جستجوی مقالات مرتبط با کلیدواژه "ویتامین c" در نشریات گروه "باغبانی"

Physalis peruviana L. is a short perennial shrub that is a member of the Solanaceae family. These fruits have many benefits for human health because of their nutritional and bioactive compounds (vitamins (A, B, C and K), essential fats and etc.) and reduced the risk of diseases such as cancer, malaria, asthma, hepatitis, dermatitis and rheumatism. Therefore, it has received special attention for cultivation all over the world. Increasing crop production and mitigating abiotic stresses are major challenges under extreme climatic environments and intense farming activities. Crop management strategies such as deficit irrigation can decrease soil evaporation, runoff, and plant transpiration, and increase water use efficiency (WUE) and water conservation. In addition to these practices, organic input, which includes the application of organic materials such as compost and humic substances, is an additional strategy that increases soil water retention and can potentially improve plant WUE. Water is crucial for agriculture and needs to be used effectively due to climate change and drought in Iran. For this reason, to adapt to water deficit scenarios, deficit irrigation applications are increasing in importance. Water availability is expected to be a growth limiting factor that would affect fruit yield in Physalis peruviana due to reduced flower set and elevated floral abscission rate.

In order to investigate the effect of humic acid on physiological characteristics, yield and fruit quality of Physalis peruviana under deficit irrigation conditions, a split plot experiment based on randomized complete block design with three replications was conducted during 2021. Treatments consisted arrangement of three levels of irrigation (starting irrigation at 100, 80 and 60% ETc (crop evapotranspiration)) and three levels of humic acid (0, 1.5 and 3 kg ha-1). The seeds of Physalis peruviana were sown in seedling trays contain peat moss. The seedlings were grown under normal conditions (25±2 °C/day and 20±2 °C at night with 60-65% RH). Plant height, total chlorophyll, fruit yield per plant, total soluble solid content, titratable acidity, vitamin C content and water use efficiency were measured. Statistical analyses were performed with SAS V9.3, and means comparison were separated by Duncan’s multiple range tests at p < 0.05.

Results and Discussion :

The results showed that deficit irrigation significantly reduced growth, fruit yield, vitamin C and increased water use efficiency (WUE) and Total soluble solid content of Physalis peruviana. The soil application of humic acid significantly increased total chlorophyll, fruit quality and yield, and decreased leaf electrolyte leakage under normal and deficit irrigation, thus, the deficit irrigation 60 ETc% decreased the plant height by 18.6% and the fruit yield by 22.2% compared to irrigation 100 ETc%. The maximum plant length (200.3 cm), total chlorophyll content (2.42 mg g-1FW) and fruit yield (4793.3 kg ha-1) were observed in plants treated with 3 kg ha-1 humic acid under 100% ETc irrigation. The highest value of total soluble solid (12.6 B°), antioxidant activity (90.06 %) and WUE (1.23 kg m-3) were obtained with 3 kg ha-1 soil application of humic acid under deficit irrigation 60% ETc. The application of 3 kg ha-1 humic acid under 100 and 80 %ETc irrigation increased the fruit yield by 25% and 4%, respectively, compared to the control plants (non treated with humic acid) under irrigation100 ETc% and under deficit irrigation  60 ETc%, with decreasing 11% fruit yield, water consumption was saved by 40%. Soil and crop management practices that alter plant water and nutrient availability could affect the processes of crop evapotranspiration and WUE, which can influence the yield and fruit quality by changing the internal nutrient and water balance. Incorporating organic matter within a crop growth system either as leaf spray or soil mix is a complementary strategy to improve crop growth and WUE. By inducing antioxidant enzyme activities, HS could assist plants in stomata functioning, thereby closing stomata more efficiently under drought stress, which results in plant water conservation. The reason of the difference between WUE values probably appeared due to the differences on Physalis peruviana yield. WUE showed an upward trend with an increasing in irrigation.

Study results suggest that soil application of humic acid with increasing vitamin C, TSS and TA, improved fruit quality. According to the results, application of 3 kg ha-1 humic acid is suggested to improve fruit yield and quality of Physalis peruviana under normal and deficit irrigation conditions.

Peppers are a popular fresh product in the market, but they have a limited shelf life. This study aimed to assess the influence of different types of packaging on weight loss, amount of ascorbic acid, total phenols, flavonoids, and antioxidant capacity in sweet peppers during storage. The study compared five types of packaging: nylon freezer wrap, zip-kip bags, cellophane, plastic boxes, and paper cartons. Overall, peppers stored in plastic containers exhibited lower weight loss compared to those stored in cartons (the control group). The most significant decreases in total phenols, flavonoids, and vitamin C content were observed in peppers stored in cartons. Conversely, bell peppers stored in freezer bags, zip-kip bags, and cellophane maintained higher levels of ascorbic acid, phenolic compounds, and flavonoids than the control group. In general, the control group showed the highest losses in phenolic and flavonoid content, while the lowest losses were observed in peppers stored in freezer bags and zip-kip bags. Peppers stored in zip-kip bags and freezer nylon demonstrated higher antioxidant capacity compared to those stored in other types of packaging and the control group. Overall, the use of polyethylene bags, such as freezer bags and zip-kip bags, proved to be more effective in preserving the bioactive compounds of sweet peppers during storage.

Various methods of stress directly affected the growth and production yield of numerous plants. For example, environmental stress reduces the tomato manufacturing by the disrupting its natural metabolism, or, salinity stresses affect the it is growth and development from the germination stage to the fruit ripening stage. Salinity in tomatoes by stimulating the biosynthesis of growth regulators such as ethylene and abscisic acid leads to the acceleration of the aging of the leaves. Therefore, development of different methods to induce salinity stress tolerance in plants is necessary. Some approaches were studied to develop the salinity tolerant plants such as genetic breeding, environmental improvements and usage of phytohormones and signal molecules. Salicylic acid or orthohydroxybenzoic acid plays an important role in regulating the physiological and biochemical responses of plants to stress conditions, which improves the plant's resistance to adverse environmental conditions. For instance, salicylic acid is a facile and effective way to increase plant productivity under salt stress conditions. Considering the positive effects of salicylic acid in modulating the effects of salinity, this study was conducted with the aim of investigating the effects of salicylic acid’s usage in modulating the harmful effects of salinity on some vegetative, physiological, quantitative and qualitative characteristics of two tomato cultivars of Baneh local mass and Semi Dwarf line.

To investigate the effect of salicylic acid in modulating the effects of salinity stress in tomato, a factorial experiment was conducted in the form of a randomized complete block design, with 12 treatments, in 3 replications and with a total of 36 experimental units in the hydroponic greenhouse of the Department of Horticulture, Faculty of Agriculture, and university of Tabriz. The treatments included two levels of salicylic acid (0 and 1 mM) and salinity levels (0, 35 and 70 mM NaCl) on two tomato cultivars of Baneh and Semi Dwarf.

The results showed that in Baneh and Semi Dwarf cultivars, the increase in salinity levels caused a decrease in vegetative indices, meanwhile the treatment of salicylic acid along with salt stress increased same indices. Also, salt stress caused yield reduction in both Baneh and Semi Dwarf cultivars. By examining the qualitative indicators, it was observed that titratable acidity and vitamin C increased with salt stress and salicylic acid treatment in both cultivars. In terms of physiological indicators, the amount of proline increased at different salinity levels with salicylic acid treatment, but the amount of leaf chlorophyll index decreased with the increase of same condition.

The results of testing the effect of salicylic acid and the effects of salinity stress on vegetative, quantitative, qualitative and physiological indicators in Baneh and Semi Dwarf tomatoes showed a remarkable difference in terms of significance. In terms of vegetative traits; Plant height, leaf area index, shoot wet in Baneh and Semi Dwarf cultivars decreased with increasing salinity levels of vegetative indices, but salicylic acid treatment along with salinity stress increased same indices. Indicators such as yield, fresh weight of fruit, and percentage of dry matter of fruit showed different responses to different levels of salinity and salicylic acid treatment. The fresh weight of fruit increased with the application of salicylic acid. Also, salt stress caused an increase in the percentage of dry matter of the fruit. But salt stress caused yield reduction in both Baneh and Semi Dwarf cultivars. In terms of quality indicators; the amount of titratable acidity and vitamin C increased with salt stress and salicylic acid treatment in both cultivars. In terms of physiological indicators, the level of proline increased across various salinity levels with salicylic acid treatment. However, the leaf chlorophyll index decreased with rising salinity levels, even in the presence of salicylic acid treatment. Overall, salinity stress caused a decrease in most analyzed traits in the Baneh and Semi Dwarf cultivars. Nevertheless, it led to improvements in certain quality traits. Additionally, salicylic acid treatment enhanced the mentioned indices in most of the examined traits in both cultivars. Therefore, considering the positive effects of salicylic acid treatment on Baneh and Semi Dwarf cultivars under salinity stress conditions, its use is recommended.

Hippophae rhamnoides L. (sea buckthorn) is a deciduous shrub or tree in the Elaeagnaceae family. Sea buckthorn is one of the native species of the Turani regions of Iran, with limited and scattered habitats in Gachsar, Haraz, Arasbaran, Khoy, and Alamut. An old miraculous plant, it is highly regarded for its richness in bioactive and nutritional substances. Hippophae rhamnoides is one of the valuable precursor species in terms of nitrogen fixation for the soil. It is a storage shrub resistant to cold, drought, and low-cover environments. Sea buckthorn contains nearly 200 nutritional and bioactive compounds. This plant's fruits are rich in lipids, carotenoids, ascorbic acid, and flavonoids. The purpose of the present study, considering the high medicinal and ecological importance of the Sea buckthorn plant and the few studies in Iran, especially in the field of phytochemical compounds of this valuable plant, is to introduce the Sea buckthorn plant, its phytochemical compounds, and some of their uses in the pharmaceutical and food industries.  This article contains scientific papers published between 2001 and 2022 from Google Scholar, Web of Science, Scopus, and PubMed. All parts of sea buckthorn (fruits, leaves, stems, branches, roots, and thorns) have been traditionally used in medicine and food supplements. Sea buckthorn leaves, fruits, and oils are rich in macro and microelements, vitamins A, C, E, lipids, carotenoids, amino acids, unsaturated fatty acids, and phenols. In recent years, there have been several reports on the medicinal activities of sea buckthorn, including its anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and antiviral activities and its ability to protect the heart and blood vessels. The oil obtained from the seeds and fruit includes bioactive compounds such as palmitoleic acid (omega 7), a part of skin lipids, and stimulates epidermis repair and healing wounds. Flavonol glycosides are one of the most abundant phenolic compounds in sea buckthorn. Flavonoids are antioxidants in sea buckthorn that prevent blood platelet accumulation and cancer cell spread. They improve blood circulation and reduce inflammation. As an antioxidant, antimicrobial, and other natural additive, sea buckthorn is used in various food products. In addition, it is used in diverse forms, such as oil, dried powder, fruit juice, pills, drinks, fruit, and tea.   Besides its high nutritional value as a food, the genus Hippophae has several economic advantages as a raw material for cosmetics, food, pharmaceutical industries, and environmental protection. Due to its high tolerance to cold, drought, salinity, and alkalinity and the ability to fix nitrogen in the soil, it is an ideal product for protecting soil and water and windbreaks on marginal lands prone to soil erosion.

Quality indices are important goals of the tomato breeding program. This study was conducted with the aim of investigating the genetic structure of different tomato lines and hybrids obtained from complete di-allele crosses. In this research, genetic analysis of important traits related to tomato fruit weight and quality such as antioxidant capacity, total flavonoid, total phenol and vitamin C was investigated. Variance analysis of data was done in the form of randomized complete block design and di-allele analysis by Griffingʼs Method I. The variance analysis of the data showed a high significant difference between the genotypes for all the studied traits. The variance significance of GCA: SCA ratio for the traits of average fruit weight, total phenol and total flavonoids showed that the contribution of additive effects in controlling these traits is greater than the non-additive effect of genes and the selection method can improve these traits and reach cultivars with more weight Fruit, total phenol and flavonoids, is beneficial. While the traits of vitamin C and antioxidant capacity were controlled by the non-additive effects of genes. Therefore, considering that the selection potential for these traits is not high, hybridization-based methods can be used to improve these traits.

 Strawberry is one of the most important small fruits in the world, which is cultivated as a perennial plant in temperate regions of the world. Ripe strawberry fruit contains compounds such as protein, fiber, sugars such as fructose, glucose, sucrose, organic acids, vitamins, minerals, as well as phenolic compounds and anthocyanins. The aim of this study was to investigate some hormonal treatments and magnetic field on some physiological and biochemical characteristics, shelf life and postharvest life of strawberry cv. Selva under temperature stress.

 This experiment was performed as a split plot based on a completely randomized design with 3 replications. Physiological and biochemical characteristics were studied on several tissues of Selva strawberry cultivar under several different temperature treatments. The treatments were gibberellic acid at three levels of control, 50 and 100mg/l in the main plots, magnetic field at 3 levels of control, 10 and 20ms, in the subplots and temperature stress in three levels including 2, 8 and 20°C. It was done on strawberries in subplots. Healthy prepared strawberry fruits were subjected to magnetic treatments and then immersed in hormonal solutions for 2min and after drying, stored for 8 days in different refrigerators at temperatures according to research treatments. The samples were then removed from the refrigerator and transferred to a laboratory to measure various characteristics. The studied traits included: fruit weight, fruit diameter, fruit length, fruit moisture content, titratable acidity, fruit juice pH and vitamin C.

 Results of analysis of variance showed that the simple and triple interactions of treatments on all studied traits were significant. Comparison of the mean triple interaction of gibberellic acid treatment × magnetic field × temperature showed that the highest amount of fruit weight (19.49g), the highest amount of fruit diameter (33.7mm), the highest fruit length (48.62mm), the highest fruit moisture (34.65%) was obtained in the treatment of 50mg/l gibberellic acid, ten Tesla magnetic field and a temperature of eight degrees Celsius. The lowest fruit weight of 10.65 g was obtained in the treatment of non-use of gibberellic acid, non-use of magnetic field and temperature of 20°C. The lowest fruit weight loss of 3.74% was obtained in the treatment of 50 mg/l gibberellic acid, 20 Tesla magnetic field and 2°C. The lowest fruit diameter of 21.52mm was obtained in the treatment of non-consumption of gibberellic acid, absence of magnetic field and temperature of 20°C. The lowest fruit length of 25.63 mm was obtained in the treatment of no gibberellic acid, no magnetic field and a temperature of 20°C. The lowest amount of titratable acidity (0.31%), the lowest pH of fruit juice (4.68) and the highest amount of vitamin C (34.92mg/100 ml) in the treatment of non-use of gibberellic acid, no use of field Magnetic and a temperature of 20°C were obtained. The lowest amount of vitamin C was equal to 20.5mg/100ml in the treatment of no use of gibberellic acid, no use of magnetic field and a temperature of 20°C.High concentrations of gibberellic acid have a beneficial effect on increasing cell division and fruit size. Gibberellic acid increases fruit size and weight due to its effect on increasing cell division in the early stages of fruit development and increasing cell size at late fruit ripening. Magnetic field also affects plant metabolic activity. Fruit volume includes fruit length. It decreases due to the magnetic field. Fruit weight showed a significant positive correlation with fruit diameter, fruit length, fruit moisture and vitamin C. In terms of the triple interaction of the research treatments, the best effective treatment for increasing the storage time of strawberries was the combined treatment of 50 mg/l gibberellic acid and ten Tesla magnetic field and a temperature of 8°C.

 Fruit weight showed a significant positive correlation with fruit diameter, fruit height, fruit moisture and vitamin C. In terms of the triple interaction of the research treatments, the best effective treatment for increasing the storage time of strawberries was the combined treatment of 50 mg/l gibberellic acid and ten Tesla magnetic field at a temperature of 8°C.

Citrus fruits are important sources of antioxidants including phenolic compounds, flavonoids, carotenoids and ascorbic acid, which can be changed by using mineral elements, especially potassium and calcium. This research was conducted factorial form in a completely randomized design. Foliar application of calcium nitrate (0, 2 and 4 g L-1) and potassium phosphite (0, 1.5 and 3 g L-1) before commercial maturation of blood orange fruits of Sanguine cultivar, and one week after treatment, fruit harvesting operation done. The fruits were stored for 3 months in normal storage. The antioxidant properties, elements and enzymes were evaluated at the time of harvest and during the storage period at intervals of one month. The results showed that the use of higher concentrations of calcium nitrate and potassium phosphite improved the characteristics measured on the day of harvest. Fruits treated with 4 g L-1 calcium nitrate and 3 g L-1 and 1.5 g L-1 potassium phosphate had the best effect on antioxidant properties and elements. Also, the amount of APX and SOD enzymes increased with these treatments during the storage period.

 Iron has a significant effect on the quantity and quality of agriculture products. Factors affecting the absorption of this element increase its efficiency. Meanwhile, the pH of the nutrient solution plays an important role in the absorption of iron. Iron is one of the essential elements for plant growth and plays an essential role in chloroplasts. Due to iron deficiency, the activity of several enzymes such as catalase, cytochrome and oxidase and ferroxin is significantly reduced. The amount of iron in the soil is high, but plants only absorb two-capacity of soluble soil, which is negligible compared to the total iron. Soil environmental conditions affect the amount of iron by the plant, so it is difficult to control the uptake of iron by the plant. It has the highest ability to absorb iron and manganese at pH less than 6. For this reason, acetic acid was used to stabilize the pH of the solution. Acetic Acid is a polar solvent and an organic compound. The use of inexpensive organic acid and citric acid in agriculture, despite its positive effects on calcareous soils and their reasonable price is still not common in Iran. Acetic acid has a carboxylic group and therefore has all the properties of an acid.

 This experiment was carried out in the form of double split-split plot in a completely randomized block design on a strawberry plant of diamant cultivar in the research station of Mohaghegh Ardabili University during the years 2015- 2017. Factors included Acetic Acid (0, 1, 2 and %3), iron in two levels (Sequestrin 25gr and Nano 1gr) along with two levels of agricultural soap agents (0 and % 7/5) as foliar spraying. Foliar application of pH nutrient solution from the three-leaf stage of plant (mid-April) to the end of May a total of five times 10 days apart in both years. Two weeks after the last foliar application (June of the second year) plant growth indices including, total chlorophyll, number of fruits per plant, fruit pH, total acidity, soluble solids, fruit volume, fruit fresh weight, fruit dry weight, and leaf iron content and fruit yield per plant was measured.

 The results of this study showed that the three-way interaction of foliar application of Acetic Acid with iron with agricultural Soap on the average concentration of leaf iron and number of fruits at the probability level was %5 and in total chlorophyll at the %1 probability level was significant, the best result in the mentioned traits was the combination of treatment of Acetic Acid %2 with Sequestrin iron with soap Moyan (%7/5). The interaction effect of Acetic Acid and iron type on traits of fruit pH, fruit volume, fruit fresh and dry weight at %5 probability level and in yield at %1 probability level were significant. Fruit volume, fruit fresh weight and fruit dry weight and yield showed the best results due to treatment combination of %2 Acetic Acid with Sequestrin iron fertilizer. But for fruit pH trait, the best results were related to the treatment of Acetic Acid %3 on the leave of Sequestrin iron. The Interaction of the iron and agricultural Soap was significant on the amount of soluble solids at %5 probability level and the total acidity strawberries fruit was significant at %1 probability level. In the case of soluble soild and Acidity, Sequestrin iron treatment and agricultural soap had the best results. According to the results of this study, the combination %2 Acetic Acid with of iron fertilizer Sequesterin in combination with agricultural soap Moyan (%7/5) due to the reduction in leaf area tensions improves the obsorption of iron and the quantitative and quality characteristics strawberries.

 Based on the findings of this research, it can be concluded that Acetic acid %2, has better result on the absorption of iron fertilizer, along with agricultural soap (% 7/5) application than other treatments and qualitative traits of strawberry fruit. In treatment %2 Acetic acid most measured traits such as total chlorophyll, leaf iron, fresh weight, fruit dry weight and yield has shown a significant increase. Acetic acid by reducing the pH of the cell sauce and increasing the activity of the reductase enzyme increase the iron solubility and easily provides the iron to the plant. Due to the pH alkalinity of most soils in Iran, the use of Acetic acid in iron nutrient solution on the absorption of iron Sequestrin in combination with % 7/5 of agricultural soap due to having a hydrophilic head and a hydrophobic with %40 to %50 increase in effective of foliar fertilizers. As a result, with more absorption it can be an advanced approach to better absorption of iron by plant and increase the quantity and quality in the product.

 Reduction of water available to the plant leads to many morphological, physiological and biochemical changes in plant cell and plant organs activity will be directly disrupted. In addition to the defense systems in the plant itself, there are other ways to increase plant resistance, including the use of plant growth regulators. Salicylic acid is known as one of the common compounds used for environmental stresses and an essential molecular signal in plant fluctuations in response to environmental stresses. This substance has a protective effect and improves the growth process of the plant. This combination stimulates the plant immune system by inducing transcription of a specific group of genes involved in the defense and development of systemic resistance. Physalis is a small fruit of the Solanaceae family that originates in tropical and subtropical regions of South America. This genus has 80 species in the world, of which the famous species Ph. minima L., Ph. angulate L., Ph. philadelphia L., Ph. alkekengi L., Ph. peruviana L., Ph. pubscens L., Ph. ixocarpa L., among these species, Peruviana species is considered due to its unique taste and high yield.

 An experiment was conducted at the Faculty of Agriculture research greenhouse of Lorestan University Khorramabad, Iran. (latitude 33◦ 29` N, longitude 48◦ 22` E, altitude 1125 m) in May 2018. The experimental design was factorial based on completely randomized design with three replications. The treatments consisted of 3 levels of deficit water stress (95, 85, and 75% field capacity) and four salicylic acid concentrations (0, 0.5, 1, and 2 mM). Physalis seedlings were grown into pots containing soil, sand, and manure. In this research, chlorophyll (Chl a, Chl b, total Chl) and carotenoid content, chlorophyll fluorescent parameters (F0, Fm, Fv, and Fv/Fm), fresh and dry weight of fruit, fruit diameter, fruit number, TSS and vitamin C, proline, leaf anthocyanin and shoot soluble sugar, fresh and dry weight of leaf, leaf area, root volume and plant height, were measured.

The results showed that the effect of deficit water stress and salicylic acid treatment on the measured traits including photosynthetic pigments, chlorophyll fluorescence, fresh, and dry weight of fruit, number of fruits, amount of vitamin C, proline, soluble sugar, fresh and dry weight of leaves, leaf area, plant height and root volume were significant. Foliar application of salicylic acid at a concentration of 2 mM under water stress under 75% of field capacity increases the concentration of photosynthetic pigments including chlorophyll a (25.69%), chlorophyll b (14.08%), total chlorophyll (6.70%), and carotenoid (7.26%) and increased chlorophyll fluorescence parameters including Fm (5.2%) and Fv (1.92%). Salicylic acid at a concentration of 1 mM had better results on quantitative and qualitative traits of fruit including a number of fruits (2.67%), fresh weight of fruit (10.61%), and dry weight of fruit (0.6%). Under stress conditions of 75% of field capacity, application of 2 mM salicylic acid reduced the concentration of proline (31.2%), soluble sugar (11.69%) and leaf anthocyanin (4.93%). Therefore, according to the results, the best levels of irrigation for breeding Physalis (Physalis pruviana L.) are 85 and 95% of field capacity, and the concentration of 2 mM salicylic acid as a natural modulator has an effective role in reducing the effects of dehydration stress. Stress significantly reduces the maximum efficiency of photosystem II (Fv/Fm). This adverse effect on Fv/Fm may be due to its role in inhibiting electron transfer, as well as destroying the reaction centers in PSII. Accumulation of proline under stress is because proline, as a compatible osmolyte, removes all types of active oxygen and protects the cell, and provides the necessary conditions for the plant to absorb water. Salicylic acid increases the chlorophyll synthesis and protects the chloroplast membrane from stress by removing destructive free radicals by stimulating the biosynthetic of the photosynthetic pigment pathway and reducing the chlorophyllas enzyme. It also prevents the ethylene formation by inhibiting of ACC- synthetase enzyme, which in turn prevents the degradation of chlorophyll. Salicylic acid regulates the various physiological processes such as plant growth and development.  

 According to the results, the application of salicylic acid under low irrigation stress, as a growth enhancer and stress modulator, showed good results and improved physiological traits such as increasing photosynthetic pigments (chlorophyll and carotenoids), Fm, Fv and maximum efficiency of photosystem II and improvement of biochemical traits (proline, soluble sugar and leaf anthocyanin) at a concentration of 2 mM and increase in fruit traits (fresh and dry weight, number of fruits, vitamin C and fruit diameter) at a concentration of 1 mM. Growth and morphological traits also showed an increase in fresh and dry leaf weight, leaf area, plant height at a concentration of 2 mM salicylic acid at low irrigation stress levels. Therefore, salicylic acid can be used to reduce the destructive effects of deficit water stress and increase the quantity and quality of fruit if the Physalis plant is grown in arid and semi-arid regions.

Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) is a nutrient dense fruit with a high health value and one of the most important Iranian fruit crop. Historical evidence reveals that the primary origin of pomegranate is Iran and that it has been spread from this region to other areas. A vast range of pomegranate varieties can be found in Iran; 760 original, decorative and wild ones. Pomegranate juice contains a high amount of total soluble solid (TSS), anthocyanins, polyphenolic compounds, vitamin C, sugars and proteins.Pomegranate is considered as one of the most tolerant fruit crops capable of growing under arid and semi-arid climatic conditions. Cultivar and growing region climate are the main factors determining chemical composition of pomegranate fruits; Significant differences in various fruit quality parameters such as organic acids, phenolic compounds, sugars and water-soluble vitamins have been reported in previous studies.  The aim of present study was to compare and evaluate physical and biochemical characteristics of fruits and different polyphenolic compounds in juice of six commercial Iranian pomegranate cultivars.
This research was conducted in 2017 and 2018 years in a commercial orchard in Arsanjan region of Fras province. Six Iranian pomegranate cultivars included ‘Malas Yusef Khani’ (MYK), ‘Bajestani (BK), ‘Khazr Bardskan’ (KHZ), ‘Malas Dane Syah’ (MDS), ‘Rabbab’ (RB) and ‘Zard Anar Arsenjan’ (ZA) were studied. The trees were planted in randomized block design and spaced 5 and 3 m between and along the rows, respectively. The trees were grown under drip irrigation with routine cultural practices suitable for commercial fruit production. Orchard management was conducted uniformly according to optimized available recommendations (based on soil and water samples analysis) for the orchard site. Fruits were harvested randomly from orchard and some physicochemical characteristic of fruits were measured. Fruit length and fruit diameter measured by manual caliper, fruit and above ground weight was determined by digital scale. The fruit juice percentage was calculated by calculating the percentage of aril juice.  TSS (Total soluble solids) expressed in Brix◦ was measured using a refractometer. The titrable acidity (TA) was determined by titration to pH 8.1 with 0.1M NaOH solution and expressed as percentage.Total anthocyanins, total polyphenols, vitamin C and anthyoxidant activity were measured spectrophotometrically. Polyphenolic compositions of juices (Gallic acid, Catechin, Caffeic acid, Chloregenic acid, p-Coumaric acid Vanilin, Trans-ferulic acid, Hesperedin and Ellagic acid) were also measured using HPLC analysis. The chromatographic analysis was carried out on Agilent Technologies 1200 series HPLC system. Chromatograms were recorded at 280 and 320 nm. Each compound was quantified by comparing its peak. Data was analyzed by SPSS software and means were compared using Duncan’s multiple range tests at 5% probability level.
 
 Significant differences were found among studied pomegranate cultivars for various physical fruit characteristics, quality parameters and polyphenolic composition of fruit. ‘Malas Daneh Syah Yazd ’was the best in comparison to other cultivars.  ‘Malas Daneh Syah Yazd’ had the highest fruit weight (332 g), fruit length (8 cm), fruit diameter (8 cm), TSS(15.77 Brix◦), anthocyanin content (26.98 mg 100 ml-1), polyphenol content (514.37 mg 100 ml-1) , ascorbic acid content (9.23 mg 100 ml-1) and antioxidant activity (52.2%). Also, the amount of polyphenols in this cultivar was relatively high. This cultivar had high amount of some polyphenol content such as cathechin (223.5 mg L-1), Hesperidin (30.55 mg L-1) and Ellagic acid (43.02 mg L-1) with no significant differences with highest amount. ‘Rabbab’ had the highest aril weight (340 mg) and moderate levels of other fruit characterestics, this cultivar had the maximum polyphenols such as gallic acid (163.1 mgL-1), catechin (264.2 mgL-1), caffeic acid (265.1 mgL-1), p-Coumaric (74.41 mgL-1) acid, vanillin (18.21 mgL-1) and ellagic acid (43.5 mgL-1). Zard anar’ pomegranate cultivar which was native to this region in terms of most biochemical properties had a low a‘mount .Therefor, among the studied pomegranate cultivars‘ Malas Dane syah’ and was the best. This cultivar had the highest fruit characteristics and polyphenol content such as ellagic acid. 
The results of this study showed significant differences among studied pomegranate cultivars. ‘Dane syah Yazd’ had the highest physical and chemical characterestics of fruits. Previous studies showed that theses cultivars had good growth characteristics and high yield in comparison to other cultivars. Therefore, among the studied cultivars, ‘Dane syah Yazd’ is introduced as a suitable cultivar for this region. Also, ‘Rabbab’ Neyriz cultivar can be considered as a cultivar with high antioxidant properties of fruit juice due to having the highest amount of measured polyphenolic compounds, especially alginic acid.

 Cauliflower is one of the world’s most important vegetable crops. The edible head of the cauliflower is called curd, which is composed of many florets formed of aborted floral meristems. Curd has various components with high nutritional value including glucosinolates, vitamin A and C, phenolic compounds, and carotenoids, which exert beneficial effects on our health. Calcium is an essential macronutrient that plays a vital role in maintains cell wall stability, integrity and determining the fruit quality. Several researches have explored the effects of calcium salts on plant growth and quality in many horticulture crops. Various studies indicate that Ca2+ reduced peroxidation of lipid, increased activity of antioxidant enzyme and improve osmotic adjustment of cell membranes. Plant roots absorb calcium from the soil solution in the form of Ca2+ ions. The mobility of calcium in plant is low, and the root uptake from fertilized soils is poorly effective in increasing the calcium content in leaves and fruits. Deficiency of Ca will appear in younger leaves and in fruits, due to its low rate of transpiration. Thence, it is necessary to have a constant supply of calcium to continue growing. The direct application of liquid source of calcium on leaves and fruits may offer an alternative solution. The efficiency of foliar application with Ca depends on the source of Ca and applied dosage. To our knowledge, however, little information is available regarding the effect of different calcium sources on cauliflower. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate the effect of foliar spray of calcium sources on quality and antioxidant properties of cauliflower cv. Romansco.
 In order to evaluate the effect of different sources of calcium on antioxidant properties and quality of cauliflower cv. Romansco, the field experiment was carried out as a randomized complete block design with three replication during 2018 at Research farm of faculty of Agriculture, at the University of Zanjan, Iran. Cauliflower plants (cv. Romanesco) were cultivated by applying conventional farming practice for growing in open air conditions. Different calcium sources including calcium nitrate (Ca(NO3)2, 0.5, 1 and 1.5 %), calcium chloride (CaCl2, 0.3, 0.6 and 0.9 %) and calcium lactate ( C6H10CaO6, 0.5, 1 and 1.5 g L-1) were sprayed in vegetative stage and 10 days after curd formation for 2 times onto the leaves and curd until runoff using a mechanical mist sprayer. Distilled water was used as a control. Potassium, phosphorus, total soluble content, titratable acidity, ascorbic acid content, total phenols and flavonoids, free radical scavenging activity (DPPH) were measured. Statistical analyses were performed with SPSS software package v. for Windows, and means comparison were separated by Duncan’s multiple range tests at p < 0.05.
 The results showed that foliar spray of different Ca sources significantly increased K content and decreased P content. The highest amount of K (5.6 µg mg-1DW) was achieved in CaCl 0.9% treatment. The highest value of flavonoids (0.86 and 0.85 %) was found in plants treated with CaL 1.5 g L-1 and CaCl 0.9%, respectively. In this study, also it was found that foliar spray of CaN 1.5% and CaCl 0.9% increased respectively 49.3 and 40.4% vitamin C content compared to control plants. Ca application with increasing phenolic compound and vitamin C contents, improved antioxidant capacity and the maximum antioxidant capacity (26.19%) was found in CaL 1.5 g L-1 and CaN 1.5% treatments. Application of Ca sources increased TA and TSS content. The highest TSS content (12.5 and 13.3 ºB) was achievd in CaCl 0.9% and CaL 1.5 g L-1 and the maximum TA (28.8%) was found in plant treated with CaCl 0.9%. In this regard, foliar application of high level of calcium sources was more efficient than of lower levels on cauliflower quality. Therefore, the leaf application of calcium can be effective in improving the quality of vegetables, especially cauliflower.
 Study results suggest that spraying different Ca source improved quality and antioxidant properties of cauliflower cv. Romanesco, so that with the application of Ca salts increase K, vitamin C, phenol and flavonoids contents. Among the calcium treatments used, higher levels of all three salts of CaCl, CaN and CaL had the most influence, so these calcium treatments are recommended to improve the quality and antioxidant properties of Romanesco cultivar.

Strawberry is one of the temperate fruits, which is among the most important commercial horticultural crops. This product has found its place in the diet of millions of people due to its aroma, taste and vitamin-rich contents. Therefore, present study was conducted in the greenhouse to investigate the effect of humic acid and arginine at different levels of vermicompost on quantitative and qualitative characteristics of Gaviota strawberry. This research was carried out in a factorial experimental with complete randomized blocks design with 16 treatments, three replications and 48 plots. The first factor was substrates in 4 levels (garden soil, "garden soil + 5% vermicompost", garden soil + 10% vermicompost "and" garden soil + 20% vermicompost ") and the second factor included organic acids in 4 levels [control (water), humic acid (100 mg/l), arginine (100 mg/l) and humic acid + arginine (100 + 100 mg/l)]. The measured traits included number of leaves, fruit yield, number of fruits, fruit weight, fresh and dry weights of shoot, chlorophyll a, b and total, carotenoids, anthocyanin content, vitamin C, total soluble solids (TSS), titratable acid (TA) and TSS/TA. According to the results, "garden soil + 20% vermicompost" had a positive effect on all tested traits and increased physiological and vegetative parameters in strawberry. The highest fruit weight, chlorophyll a, b and total, carotenoids, anthocyanin content, and vitamin C were obtained in the treatment of "humic acid + arginine". Interaction effect of "planting medium × organic acid" showed that the highest number of leaves, highest yield and number of fruits were related to "garden soil + 20% vermicompost × humic acid + arginine" treatment.

 Agaricus bisporus is the important mushroom that is cultivated industrially and due to its medicinal properties, it has special nutritional importance in the food basket of the people of the world. It is predicted that with increasing population and changing consumption patterns, food will be one of the most critical issues in the country soon and protein poverty will be one of the most critical leading crises. Mushroom can be the best choice for the supply of essential human protein because they produce protein-rich foods using agricultural waste. Mushrooms are also rich sources of essential amino acids, vitamins (B2, niacin and folate), and minerals. White button mushroom production accounts for about 35% of the total world production of edible mushroom. The production of edible mushroom (Agaricus bisporus) depends on planting, amount of spawn consumed, growing conditions, species and media of cultivated edible mushroom.
 The present study aims to investigate the effect of vitamins B and C on growth, yield of button mushroom and its postharvest life. The study was performed in two separate experiments in the mushroom factory and storage. The experiment was performed in the mushroom factory located in Khomeini Shahr city of Isfahan province and experiments related to the laboratory section and the research laboratories of the Faculty of Agriculture, Isfahan University of Technology. In this study, a box culture system was used to grow mushrooms. For this purpose, in order to prepare the culture media and prevent the mixing of culture media containing different treatments, cardboard plastic was used to make the boxes. First, in order to eliminate the pathogens, tiram fungicide is used for 24 hours. Cartonoplasts were then placed at specific distances of 30 cm by 30 cm. To eliminate pathogens, the composts were steamed in an autoclave at 121 ° C at a pressure of 1.34 atmospheres for 15 minutes and boarded and treatments were applied. Treatments include 3 levels of vitamin C (0, 3 and 6 mg / kg) (C0, C1 and 2C), 3 levels of vitamin B (0, 0.5 and 1 mg / kg) (B0, B1 and B2) was performed by factorial experiment in a randomized complete block design with 4 replications (40). Vitamin B complex, including vitamins B1, B2, B6, B12 and B9 were prepared in a ratio of 1: 2: 2: 5: 4. The treatments were applied to the composts used in the bed after boarding and before applying topsoil. When the mushrooms reached the commercial harvest level, i.e., the cap was 2.5 to 8 cm, but the cap was not opened, the factors related to vegetative growth were measured as follows. The number of mushrooms during the harvest period was counted for all treatments and at the end of the period, the average number of mushrooms per unit area was calculated. Cap diameter and base of each fungus were measured with a caliper during the harvest period for all mushrooms. In order to estimate yield, the mushroom harvested daily were weighed from all replications of each treatment.
 The results showed that the nutritional supplements used in this study were effective in increasing vegetative growth and yield and the highest number of mushrooms and dry weight were related to vitamin treatment. The interaction effect of vitamin C and vitamin B on the quantitative and qualitative characteristics of edible mushrooms at harvest time showed that dry weight increased at C1 and C2 with increasing concentration of B2 and decreased at C0. Cap diameter increased at all concentrations of vitamin C with increasing concentration of B2 and C2 had the highest amount. Base diameter was highest in C1 with increasing all concentrations of B vitamins compared to other treatments and lowest in C2 with concentration of B0. Ion leakage in C2 increased with increasing concentration of B2 and decreased in C0 and C1. The number of mushroom in C1 and C2 decreased with the addition of vitamin B and the highest number in C2 increased with the concentration of B0. The weight of grade 2 at C0 and C1 decreased with increasing concentrations of B2 and B1, respectively. Total yield was increased at all concentrations of vitamin C using B1. The highest total yield was observed in C1 treatment with B2 application. Total performance in control and C2 treatment decreased with increasing B2. Harvest time hardness increased in all three vitamin C treatments by increasing the concentration of B1, but increasing the concentration of B2 compared to B1 decreased. The highest increase was observed in the control treatment of vitamin C and the highest decrease was observed in the treatment of C2. Harvest time whiteness increased in C0 and C2 with the addition of vitamin B and decreased in C1. In general, in the control treatment of vitamin C in the two concentrations of B1 and B2, the highest amount of whitening time was observed. The highest amount of ash was observed in C2 with B2 application. In the postharvest experiment, the highest hardness after 32 days of storage was related to vitamin B treatment and the highest postharvest hardness, postharvest whiteness, and whiteness after 32 days of storage were related to vitamin C treatment. Also, the results of comparing the mean of interactions showed that the total yield in all three vitamin B treatments increased with the application of 3 mg/kg. The results of the second experiment showed that the rate of water loss in C1 with the addition of B2 concentration was the highest and in the control treatment was the lowest. The hardness increased after 32 days of storage in the control treatment and C2 with the application of B1, but decreased in C1 and C2 with the use of B2. The highest amount of whiteness was observed in C1 after 32 days of storage by increasing the concentration of C1, which was not statistically significant with the control treatment. It seems that there is not much difference between different concentrations of vitamin C in vegetative and postharvest fungal traits, but better results have been obtained by increasing the concentration of vitamin B. The results indicate that the effect of supplements on the yield of edible mushrooms is different so that adding appropriate amounts of supplements to the culture medium significantly increases crop yield. The results of this study showed that vitamin C1 treatment resulted in the highest dry and total weight, cap diameter, base diameter, and number of mushrooms. Wetter and drier cap and base diameters, ion leakage and water loss, were the highest in vitamin B2 treatment.

 Barberry is one of the native plants of Iran and tolerates environmental stresses, especially drought. This species can play a special role in the future development of horticulture in Iran. This species is drought tolerant and can be used in the development of rain-fed gardens. The Barberry family contains 15 genera and 650 species, most of which are distributed in the temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere. The most important genus in the barberry family is Berberis. This genus has 500 species, some of which, including Zalzalaki, Zarafshani, Khorasani, Rastkhoshe, common and Japanese barberry, exist in Iran (i.e., Berberis vulgaris, B. orthobotrys, B. crataegina, B. integerrima, and B. khorasanica, respectively). This plant is widely distributed in Iran. Various wild species of barberry are distributed in the southern and northern slopes of Alborz from Firoozkooh, Taleghaneh, Miyaneh to Amarlu of Gilan. This genus grows on large areas of the Zagros at an altitude of 1000 to 2500 meters above sea level. Iran is the largest producer of seedless barberry in the world with a cultivated area of ​​18341 hectares and production of 21181 tons of dried barberry. This species can play a special role in the future development of horticulture in the country and reduce the pressure on water resources, especially in rain-fed horticulture.

 In this study, 25 genotypes were evaluated from three regions: west of Alborz province (Taleghan region), north of Alborz province (Chalus road and Khuzenkola, Arangeh, Asara to Dizin heights) and northeast of Tehran (Lavasanat). Morphological evaluation was performed according to UPOV instruction (TG 68/3). 32 quantitative and qualitative morphological and horticultural traits were evaluated according to UPOV (TG 3.68). Of which, 11 quantifiable traits including leaf length and width, fruit length and width, pedicel length, Berries per raceme, cluster length, spines length, vitamin C, TA (Titratable Acidity) and TSS (Total Soluble Solid) were analyzed.

 The results of analysis of variance showed significant differences between genotypes for all quantative traits evaluated at the level of 1% and for the number of berries per cluster at the level of 5%. The high coefficient of variation indicates high variability for the desired trait, which allows the breeder to have more choices for selecting desired genotypes. The number of fruits per cluster with 45.55, spines length with 28.67 and titratable acid with 26.58 percent malic acid, had the highest range of changes. Qualitative traits included Foliage secondary color, Leaf curvature and Leaf margin, Leaf glossiness, Color of lower side, Fruit tip, Fruit waxiness, Foliage persistence, and Shoot color in spring among the genotypes were uniform and without variance. The lowest coefficient of variation among quantitative traits was related to Brix (7. a16 percent) and fruit length (13.14 percent). The highest number of fruits was belonged to Lavasan genotype (AD8) giving an average of 25 fruits per cluster, which was substantially different from other genotypes. The highest and lowest fruit length and width are related to Taleghan 5 (11.59 mm) and Chalus 7 (3.26 mm) genotypes, respectively. In a study, the average length and width of barberry fruit were 7.69 and 3.32 mm, respectively. Vitamin C is one of the nutritional values of fruits and has direct effects on human health. Wild barberry genotypes possessing the least vitamin C content (4.7 mg/per 100 gram) of fresh fruit (Asara I genotype) and also the fruits containing the highest values (i.e., 10.57 (Taleghan 4), 9.63 (Chalous 8) and 9.4 (Taleghan 8)) yielded more than even temperate fruits such as stone and pome fruits (The mean amount of vitamin C in apples, grapes and black cherries is 4.6, 4, 10 mg/100 g FW, respectively). This value in strawberries as an indicator plant is reported between 10 and 100 and an average of 58.8 and the value for lemons is 53 mg/100 g FW. Khayat and Mahmoud Abadi (2010) reported the amount of vitamin C in seedless barberry treated by fertilizers varied from 4 to 9 mg  per 100 g of fresh fruit.The highest values of total soluble solids or Brix˚ were related to Chalus 8 genotypes with value of 24.83% and Chalus 1 with value of 23.23% and the lowest amount was related to Asara 2 genotype with 18.1%. Khayat and Mahmoud Abadi (2010) reported the total soluble solids ranged between 18.3 to 33.06 percent in seedless barberry, which is much higher than our experiment. The highest titratable acidity were observed in Taleghan 4, Taleghan 8 and Taleghan 2 genotypes, with 2.66, 2.65 and 2.41 mg/ml malic acid respectively, and the lowest titratable acid was observed in Chalus 9 genotype with 1.12 mg/ml malic acid. This value has been reported in domestic barberry is between 1.07 and 2.95. The highest mean leaf lengths were observed in Chalus cultivars 3 and 5. Among the genotypes, Taleghan 7 has the longest Pedicel length.

The selected genotypes for breeding programs were the Oshan (AD8) genotypes with an average of 25 fruits per cluster. Regarding vitamin C content the prominent genotypes were the Taleghan 4 (10.57), Chalus 8 (9.63) and Taleghan 8 (9.4) mg/100 g F.W. The highest genotypes for total soluble solids were Chalus 8 genotypes with 24.83 and Chalus 1 with 23.23 percent.

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of nitrogen and iron elements on increasing the quantity and quality of the 6-old-years sweet lime trees budded on Mexican lime rootstock in Jahrom. The experiment was performed as factorial arrangement in the randomized complete blocks design with 9 treatments and three replications and each replicate having one sweet lime tree. The foliar application of urea and iron sulfate was done at concentrations of 0, 3 and 5 g/l, alone and their combined treatments, before flower induction of the trees, in October. Based on the results, different amounts of urea and its interaction with iron sulfate, had significant effect on all quantitative and qualitative traits of sweet lime fruit at p<0.05. Iron sulfate had significant effect (p<0.05) on pH, total acid, vitamin C, fruit weight, yield. The highest yield of single tree (203 kg), juice percentage (45.4) and vitamin C (44.26 mg/100 ml fruit juice) were obtained from the combined treatment of nitrogen 5 g/l and iron 3 g/l concentration.

Oranges are the second most widely consumed fruit in the world after apples. The quality of citrus fruits depends not only on the appearance of the fruit size, shape, color and absence of disease and any surface damage, but also on the flavor, richness of food, vitamins, seedlessness and fruit aroma. The present study investigated the fruit qualitative differences between the ten orange varieties (Thomson Navel, Tarocco, Mars Early, Frost Novel, Local, Italian, Khorram Abadian, Hamlin, Morbeld and Moro Valencia) that grafted on sour orange rootstock, in the Jiroft region. The aim of this study was introducing the fruit qualitative characteristics and nutritional value of ten orange cultivars on the sour orange rootstock in climate conditions of Jiroft region, for fresh uses and processing. Also, determine the capabilities of each cultivar in antioxidant content and antioxidant capacity to introduce the properties of these cultivars to researchers in the food and pharmaceutical industries.

Fruit weight was determined by digital scales. The volume of the fruit was obtained by moving the water. The 0.1 mm caliber device was used to measure skin thickness, length and fruit diameter. To measure the thickness of the fruit skin, a cut was first separated from the middle part of the fruit and its thickness was recorded in mm. The total number of hollow and healthy seeds was counted and was recorded as seed number. The juice percentage was calculated by calculating the percentage of juice mass to fruit mass. A manual refractometer was used to measure the total soluble solids, and thesodium hydroxide titration method was used to measure the titration acidity. The flavor index or maturity index was obtained from the TSS/TA ratio and technology index was calculated by multiplying the percentage of TSS in the percentage of juice. Vitamin C measured by the iodometric method. The antioxidant activity of juice was determined based on the DPPH method. Carotenoid and chlorophyll pigments in juices and skins, were calculated using the Liechtensteiner pigmentation method. The experiment was done as a randomized complete block design in three replications. Statistical analysis of the data was performed using SAS software and means were compared using Duncan's multiple range test at 5% of probability level.

The results showed that Thomson Novell, Frost Novell and Italian cultivars had the highest freshness quality in terms of appearance characteristics (fruit weight, volume, and length, number of seeds, and fruit shape index) among the ten cultivars evaluated. All cultivars were in the physiological maturity stage and were suitable for the juice industry due to their high technology index. The range of vitamin C varied 57 - 109 mg per 100 ml juice and the range of antioxidant capacity varied 65 - 94%. Morbeld, Valencia Morocco, Frost Novell and Mars Early cultivars had higher nutritional value due to higher vitamin C, and Hamlin, local, Tarocco and Frost Navel had higher antioxidant capacity. Khorramabadian cultivar had higher carotenoid pigments in juice and skin.

Therefore, most of the studied cultivars had high freshness and nutritional value, but among them, Frost Novell cultivar, considering the amount of vitamin C, antioxidant capacity, technology index and appearance characteristics in the higher statistically groups  and was in the lower statistical group in terms of number of seeds, therefore was selected as the best cultivar.

Optimal planting pattern and proper nutritional management, especially the vital element of nitrogen, are among the most important and influential factors on the quantitative and qualitative traits of tomatoes. Two experiments were performed in two regions in Agricultural Research Stations of Bushehr Province in 2017-18 crop year in the form of split plots in a randomized complete block design with three replications. The main plot consisted of two planting patterns (single row and twin row) and the sub-plot consisted of four nitrogen levels (0, 90, 180 and 270 kg ha-1 nitrogen). The results showed that the interaction effect of nitrogen × planting pattern in Bondarooz region had a significant effect on single plant yield, vitamin C, pH and partial factor productivity of nitrogen. In Saadabad region, the interaction of planting pattern and nitrogen on the number of locules per fruit and total soluble solids was significant. In Bondarooz, the highest and lowest single plant yields were obtained by application of 180 kg ha-1 nitrogen in single row planting method and without nitrogen application in twin row planting method, respectively. In Saadabad, application of 270 kg ha-1 nitrogen increased the yield of single plant by 116% compared to no application of fertilizer. The most important reason for the difference in yields between two regions was the amount of soil organic matter.

In order to investigate the effect of nutrient solution type and concentration on physiological and morphological characteristics of strawberry cultivar ‘Parus’ in hydroponic culture (75% volumetric perlite + 25% volumetric cocopeat), an experiment using a completely randomized design with three replications was conducted. The growth media included Full-Strength Morgan (FSM), Double Strength Morgan (DSM), Half-Strength Morgan (HSM), Full-Strength Hoagland (FSH), and Half-Strength Hoagland (HSH). The results showed that nutrient solution type had significant effects on plant growth characteristics and quality of strawberry fruit, so that the highest number of leaves (7.16 per plant), shoot height (28.62 cm), fresh weight (11.70 g per plant) and dry weight (2.66 g per plant) of the shoot were related to the HSH treatment. But, the highest fresh weight (15.15 g per plant) and dry weight (1.40 g per plant) of roots were obtained in DSM and FSM treatments, respectively. Fruits of plants treated with FSM nutrient solution had the highest amount of vitamin C (83.4 mg/100 ml of extract) and total soluble solids (5.7%), while HSM produced the highest titrable acidity (0.17%). Nutrient solutions had no significant effect on crown diameter, and pH, firmness and color of the fruits. Therefore, HSH treatment is recommended for vegetative phase because it improves the growing conditions with less water and nutrients used. With FSM and HSM treatments, fruits with higher quality were obtained. Also because MFS nutrient solution produced more vitamin C (as a powerful antioxidant) and soluble solids (as a flavoring agent), this nutrient solution is recommended for the reproductive growth phase.

High yield, earliness and high quality of new potato cultivars have an important role in food security, reducing price fluctuations and warehousing costs, and access to fresh produce all season years. In this study, quantitative and qualitative traits of 15 potato genotypes from breeding populations were studied in a completely randomized block design (RCBD) with three replications for two years (2017 and 2018) in Ardebil region. The results showed that interaction effect of genotype in year was significant for total tuber yield, marketable tuber yield, tuber number and weight per plant, plant height and days number to tuberization significant at the 1% level, and had no significant effects on number of main stem per plant, tuber dry matter percentage, tuber specific gravity, starch percentage, vitamin C and tuber protein percentage. Genotypes 901375, 90275, Savalan, 90527, 90127, 90827, Agria and Marfona had the highest yield during two years of experiment. Among the high yielding genotypes, genotypes 901375 and Savalan had the highest percentage of tuber dry matter, tuber specific gravity, tuber starch percentage, vitamin C of tuber and protein percentage. Genotypes 901375 and Savalan were selected as high yielding genotypes with appropriate qualitative traits based on yield and yield components of tuber and measured traits.

In order to study the application of zeolite on quantitative and qualitative characteristics of carela medicinal plant under deficit irrigation, a factorial experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design with three replications in a greenhouse at the Agricultural Institute, University of Zabol during 2018. Experimental factors included deficit irrigation in three levels, (90, 70 and 50 % F.C.), and four levels of zeolite (0, 20, 30 and 40 g/kg of soil). The results showed that application of zeolite increased fresh and dry fruit weight, fruit diameter and fruits number per plant and deficit irrigation had a decreasing effect on the mentioned traits. Application of zeolite at all levels of deficit irrigation increased plant length, fruit length, fruit yield, chlorophyll a, b and carotenoid, vitamin C and alkaloids, so that the highest amount of these traits was obtained from 40 g/kg zeolite. In general, application of zeolite was helpful in reducing the adverse effects of deficit irrigation on carela's quantitative and qualitative traits.