syavash hemmaty

Salvia sahendica Boiss. & Buhse.  with antimicrobial, antioxidant and anticonvulsant properties is an endemic species of the lamiaceae family that grows in the Sahand highlands in East Azerbaijan province. The aim of the present study was to investigate the quantity and quality of essential oils and effect of different treatments on the percentage and germination rate of this species due to the low germination percentage of its seeds. The aerial parts of the plant were collected at flowering stage in the summer of 2012 from Kasai habitat in Tabriz Then, its essential oil was obtained by clevenger method and analized by GC/MS. Seed test was conducted based on a completely randomized design (CRD) with 4 replications. Treatments included gibberllin at three levels of concentration (100, 150 and 200 ppm for 24 h), three levels of wash time (12, 24 and 72 h), chilling at three levels of duration (for 24, 48 and 72 h) and magnetic treatment (50 and 130 mT for 5, 10, 20, 25 and 30 min) and control. Based on the results, the essential oil yield of this species was 0.8% by weight and the presence of 23 compounds including trans-meta-mentha-2,8-diene, spathulenol, α-Pinene, 1,8-cineol and β-pinene in the essential oil components of this plant was proved. Seed test result showed that seeds treated with 100 ppm gibberellin had the highest germination rate (47 %) and seeds treated with 130 mT for 20 min had the highest germination rate (5.83) compared to control (16) and (1/99) respectively. The results indicate that the seeds of this species have physiological dormancy and different treatments can significantly increase.

The main reasons for the fixation of some elements and consequently nutrient deficiencies, especially phosphorus, iron and zinc, are high levels of calcium (calcareous soils) and soil pH. Two sulfur fertilizers (sulfur alone and sulfur + organic material + Thiobacillus spp.) with two rates (2 and 4 kg sulfur/tree) were used to decrease soil pH and availability of P, Fe and Zn in apple trees during the growing season. A control treatment with no sulfur was also included in the experiment. The experiment was based on randomized complete blocks design with three replications and was carried out in the apple orchards of the West Azarbaijan province. Results showed that the sulfur treatments had significant effects on soil pH, chlorophyll content of leaves and phosphorus, iron and zinc concentrations of leaves and fruits in apple. On the average, applying sulfur decreased pH of soil and increased the chlorophyll content of leaves, and iron, zinc and phosphorus concentration of fruits in apple by17.09%, 4.8%, 30.24%, 11.61% and 18.76%, respectively, as compared to the control. Regarding the soil pH and other criteria about the nutrients availability and concentration, it seems that the application of 2 kg/tree sulfur fertilizer would be beneficial for apple orchards located in the highly alkaline soils of the area under study.