated by germinability, mean germination time, coefficient of velocity of germination, mean daily germination, daily germination speed, seedling length, primary shoot length, primary root length, seedling dry weight, primary shoot dry weight, primary root dry weight and  seedling vigour Index measurement.  

The results revealed that except of mean daily germination and coefficient of velocity of germination, other studied traits affected by intractions of hybrids and coinoculation. Likewise,  revealed that application of an inoculant of  three bacteria combination and Glomus mossae have highest growth promoting effect on germinability and traits related to seedling vigour of all hybrieds and Azotobacter chroococcum and Azotobacter chroococcum+ Pseudomonas fluorescens and Glomus mossae seed co inoculation by those bacteria  have most growth promoting effect respectively. Also, revealed that studied characters of SC704 more than other hybrids affected by growth promoting effect of studied bacteria and mycorhizae and respectively B73×K18 and SC700 affected by studied Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria and mycorhizae fungi stimulating effect and studied characters have high correlation among them. 

Based on this research results application of studied Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria and mycorhizae fungi as seed coinoculation had considerable effect on studied late maturity maize single cross hybrids seed germination enhancement and seedling improvement. Therefore, application of them as commercial biofertilizer maybe possible through seed coating for maize cultivation development.

Mutations induced by gamma irradiation are part of improving some important agronomic traits in crops.  Identifying the optimal mutagenic dose is considered to be the most crucial step in trials and generating mutated genetic materials. The goal of this study was to evaluate the effect of different doses of gamma ray (0, 150, 200, 250 and 300 Gy) on some plant early stages traits and biochemical characteristics in SC704. Based on the probit analysis, the optimum gamma irradiation dose for induction of mutation in SC704 were 212.69 Gy. Significant differences were observed for irradiation dosage in all growth traits, including root length, shoot length, root fresh weight,  shoot fresh weight, root dry weight and shoot dry weight, plant height and survival percentage. As the dose level increased, total carbohydrates, malondialdehyde, hydrogen peroxide and catalase and peroxidase enzymes increased.

Maize is one of the most important grain and forage plants that has a unique role in the food and feed, especially poultry feed. To study the genetic effects, genes act and identify the best hybrid combination for morphological traits, experiment was carried out in diallel cross layout using 19 parents at Gorgan Agricultural Research Station, Iran in 2013. The progenies were planted in three replications at two locations; Gorgan- Araghi-Mahaleh and Gonbad Agricultural Research Stations, Iran in 2014. The datas for days from emergence to silking, days from silking to physiological maturity, number of row.ear-1, grain yield, plant height and number of grain.ear-1, analysis of variance performed in each location separately and then combined analysis was performed. The significant General Combining Ability (GCA) and Specific Combining Ability (SCA) for most plant traits showed that both additive and non-additive effects were involved in controlling traits and dominance degree greater than one also indicated the over-dominance of genes in controlling these traits. For all plant traits, low narrow sense heritability and a greater amount of dominance of variance indicated that dominance effects were more important in genetic control of plant traits. Result showed that, to improve the traits such as days from silking to physiological maturity and number of row.ear-1, selection cannot be taken and hybridization based criterias seems to be more beneficial.

  Drought is one of the major environmental conditions that adversely affect plant growth and crop yield. In the face of a global scarcity of water resources, water stress has already become a primary factor in limiting maize production worldwide. It’s because Phytohormones such as auxin and cytokinin are reported to be involved in the regulation of plant response to the adverse effect of drought stress conditions. This study carried out in order to evaluate some physiological parameters response to auxin and cytokinin hormone alternation under drought stress condition on maize (cultivar KSC 704). The experiment was carried out in three separately environments included non-drought stress environment (irrigation after soil moisture reached to 75% field capacity), drought stress in vegetative stage (irrigation after soil moisture reached to 50% field capacity in V4 to tasseling stage, but irrigation after soil moisture reached to 75% field capacity in pollination to physiological maturity stage) and drought stress in reproductive stage (irrigation after soil moisture reached to 75% field capacity in V4 to tasseling stage and irrigation after soil moisture reached to 50% field capacity in pollination to physiological maturity stage). cytokinin hormone in three levels (control, spraying in V5 –V6 and V8-V10 stages) and auxin hormone in three levels (control, spraying in silk emergence stage and 15 days after that) was laid out as a factorial design based on randomized complete block with three replications in each environment at Seed and Plant Improvement Institute (SPII), Karaj, Iran, in 2013. It was used Indole-3-butyric acid and N6-benzyladenin as auxin and cytokinin hormones respectively. Concentration of used auxin and cytokinin hormones were 10 and 50 mg per liter respectively. In this study some physiological parameters were measured including leaf area index, cell membrane stability, leaf chlorophyll content, stomata conductive, canopy temperature depression, photosynthesis quantum efficiency and leaf senesce. The maximum leaf area index, stomata conductance and quantum efficiency of photosynthesis and the minimum canopy temperature were obtained with spraying cytokinin hormone in V8-V10 stage, and the maximum chlorophyll content index, quantum efficiency of photosynthesis and the delay in leaf senescence were obtained with spraying auxin hormone in silk emergence stage and the minimum stomata resistance and canopy temperature were obtained with spraying cytokinin hormone in 15 days after silk emergence stage. The interaction effect between drought stress and spraying hormone was significant on leaf area index and canopy temperature depression and spraying hormones on maize in drought stress condition in reproductive stage more effective than non-drought stress and vegetative drought stress conditions because it can be useful in balancing the disturb hormone relations. Based on the result of this experiment, maize is tolerant to drought stress in vegetative stage, as a result, irrigation after soil moisture reached to 50% field capacity in vegetative stage and irrigation after soil moisture reached to 75% field capacity after tasseling stage can save irrigation water without any decrease significantly in physiological parameters at erase where water has been limited. Spraying cytokinin and auxin hormones in V8 –V10 and silk emergence stage can be recommended as the best time to use these hormones respectively. Using auxin and cytokinin hormones under drought stress condition in maize was more effective than control and vegetative stage because they can balance the disturbed hormones rate under that condition.

Sunflower is an important oilseed crops that about 11.8 percent of global vegetable oil production to be allocated. GGE Biplot is a multi-dimensional method in quantitative genetic decomposition and plant breeding that in addition to decomposition GEI performs decomposition of the interaction of genotype× quality, genotype× marker and data analysis related to Diallel confluence. The purposes of research are included:Studying the interaction of genotype and environment in area laboratory of sunflower crop plant performance and introducing the most stable and desirable number or sunflower numbers in under investigation areas and environments.
For investigating the interaction of genotype and environment of 17 artificial sunflower numbers by the names of Sil-96, Sil-54, Sil-42, Sil-94, Sil-140, Sil-162, Sil-200, Sil-205, Sil-231, Sil-210, Sil-211, Sil-224, Sil-80, Sil-82, Sil-75, Sil-53, Sil-20 and three numbers of pollinator Lacomka, Zaria and Armaverski as witnesses of the experiment were studied. In this experiment four places as the names of Sararood (Kermanshah), Gachsaran, Ghamlou (Kurdistan) and Gobad were participated that in Sararood of Kermanshah in crop year 2011-2012, 2012-2013, 2014-2015 was planted in two situations of without irrigation and supplementary irrigation. In Ghamlou in two crop years 2012-2013, 2014-2015, in Gachsaran and Gobad also in crop year 2014-2015 was planted only in the situation of without irrigation. But in general 10 environments were tested. Experiments in all stations were done in the form of complete random blocks design with three repeats.
The results of variance analysis showed that the effects of environment and the interaction of genotype and environment in one percent probability level was meaningful for seed performance. Surveying Polygon of genotype interaction in environment showed that genotypes G14¡ G9¡ G8¡ G4¡ G18¡ G19¡ G20 which had the most distance from Bipolt center and placed in Polygon vertices that they were premier genotypes. The lines which designed from Biplot center divided the shape of Polygon to seven Mega environments. The first Mega environment was included into the environments E4, E5 and E6 in which genotype G17 had the most performance. The second Mega environment was included into the environments E3 and E7 that G2, G14 and G9 were premier genotypes of this environment. The third Mega environment was included into environment E1 that genotype G8 was high performance genotype in this environment. The fourth Mega environment was included into the environments E2, E9, E8 and E10 in which genotype G20 was premier genotype. The relationship among environments showed that the angle between environments E3 and E7 and also between the environments E4, E5 and E6 and also between environments E2, E10 and E8 was very close each other and it indicates high correlation of these environments each other. The environments E7, E2 and E1 had relatively short length of vector that indicates low value for the capability of their difference. In contrast, the environments E3, E5, E6, E4, E10, E8 and E9 had tall length of vector and at last they had more capability for difference. Graphic average surveying of performance and the stability of genotypes showed that genotypes G17 and then genotypes G15, G3, G2, G14 and G6 had the highest performance. Genotypes G11, G10, G12, G13, G19 and G7 had low performance and high stability. Artificial number G9 had the most performance of seed and suitable stability.
Surveying genotypes towards ideal genotypes showed that genotype G17 was the closest genotype to ideal genotype that had the most performance and also it was among stable genotypes. Genotypes G3 and G15 which had high stability was also close to ideal genotype and they can select as suitable genotypes.
Surveying environments towards ideal environment showed that the most desirable environment is environment E4, then environments E5, E6, E10, E2, E8, E7, E9, E3 and E1 were in next priorities respectively that among them, environment E1 was the most undesirable environment.
Genotypes G3, G14, G15 and G17 were the most stable and desirable genotypes. On the other hand genotypes G9, G4 and G20 were known as the most undesirable genotypes. Furthermore, the results of decomposition GGE Biplot could introduce environment E4 which have the least distance from hypothetical ideal environment as the most desirable environment.

In order to study the effect of Azotobacter chroococcum, Azospirillum lipoferum and Pseudomonas fluorescen application on late maturity Maize (Zea mays L.) single cross hybrids (SC700, SC 704 and a promising single cross, B73×K18) seed germination ability and seedling vigor a laboratory research was conducted. Experiment treatments including hybrids seeds were single inoculated with one by one bacteria and co inoculated by two and three bacterial combined inoculants and no inoculation as control treatment. Also studied characters including: final germination percent, mean time to germination, mean daily germination, coefficient of velocity of germination, daily germination speed, seedling, primary root and shoot length, seedling, primary root and shoot dry matter and seedling vigor index were determined. Results revealed that except of mean daily germination and coefficient of velocity of germination, other studied traits affected by interactions of hybrids and Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria. Likewise, revealed that application of an inoculants of three bacteria combination have highest growth promoting effect on germination ability and traits related to seedling vigor of all hybrieds and Azotobacter chroococcum and Pseudomonas fluorescens and seed single inoculation by those bacteria have most growth promoting effect respectively. Also, revealed that studied characters of SC704more than other hybrids affected by growth promoting effect of studied bacteria and respectively B73×K18 and SC700 affected by studied Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria stimulating effect and studied characters have high correlation among them. Therefore, based on this research results application of studied Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria have considerable effect on Maize studied hybrids seed seedling enhancement.

One of the effects of climate change and global warming, on leafy vegetables production, is bolting. The four parental lines derived from Iranian lettuce landrace of Shirazi, Zeareei and Siah with difference in flowering time crosses between each pair and F1, F2, BC1p1 and BC1p2 generations were obtained. Transplants were planted in two separate experiments in a randomized complete block design with three replications and flowering time, head weight, number of leaves and leaf length of biggest outer leaf were recorded. Generation mean analysis showed that in all traits additive dominant model was inadequate and other factors such as epistasis is effective in controlling interested traits. The effect of additive is significant but the effect of dominance is much greater than it. The additive × additive effects and dominance× dominance effects on traits have been effective. To determine the number of effect factors at the flowering time of the F2 segregation and two genes involved in controlling flowering time were confirmed. Results showed that late flowering lines of the Siah and Zeareei landrace produced better quality and quantity head than early flowering lines of Shirazi landrace. Thus flowering time, leaf number and head weight had positive correlation. It is expected that selected genotypes with late flowering time had good potential for this important traits and should be used in breeding programs.

This study was carried out in order to investigate the genetic structure of the F1 hybrids along with their parents (6 inbred lines) evaluated in field under normal and water stress regimes to determine the nature and magnitude of genetic variances and heritability estimates at dezful research station in safi abad, from 2012, using RCBD with three replications. Results analysis of variance showed that Variation among genotypes were highly significant for all the traits studied under both regimes. Therefore, variations were partitioned into additive and non additive components according to Hayman and Hayman & Jinks methods. It was observed that a and b components which are due to additive and dominant gene effects respectively, were significant for all studied characteristics under both conditions. Considering the average degree of dominance, as well as Vr/Wr graphs revealed that the yield potential traits like plant height, grain number in row in ear, grain row number in ear, and grain yield per plant were controlled by over dominance type of gene action, while traits like ASI, and 100-kernel weight were under the control of partial dominance with additive type of gene action under both conditions. Over-dominance for most of the parameters reveals that selection in later generations may be more effective and the selection in early generations will be more effective for the trait which is additively controlled.

Breeding for environmental stress is one of the most important goals in plant breeding. Among stresses, drought stress has high influencing on limitation of maize production. Therefore, in order to find the best drought tolerant hybrids, 38 maize hybrids were planted in two separate experiments: one with optimum irrigation (control) and another with water stress at grain-filling stage in Moghan at two years. RBCD experiment design with three replications was used. Stress Susceptibility Index (SSI), Mean Productivity (MP), Tolerance (TOL), Geometric Mean Productivity (GMP) and Stress Tolerance Index (STI) indices were used to evaluate susceptibility and tolerance of the genotypes. Results showed that, K74/2-2-1-3-1-1-11×K3653/2 and SC704 hybrids had higher grain yield than mean in all irrigation conditions. These hybrids had the highest STI and located at part of high yield potential and low sensitivity to drought in the biplot. On the other hand, paternal line of majority of drought stress tolerant hybrids was the line K3653/2. Therefore, it is recommended to use this line in breeding maize to get to the most tolerant hybrid. Also the results showed that despite ofthe MP,GMPandSTI indices were most successful in selecting high yield tolerant hybrids, however using biplot the most tolerant hybrids to drought can be chosen the best.

In 2015 with about five million tons of corn, Iran was world’s fifth largest corn importer. Maize is one of the main crops for poultry and livestock feed in Iran. The average of area in Kermanshah province in recent years has been more than 45,000 hectares. But in 2015 this amount has decreased by 30 thousand hectares, 15580 hectares, which is the main reason for water scarcity in the region. On the other hand application of chemical fertilizers in conventional agriculture severe environmental problems, increased production costs and negative effects on biological cycles causes. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of biofertilizers and chemical fertilizers on yield and yield components of Maize under normal and deficit irrigation condition in western Iran region and looking for the best biological treatments could be applied to the maize to get a high yield in addition to keep our environment clean and safe.
Field experiments were conducted for two years (2014 – 2015) at the agricultural research farm, Agricultural and Natural Resources Research Centre in Kermanshah, Iran. In this research, effects of vermicompost and Azotobacter as a boifertilizers and chemical fertilizers on yield and yield components of Maize under normal and deficit irrigation was investigated in two sites. Sites included normal irrigation and deficient irrigation (65% optimum water requirement) and each site was conducted as the factorial split plot in a randomized complete block design with three replications and three factors. Treatments included Azotobacter in the main plots (non-inoculation and inoculation), vermicompost (consuming 0, 2, 4 and 6 ton/ha) and chemical fertilizers included N,P,K (100%, 50% and 0% recommendation based on soil test) in the sub plots. Irrigation treatments (deficit and adequate irrigation) in the middle phase of growth stage (approximately V6) began. Statistical analysis included analysis of variance to compare mean by least significant difference (LSD) by SAS statistical software and graphs were performed by EXCEL.
Results showed that, the grain yield of maize, LAI, leaf chlorophyll contents and NDVI were significantly influenced by irrigation levels, but Azotobacter no significant effect on this traits. Grain yield, LAI, leaf chlorophyll contents and NDVI were decreased by deficient irrigation. Vermicompost and chemical fertilizer increased these traits in normal and deficit irrigation. Vermicompost at 2, 4 and 6 ton/ha consistently and significantly increased grain yield in both irrigation condition. There was no significant difference on grain yield between 6 ton/ha application of vermicompost in linked together 50% of advised chemical fertilizers, and 100% of recommended fertilizer, hence it is possible to reduce chemical fertilizers application up to 50%. Similarly Laekemariam and Gidago (2012) recommended applying integrated of compost at 5 ton ha-1 along with chemical fertilizer to obtain better yield of maize. Kemal and Abera (2015) reported Application of recommended dose of inorganic fertilizer along with vermicompost at 6 ton/ha to maize not only enhanced productivity of maize but also improved soil fertility in terms of higher available N, P, K and organic carbon content over the control and recommended N, P and K.
Although the vermicompost and Azotobacter were not able to provide all the nutritional requirements for Maize but the results indicated that the use of 6 ton/ha vermicompost and Azotobacter in soil, 50% of the maize fertilizer supplied and that means a 50% reduction in the consumption of chemical fertilizers and less pollution of the soil and the environment. On the other hand, the results showed that under deficient irrigation vermicompost and Azotobacter increased grain yield. As a general conclusion these results suggested that integrating bio fertilizer with 50 percent of recommended NPK fertilizers are appropriate for sustainable maize production in normal and deficient irrigation.

Broadcast fertilization method increases fertilizer losses while results in lower nutrient absorption by plant roots. Fertigation is an effective method to increase water and fertilizer efficiency and to reduce the losses of nitrogen. Moreover, it allows farmers to apply the nutrients in splits and few amounts in response to crop needs. In the present study, a field experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of split application of fertilizer in furrow fertigation on nitrogen losses and corn yield.
Field experiments were carried out factorially in a randomized complete block design with four replicates. Experimental treatments were consisted of three fertilizer splits (two, three, and four splits) and three levels of urea fertilizer (60, 80 and 100% of required urea fertilizer), which compared with the common method (broadcasting fertilizer) as used by farmers in the fields. Experiments were conducted on a one hectare field in 120 meter long and open end furrows. During the crop season, Irrigation water was applied in the same way for all fertigation treatments and the third type of the WSC flumes was used to measure the amount of input and output water in irrigation events. Moreover, for determining the indexes of uniformity of water distribution in carrying out fertigation experiments, the amount of infiltration into the soil was calculated using the Kostiakov-Louis equation. The parameters of this equation were determined using the water volume balance method. Injection of Urea fertilizer was done by using 40-liter barrels were placed at the beginning of Furrows. In this study, the injection of fertilizers was applied in the last 10 to 20 minutes of irrigation time.
Results showed that water distribution uniformities of low quarter and low half in all tests were very high. Such that the water low quarter distribution uniformities for all treatments were between 90.5 to 98.3 percent and the low half distribution uniformities of water for different treatments were between 94.4 to 99.0 percent. So, according to the high water distribution uniformity and injecting fertilizer in 20-10 minutes at the end of irrigation, it should be stated that the distribution uniformities of fertilizer, used in the experiments, were high too. Statistical analysis showed that nitrogen usage amount and interaction of splits-usage rates of fertilizer had a significant influence on run-off nitrogen losses. The most nitrogen losses were achieved in treatment using 100 percent of fertilization recommendation and there were not significant differences between 60 and 80 percent of fertilization recommendation. It is nothworthy that, in addition to the nitrogen loss by surface runoff, nitrogen deep percolation losses always are also considered. In fertigation treatments, because of high rate of nitrogen injection in short intervals at the end of irrigations, the amount of nitrogen in the surface layer (20-0 cm) was significantly higher than the lower depths and this could led to low percolation losses of nitrogen, but the broadcast fertilization method provided the highest percent of remaining nitrogen in the soil after fertilization, which almost is unusable for plant and in the case of over irrigation or rainfall, the risk of groundwater pollution could be raised. Besides, the results showed that application of nitrogen in 4 splits provided more grain yield compared to the 3 splits level. Also, grain yield of corn increased significantly with increasing nitrogen rate application. The fertigation treatments had better performance of water and fertilizer application efficiencies compared to broadcast fertilization method. The most grain yield was achieved in the fifth treatment by application of 100 percent of fertilization usage recommendation in three splits.
In this study, the effect of furrow fertigation on nitrogen losses and corn yield was studied under different splits and amounts of fertilizer consumption. Eventually, fertigation treatments were compared with traditional treatments (fertilizer broadcasting method). According to the obtained results, evaluate the interactions of the effect of split × N usage showed that, the fourth treatment (60% of fertilizer application in 4 splits) can be suggested, owing to its lower N losses by runoff. In addition there were no statistical significant differences of grain yield between the fourth and fifth treatments (100% of fertilizer application in 3 splits). Consequently, it can be concluded that by the usage of 60 percent of the recommended fertilizer application in four equal splits during the growing season, the potential of environmental pollution will be reduced while achieving optimal performance.

This study was conducted to determine some physiological parameters of maize cultivar KSC 704 affected auxin and cytokinin hormones concentration variations under drought stress condition. The experiment was carried out in three environments separately including non-drought stress environment, drought stress in vegetative stage and drought stress in reproductive stage. Cytokinin hormone in three concentrations (control, 50 and 100 mg/lit) in V8-V10 stage and auxin hormone in three concentrations (control, 10 and 20 mg/lit) in silk emergence stage was laid out as a factorial design based on randomized complete block with three replications in each environment at Seed and Plant Improvement Institute, Karaj in 2014. Drought stress in reproductive stage decreased chlorophyll a and b respectively %28.13 and %37.93. The use of cytokinine hormone in concentration 50 mg/lit increased %37.73 chlorophyll a and decreased % 16.58 proline amino acid and also auxine hormone in concentration 10 and 20 mg/lit increased %22.78 chlorophyll a and decreased %18.02 proline.

Fusarium wilt disease is one of the major plant diseases that affect melon production. In this study a total of 23 landraces and breeding lines of melon were collected from different regions of Iran planted in a randomized complete block design with three replications and were studied to find new sources of resistant ones in the tray contained clay، pith mass and perlite in greenhouse. The root of seedlings after reaching at one to two true leaf stages were placed in a high inoculum concentrations of 1×106 spores per ml of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. melon for 3-4 min and then، roots were wounded. Root samples from infected plants of all sensitive، semi-resistant and resistant genotypes were taken to examine biochemical changes for 8 days after 2 days of transplanting in 5 times and were kept in −80°C. The root of control plants dipped in tap water. The activity of peroxidase (POX، EC 1. 11. 1. 7)، polyphenol oxidase (PPO، EC 1. 14. 18. 1)، Catalase (CAT، EC 1. 11. 1. 6)، Superoxide dismutase (SOD، EC 1. 15. 1. 1) and Phenolic compounds (PCs) were measured. Area under disease progress curve and disease severity were studied to identify relationship between disease resistance and enzymatic composition. The results of analysis of variance showed that infection of melon seedling with F. oxysporum race 1. 2 led to many biochemical changes. The level of antioxidant defensive enzyme and PCs content increased in response to infection by the Fom 1. 2. The activity of POX، PPO، SOD، PCs and CAT in different genotypes approached to highest level at 4 days after inoculation. In clustering of cultivars via Ward method، 32 landraces clustered into three groups. Principal component analysis diminished all of variables to two components with 96% cumulative variances. Isabelle and Shadegani 2 landraces had the maximum genetic distance together. The Isablle and Shadegani 2 were identified as the most resistance and the most susceptible genotypes، respectively. The Isablle، Zard Eyvanakey، Charentais Fom1، Japalizi and Maghasi placed in the same group. Therefore، by crossing between these land races، the basic population could be obtained to study the gene action and to identify the effective gene (s) regarding tolerance to fusarium wilt.

Maize hybrid KSC 703 (K47/3 x MO17) produced grain yield 12.034 t/ha over seven locations in 2010, compared to KSC 704 with 12.034 t/ha, as check. During two years evealuation ( 2011-2012) over 12 locations, this hybrid revealed grain yield 11.291 t/ha, comparing to KSC 704 with 9.506 t/ha, showing 1.785 t/ha (18.8%) yield increase. On farm experimants carried out in Islam Abad, Ravansar, Mahtabi, in 2013, revealed 14.400 t/ha with 20.5% moisture, compared to KSC 704 by 11 t/ha with 23.1% moisture contenet in Islam Abad, Kermanshah province (3.667 t/ha yield increase and 2.6% less moisture content). In Ravansar (Kermanshah province), this hybrid showe average grain yied 16.233 t/ha with 20.5% moisture content, comparing to KSC 704, with 11.500 t/ha, with 23% moisture contenet, meaning 4.733 t/ha yield increase and 2.5% lower moisture content . In Mahtabi (Jiroft region), this hybrid yielded 2.815 t/ha more grain than KSC 704 (23%), and 3.815% less grain moisture at harvesting time.

A breeding program was started in Safiabad Agricultural Research Center in 1999, to produce an improved maize hybrid with a relative heat stress tolerance. Consequently at 2005 a few S6 lines with having moderately tolerance to high temperature were obtained. These combinates were then evaluated for three consecutive years in three sub-tropical regions of the country includes Khzestan, Ilam and Kerman (Jiroft) in the semi final, final and on-farm experiments. These experiments resulted to selection of a hybrid with a relatively high temperature tolerance (produced by crossing of SLD45/1/2-1 × SLH2/29/14/2-4/1 lines). This hybrid was 12 days physiologically early-mature than SC704 hybrid SC704 (control), and heat stress tolerance due to the shorter of tassel to silk initiation period (1.5 days in average). This line had 10500-11500 kg ha-1 average seed yield and non-significant difference with the control in experiments. Now because of farmers enthusiasm, seed production level of this hybrid is about 200 ha and consequently over 25000 ha of farms are planting by this line across tropical regions of the country

Maize hybrid KSC 706 (K3547/4 × MO17) produced grain yield 11.713 t ha-1, when evaluated in eight locations over two years (2007-8), comparing to KSC 704 with 9.845 t/ha. On farm experiments in 2012, in Kermanshah province in two locations, this hybrid produced 13.100 and 13.300 t ha-1 in Eslam Abad and Ravansar as first cropping, respectively, comparing to KSC 704, with 11.300 and 9.700 t ha-1. In Moghan, as second cropping, this hybrid produced 7.180 t ha-1 compared to KSC 704 which produced 6.930 t ha-1. In Jiroft, as second cropping in two locations, KSC 706 and KSC 704 (Check) produced 17.570 and 15.100 t ha-1, in Mahtabi location (16.4% yield increase), as well 12.400 and 11.800 t ha-1 in Haji Abad location (5.1% yield increase), respectively. Under second cropping in Shosh, KSC 706 and KSC 704 (Check), revealed 10.130 and 8.952 t ah-1, respectively, meaning 1.178 t ha-1 (13.2 % yield increase) yield increase over KSC 704.

In order to obtain high yielded and tolerant to drought stress maize hybrid a breeding program was started in Safiabad Agricultural Research Center in the 1999 and a few S6 lines attained in 2005. Then interactive components were created and evaluated in the preliminary and semi-finals experiment during two consecutive years. After preliminary studies, nine hybrids were selected which they were evaluated in tropical part of Khozestan, Kerman (Jiroft) and Ilam provinces in the final and on farm experiments. Ultimately, MO17 × SLD45/1/2-1 (Hybrid Karun701) cross with having short period anthesis silking interval, 7-5 days early mature than control (SC704), higher grain yield by about 500-1300 kg ha and drought tolerance attributes were selected as superior line. At the present this hybrid is cultivating in about 20,000 hectares and cultivating area still growing.

As compared to KSC 704 hybrid with 9.844 t/ha, the maize hybrid, KSC 705(K3640/3 × MO17) produced an average grain yield of 11.120 t/ha over seven locations evaluated in final trials for two consecutive years (2007-8). In advanced yield trials done in 2011, across seven locations, this hybrid performed the highest grain yield, 10.450 t/ha, while KSC 704 produced 8.513 t/ha. In addition to the grain yield preference, grain moisture in KSC 705 was about two percent less than KSC 704 at harvesting stage under farmer's conditions. Hybrid KSC 705 with an average of grain yield 10.585 t/ha showed 833 kg/ha (8.5%) superiority to KSC 704 (9.753 t/ha), once evaluated in adaptability trials conducted in nine locations for two years (2011-12). On farm experimental results obtained from Eslam Abad, Ravansar, Mahtabi and Shoosh in 2012 revealed that KSC 705 with an average grain yield and moisture of 12.617 t/ha and 20.94%, showed a superiority of 1.429 t/ha (12.8%) over the yield of KSC 704 (11.188 t/ha) and 2.31 less grain moisture comparing to KSC 704 with 23.25% grain moisture. Comparing to KSC 704, this hybrid was seven days earlier. In contrast to KSC 704 with a moderately susceptible reaction to common smut under artificial infection, KSC 705 was rated as a moderate resistant type. For fusarium ear rot, both hybrids were classified into moderately resistant hybrid's group.

This research was aimed to classify Iranian maize inbred lines in heterotic groups and to identify their heterotic patterns. Fourteen maize inbred lines were crossed in a diallel scheme without reciprocals. Parents and their 91 F1 hybrids were evaluated in a randomized complete block design with three replications for two years (2007, 2008) in Karaj, Iran. Analysis of variance was performed following method 2 of Griffing’s model 1. GGE biplot model was employed to extract the interaction among lines and testers. The estimates of specific combining ability (SCA) were bigger than the analogous estimates for the general combining ability (GCA), indicating the major influence of dominant genes on the expression of grain yield. Hybrids with higher grain yield represented successful combination of parental lines for the expression of heterosis. The best heterotic patterns were "Lancaster Sure Crop (LSC) × Lines", and "Reid Yellow Dent (RYD) × Lines, both extracted from CIMMYT originated materials" and "LSC × Lines extracted from Late Synthetic". The results in heterotic patterns obtained by biplot mostly are in accordance with those of using Grifing’s method.

Based on principal component analysis (PCA), GGE biplot analysis is an effective method to fully assess multi-environmental yield trials (METs). Additive main effects and multiplicative interaction (AMMI) is an alternative method for assessing phenotypic stability and adaptability. In this research, MET data of 14 maize inbred lines were used to perform AMMI and GGE biplot analyses. These genotypes were evaluated under diverse climatic conditions in five Iranian locations during two cropping cycles (2007 and 2008). A genotype (inbred line) by location table was used for performing the analyses. Based on both mean grain yield and yield stability, inbred lines K3615/2, K19/1, K166B and K18 proved to be superior and also had greater mean performance among the test inbred lines. Graphic analysis was used to identify the most suitable inbred lines for each test environment. Inbred lines K3615/2, K19/1, K166B, K18, K3653/2 and K3547/5 were identified as suitable in all locations. The AMMI and GGE biplot graphics revealed three separate groups of environments, i.e., three mega-environments. Group one included three sites, Karaj, Kabootar Abad and Zarghan, while group two included only Islam Abad-e-Gharb and group three only Miandoab. Islam Abad Gharb and Miandoab were more discriminative for genotypes. The inbred lines that were most responsive to the environment were K3615/2, K166B, K19/1 and K18; the least responsive line was K3547/5.

Seven maize inbred lines were crossed in a complete diallel cross design at the Seed and Plant Improvement Institute, Karaj, Iran, during the 2006 growing season. The parents and 42 F1 hybrids were grown in the research field of Islamic Azad University of Firoozabad, Firoozabad, Iran, using a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications, during the 2007 growing season. The Hayman method was used for data analysis. Results indicated over-dominance gene effects for days from silking to physiological maturity, days from anthesis to physiological maturity, plant height, kernel depth, number of rows per ear and grain yield. The most appropriate strategy for the exploitation of these effects is to obtain hybrid cultivars and evaluate these characteristics in hybrid combinations. The gene effect for days from emergence to physiological maturity and number of kernels per row was complete dominance, suggesting that reciprocal recurrent selection would be effective. Ear leaf area and ear length were controlled by partial dominance, indicating that additive gene effects were more important than non-additive gene effects for controlling the inheritance of these traits. Therefore, improvement of these traits through selection of breeding materials is highly feasible. Broad-sense heritability ranged between 47.4% and 89.4% for days to physiological maturity and number of rows per ear; however, narrow-sense heritability varied between 7.3% and 50.6% for days from anthesis to physiological maturity and ear leaf area, respectively. Non-additive gene effects were predominant for controlling the majority of traits.

In order to study the genetic control of yield and related traits in corn, a diallel mating with 14 inbreed lines were used. Parents and their F1 generations were evaluated, using RCB design with 3 replications (2007) in Karaj seed and plant improvement institute. Hayman & Jinks method were used to data analysis. Variance analysis indicated that additive and non-additive gene effects were important in traits control. According to average degree of dominance over-dominance gene effect observed for yield, ear length and kernel weight per ear and for one hundred kernel weight and ear diameter were partial dominance. Also the increaser alleles for traits were dominant. Broad sense heritability and narrow sense heritability for yield was 0.67 and 0.25 respectively. For other traits broad sense heritability estimated between 0.65 and 0.85, and narrow sense heritability estimated between 0.29 and 0.55.

This study was conducted to estimate combining ability, gene action and proportional contribution of cross components in some maize genotypes under different irrigation conditions. In 2007 in Research Farm of Islamic Azad University, fifteen maize inbred lines as parents, consist of twelve females (No:4-15) and three males (NO:1-3) were crossed to produce 36 F1 hybrids. Parents and their 36 F1 hybrids were evaluated in a RCB design with three replications under irrigation after 70, 90 and 110 mm evaporation from a class A pan in 2008. Results showed both additive and dominance variances were important under drought stress conditions. Gene expression increased with intensify of drought stress. Proportional contribution of lines, testers and their interactions revealed that female line contributed higher compared to male line under drought stress conditions in all studied traits and maternal parents play the most important role under drought stress conditions. The ratio of GCA to SCA variances was less than unity for all studied traits and showed the predominant role of non additive action in the inheritance. In conclusion, it can be suggested that female parents should be considered more for a successful plant breeding programs under drought stress conditions.

In this research, a procedure for technology of synthetic seed production using somatic embryo of potato) Solanum tuberosum L. (cv. Agria has been reported. An efficient procedure has been developed for inducing somatic embryogenesis from petiole cultures of potato cv. Agria, which has not reported previously, in addition production of synthetic seed in potato by induction of somatic embryogenesis in iran has not been reported previously. A two-step protocol produced somatic embryo. petiole sections were initially cultured on 2,4 Dicchlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) + 6-Benzylaminopurine (BAP) supplemented Murashige and skoog (MS) Media. Nodoular embryogenic callus developed the explants on media containing 2,4-D and BAP. The explants with primary callus were subsequently moved onto MS media containing Z, GA3 and BAP. Treatment with Z and BAP resulted in the induction of the highest number of somatic embryos directly. In this research, A technique for the encapsulation of somatic embryo in calcium alginate beads was tested. The technique involves suspending plant material (i.e. plant cell, tissues, organs, shoot tips, somatic embryo) in a sodium alginate solution and then dripping it into a stirred calcium chloride solution. somatic embryo transferred to liquid basal Murashige and Skoog medium with sodium alginate mixture and then dripping into calcium chloride solution to produce synthetic seed. sodium alginate 2% and calcium chloride 1% was best for encapsulation. Eighty percent of somatic embryo encapsulated in calcium alginate beads germinated. The seed germinated on hormone-free MS medium and after 6 days developed into complete plantlets successfully, which grew into full plants in 3-4 weeks.

The identification of parental inbred lines to develop superior hybrids is a rather costly and time-consuming step in maize breeding. In some cases, pedigree information has been used to select diverse parental lines. In the case of Iranian maize inbred lines, this information is not fully available. In this study we investigated the genetic distance (GD) based on Simple sequence Repeats (SSR) markers between pairs of five maize testers and 28 inbred lines and assessed the relationship between GD and F1 hybrid performance, specific combining ability (SCA) and midparent heterosis (MPH). One hundred and forty testcrosses were evaluated for grain yield in 2003, 2004 and 2005 at two locations, Karaj and Gorgan (only 2004), Iran. Significant positive but low correlations were found between GD and F1 performance, SCA and MPH (0.27**, 0.39** and 0.28**, respectively). Testers affected the magnitude of correlations, with relatively high values revealed in the Mo17 crosses (0.54**, 0.61** and 0.61** for F1, SCA and MPH, respectively) and lowest values in the B73 crosses. Although GD between parents correlated significantly with hybrid performance, the estimates of GD did not consistently identify the best crosses.