جستجوی مقالات مرتبط با کلیدواژه "2" در نشریات گروه "باغبانی"

Narcissus (Narcissus tazetta) (Daffodil) with the scientific name (Narcissus tazetta) is a perennial bulbous plant from the Amaryllidaceae family (Mozafarian, 1996; Ghahraman & Atar, 2000). Narcissus is one of the most important ornamental bulbous plants that is used as a cut flower and a potted plant. Our country has a huge source of native daffodils. Iran, with its climatic diversity, vast area of fertile land and abundant solar energy, is one of the centers of the propagation of plant species is important. Today, plant genetic resources are considered as the most valuable and vital resources of any country. Ornamental plants such as narcissus have been important for mankind since ancient times. They are valuable for their beauty, but also for their medicinal properties and as a food source (Chehrazi et al., 2008; Farahmand & Khosh-Khui, 2007). Considering the importance of the product in the mentioned cases, preserving the valuable native narcissus plant of our country has many economic and social benefits, also to prevent its extinction. Therefore, this project was carried out to collect and evaluate native daffodil genotypes and introduce superior genotypes.

In this research, the bulbs of narcissus native genotypes were collected from natural narcissus fields in different regions of the country (Khuzestan, Mazandaran, Fars, Ilam and Khorasan provinces). Then bulbs were planted in the research field of the Ornamental Plants Research Institute and the morphological and physiological characteristics of the daffodils were evaluated in the field, including the height of the flowering stem, number of leaves, number of flowers, flowering period, chlorophyll and flavonoid content, bulb size, number and fresh and dry weight were measured. Measuring methods are explained below. Flowering branch height: The height of the narcissus flower branch from the point of contact with the soil to the tip of the flower was measured by a ruler in centimeters. Number of leaves: The number of leaves in each narcissus plant was counted. Number of flowers in each branch: The number of flowers in each branch of narcissus was counted. Flowering period: the number of days from the appearance of the first flower to the time the flowers withered was counted. The size of daughter bulbs: The diameter of daughter bulbs in each narcissus plant was measured by calipers in millimeters. Number of daughter bulbs: The number of daughter bulbs in each narcissus plant was counted. Fresh and dry weight of daughter bulbs: The bulbs of each narcissus plant were removed from the soil. After cleaning the onions from the mud, the onions were weighed by an accurate digital scale, which was recorded as fresh weight, in grams. The onions were then placed in the oven for 72 hours and then weighed again by a precision digital balance, which was recorded as dry weight in grams. Amount of chlorophyll and carotenoids was measured by the method of Maxwell & Johnson, 2000 and amount of flavonoids was measured by the method of Chang et al. (2002).

According to the results of this experiment, Mazandaran and Ilam genotypes showed the highest values for morphological indices. By comparing different populations of Narcissus Shahla, it was observed that the population of Mazandaran with (16.38 cm) had the highest height of flowering stem, with (11.9) had the highest number of flowers, with (55.34) had the highest number of leaves, with (47.33 days) had the longest flowering period, with (8.53) had the largest number of girl onions, with (48.39 mm) had the largest size of girl onions, with (15.88 g) had the highest fresh weight of girl onions, with (10.68 g) had the highest dry weight of girl onions. Also, Khuzestan and Mazandaran genotypes showed the highest values for physiological indices. It was observed that the population of Khuzestan with (2.229 mg.g-1) had the highest amount of chlorophyll, with (1.594 mg.g-1) had the highest amount of carotenoids and with (1.525 mg.ml-1) had the highest amount of flavonoids.

Comparisons of morphological and physiological characteristics of native Iranian narcissus in the field and post-harvest period in different populations of native narcissus (Shahla and Porpar) showed that native Iranian narcissus is a plant suitable for planting in green spaces. The planting of these plants in the area of Mahalat has been successful and if cultivated, along with daily care, weeding and regular watering, it is completely suitable for surface production. Planting native narcissus can be recommended for cities with a climate similar to Mahalat. In order to achieve this, we can introduce the native daffodils of Mazandaran and Ilam regions as the best genotypes. Because in terms of morphological indicators, they have the highest stem height, number of flowers, number of leaves. Also, In order to use a flower pot in the home or office environment, the native daffodils of Khuzestan and Mazandaran regions can be introduced as the best genotypes.

Bud dormancy is one of the important issues in planting and cultivation of fruit trees that needs to be addressed in many trees such as orange (Citrus sinensis). Bud dormancy involves cessation of horizontal and vertical growth, lack of budbreak, and reduction in plant activity during cold weather. One of the commercial orange cultivars is Tarocco blood orange which compared to older blood cultivars, is larger in size and with lower alternate bearing has higher marketability. The nursery trees of this cultivar are grafted on sour orange, citrange, and vigorous rootstock of citrumelo (a hybrid between trifoliate orange and grapefruit) (Talon et al., 2020). One of the major problems of nurserymen in spring grafting of Tarocco cultivar on vigorous citrumelo rootstock is the failure of about 50 percent of buds to break compared to other cultivars on the same rootstock and other similar rootstocks. This unwanted dormancy leads to a one-year delay in the nursery tree production process and unnecessary occupation of nursery space. Given the commercial importance of blood orange and the adverse effects of bud dormancy on yield and fruit lifetime, solutions are used to control and overcome this problem. One of the effective solutions is the application of cytokinins which can stimulate the growth of graft buds (Yadav & Saini, 2018).

This research was conducted in a citrus nursery at the University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources of Sari, in late May 2022. Citrumelo seedlings were grown in 5.3 liter pots containing a loamy-silt soil mix in the nursery location. Tarocco cultivar buds were prepared from a seven-year-old mother orchard and T-budding was performed in June (during rootstock bark slipping). All hormone treatments were applied after graft union and before bending the branch using a soft brush on the graft buds. The applied treatments included hormone treatment (control, 5000 mg.l-1 benzyladenine, 1000 mg.l-1 kinetin, and 50 mg.l-1 thidiazuron) and treatment time (13, 15, and 17 days after grafting). After two months, some traits related to budbreak and growth of the grafted buds were evaluated.

The results showed that thidiazuron and benzyladenine treatments had better effects compared to kinetin treatment on spring budbreak and initial growth of Tarocco grafted buds. In a way that 50 mg.l-1 thidiazuron treatment had the highest number of sprouted buds (67.91), largest leaf area (118.04 cm2), highest number of leaves (16.50), especially when applied 13 days after grafting. Also, in leaf size related traits, leaf area indices, graft growth rate as well as chlorophyll and carotenoid content of Tarocco graft leaves were significantly affected by different hormonal treatments and application times, with 50 mg.L-1 thidiazuron being more effective than other treatments. Cytokinins can promote division and expansion of leaf cells and thereby result in increased cell numbers and improvement of different leaf parameters. Also, cytokinins regulate important physiological processes like photosynthesis. Application of these materials provides cell division especially in areas like buds and growth points and also possibly more buds may form on the spring graft by using these treatments during the grafting process which can lead to increased bud break and faster plant growth (Cook & Bahar, 2017). Increasing cytokinin levels can stimulate the photosynthesis process which results in increased food production, leaf growth and ultimately increased leaf area. On the other hand, cytokinins affect plant metabolism and can regulate production and accumulation of different growth factors. This may lead to a better balance in nutrient distribution and metabolic activities which in turn aids leaf area increase (Hodchek et al., 2023). Finally, according to the obtained results, it can be recommended to nurserymen of this cultivar to use 50 mg.L-1 thidiazuron 13 days after grafting as a practical and effective strategy for increasing spring budbreak, growth and development of Tarocco buds grafted on citrumelo.

In general, based on the results, the application of 50 mg.l-1 of thidiazuron 13 days after grafting can be considered a practical and effective strategy to enhance bud awakening, as well as the growth and development of Tarocco spring shoots on citronmelo. This practice is recommended for producers of seedlings of this cultivar.

Salinity in water and soil stands as a crucial environmental factor that significantly hampers global agricultural production. Over recent decades, the escalating demand for irrigation in arid and semi-arid regions has intensified this issue, making it a major agricultural challenge. Salinity stress, characterized by reduced water absorption, heightened salt uptake (especially sodium, chlorine, and boron), and the generation of reactive oxygen species, induces oxidative stress in plants, severely impacting their growth and overall performance. To enhance plant tolerance to salinity stress, elicitors are employed as a short-term and viable solution to mitigate the adverse effects of stress. Copper, serving as a cofactor and essential element for numerous enzymes involved in photosynthesis and respiration processes, plays a crucial role in sustaining natural plant growth and metabolism. Copper ions function as cofactors in enzymes like superoxide dismutase (Cu/Zn SOD) and polyphenol oxidase, contributing to the removal of reactive oxygen species. However, the absence of this element in plants cultivated in alkaline and saline soils of arid and semi-arid regions can lead to nutritional disorders. In this context, copper nanoparticles emerge as a suitable alternative to chemical fertilizers due to their rapid and efficient effects. Their use not only mitigates the negative consequences of excessive fertilizer application but also decreases the frequency of applications. The Persian leek (Allium ampeloprasum subsp. Persicum) is a valuable edible-medicinal plant native to Iran, belonging to the Amaryllidaceae family. It holds significance in Iran as a key leafy vegetable, valued for its freshness and high processing potential among horticultural plants. Given the nutritional and medicinal importance of Persian leek and the prevalence of salinity stress, this study aims to explore the impact of copper nanoparticle spray in modifying the effects of salinity stress on the morphophysiological and biochemical characteristics of Persian leek.

A factorial experiment was conducted using a completely randomized design with three replications in the research greenhouses of Lorestan University's Faculty of Agriculture. The experimental conditions included daytime temperatures ranging from 20 to 28 °C, nighttime temperatures from 15 to 20 °C, relative humidity set at 60-70%, and a light intensity of 400-500 µmol.m-2.s-1. The first factor involved foliar spraying of copper nanoparticles at control levels (zero), 150, and 300 mg.l-1, while the second factor comprised salinity stress at control levels (zero), 50, 100, and 150 mM sodium chloride. F1 seeds were obtained from Pakan Bazr Company and planted in 1.5-liter pots, with each pot containing three plants. The copper nanoparticles were applied through foliar spraying twice on the shoot parts at the four-leaf and six-leaf stages. Salinity stress was introduced one week after the foliar application, implemented through irrigation once every three days at a level corresponding to 90% of the field capacity. The soil mixture comprised an equal ratio of agricultural soil, cow manure, and sand, maintaining a clay-sand loam texture. Following three months of applying salt stress, a comprehensive assessment of morphophysiological characteristics was carried out. This included the measurement of plant height, stem and bulb diameter, leaf count, fresh and dry weights of stem, root leaf, root volume and length, shoot/root ratio, dry matter (%), stress tolerance index, relative water content (RWC), electrolyte leakage, malondialdehyde content, photosynthetic pigments, chlorophyll stability index, as well as the activity of peroxidase and ascorbate peroxidase.

The results indicated that salinity stress had a detrimental impact on various aspects of plant growth, including a decrease in plant height, stem and bulb diameter, leaf number, and the fresh and dry weights of the stem, bulb, and root. Additionally, there was a reduction in root volume and length, along with decreased levels of photosynthetic pigments. The percentage of electrolyte leakage, malondialdehyde content, and the activity of antioxidant enzymes, namely peroxidase and ascorbate peroxidase, also increased, highlighting the adverse effects of salinity stress on plant development. The decline in plant growth can be attributed to multiple factors, including diminished cell division, ionic imbalance, reduced water absorption, impaired uptake of essential elements, and the impact of toxic ions, particularly sodium and chlorine. Other contributing factors include impaired absorption, regeneration, and metabolism of nitrogen and protein, as well as stomatal closure, collectively resulting in reduced photosynthetic efficiency. Salinity stress further leads to a reduction in soil water potential and an increase in the osmotic pressure of the soil solution. Consequently, the plant requires more energy to absorb water from the soil, leading to increased respiration and alterations in the hormonal balance of plant tissues, ultimately causing a decrease in growth and negative effects on the plant. The application of copper nanoparticles at both concentrations demonstrated positive effects on various growth components, including plant height, stem and bulb diameter, leaf count, and the fresh and dry weights of the stem, bulb, and root, as well as increased root volume and length. Additionally, the use of copper nanoparticles resulted in a decrease in the percentage of electrolyte leakage and malondialdehyde content, coupled with an increase in the concentration of photosynthetic pigments and the activity of antioxidant enzymes, including peroxidase and ascorbate peroxidase. Notably, the concentration of 150 mg.liter-1 exhibited a more pronounced effect in enhancing plant growth, with a diminishing impact observed at higher concentrations. Copper \nanoparticles improve plant growth under stress conditions by influencing the content of cellular antioxidants and modulating the hormonal balance of plant tissues.

The findings of this study indicated that increased salinity stress led to higher electrolyte leakage and malondialdehyde content, along with a reduction in RWC and photosynthetic pigments. These changes caused a decline in the morpho-physiological characteristics of Persian leek. However, salinity stress also increased the activity of peroxidase and ascorbate peroxidase enzymes. Foliar application of copper nanoparticles under these conditions had beneficial effects on the plants. Specifically, at a concentration of 150 mg.liter-1, the negative effects of salinity stress on the morpho-physiological indices of Persian leek were alleviated. This improvement was due to an increase in the activity of antioxidant enzymes, RWC, and the concentration of photosynthetic pigments.

Almond (Prunus dulcis L.) is one of the valuable nut trees that is cultivated in many temperate regions and Mediterranean climatic conditions for domestic consumption and export. Almond belongs to the genus Prunus, from the Rosaceae family. Identifying and introducing genotypes and cultivars of late bloom is one of the most important goals of almond breeding programs. The correct choice of almond rootstock causes better management of the garden, compatibility with all types of soil and resistance to nematodes. Peach × almond hybrid has been the most widely used rootstock in both dry and irrigated conditions in the past years. Creating an orchard by selecting grafted genotypes on suitable rootstock for sustainable cultivation of almonds is particularly important. Cultivation of superior genotypes grafted on fruit trees has an effect on pomological characteristics, yield and quality of nuts. The requirement for the introduction and production of superior cultivars is an accurate selection between cultivars, which is possible through the identification of cultivars and their diversity. The purpose of this research is to investigate and evaluate the most important vegetative, phenological, quantitative, and qualitative characteristics of nuts and kernels in 36 promising cultivars and genotypes grafted onto GN15 rootstock, with the goal of identifying and introducing superior cultivars.

In this research, 36 promising almond cultivars and genotypes on GN15 rootstock were investigated in garden conditions in terms of various vegetative traits, nut and kernel characteristics in order to obtain suitable commercial cultivars. This research was conducted at the Badam research station in Saman region affiliated to the Center for Research and Education of Agriculture and Natural Resources of Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province as a randomized complete block design with three replications. The cultivars and genotypes studied are presented in Table 1. Vegetative traits of tree height, canopy length, canopy width, and branch length were measured by meter in the garden, and rootstock diameter, scion diameter, and branch diameter were measured in the garden with calipers. In order to measure the nut and kernels, 100 fruits were harvested from each of the studied cultivars and genotypes at the time of fruit ripening, and their green shell was separated and dried. Measurement of traits such as length, width, diameter of nut and kernel was done by digital caliper and weight of nut and kernel was measured by digital scale with accuracy of 0.01. Coding of some traits was done based on almond descriptor (Gülcan, 1985) with some changes. The data obtained from the experiment were analyzed using SAS software (version 3.1.9). To compare the means, Duncan's multiple range test was used at the 5% probability level.

According to the results of analysis of variance (ANOVA), there was a statistically significant difference at the level of 1% between the attributes of tree height, canopy width, rootstock and scion diameter, branch length and diameter, and the ratio of tree height to canopy length. (P<0.01). The results of variance analysis show that there is a significant difference between the investigated nut and kernel traits in promising cultivars and genotypes grafted on GN (Table 5). These differences show the diversity in the investigated traits and it is possible to choose cultivars for different values of the same trait. Based on the average comparison results of the vegetative traits, the highest height in genotypes GA4, GA3, GA35, The highest canopy width was observed in genotypes GA5, GA17, GA3, and GA20, GA15, GA5, the highest diameter of rootstock and scion, and the highest length and diameter of one-year branches were observed in genotype GA18. The results of the comparison of the average nut and kernel characteristics show that there is a significant difference in the cultivars and genotypes investigated in this research. The results of the comparison of the average nut and kernel characteristics show that there is a significant difference in the cultivars and genotypes investigated in this research. Based on the obtained results, cultivars and genotypes of GA5, GA24, GA12, GA9 and GA1 showed relative superiority in terms of nut and kernel traits. The results of this research showed that the GA35 genotype grafted on the GN15 rootstock had the highest length, width and diameter of the nut, and the highest weight of nut and kernel. The kernel color light, the without shrinking the kernel and the highest percentage of kernel and the highest ratio of kernel weight to nut weight.

The results of this research showed that the examination of vegetative traits, nuts and kernels in the studied cultivars and genotypes could show the diversity between cultivars and genotypes. The results showed that the investigated cultivars and genotypes have significant differences in terms of all nut and kernel traits, which indicates the existence of diversity between the investigated cultivars and genotypes. This indicates that these cultivars and genotypes can be considered a valuable source of germplasm for breeding programs. Cultivars and genotypes with a higher kernel percentage had thinner shells, more patterns on the skin, and light to medium kernel color. Based on the results, the cultivars and genotypes GA5, GA24, GA12, GA9, and GA1 demonstrated relative superiority in terms of nut and kernel traits. The research also showed that the GA35 genotype grafted onto GN15 rootstock had the greatest nut length, width, and diameter, as well as the highest nut and kernel weight. Additionally, GA35 had light kernel color, no kernel shrinkage, the highest kernel percentage, and the highest kernel-to-nut weight ratio.

Historically, medicinal plants have been one of the most important resources for therapeutic purposes, and even today, their use is expanding in many developed countries. Salinity stress is a major factor that limits plant growth by reducing metabolic and physiological activities. One of the effects of salinity stress is the increased production of abscisic acid in plants. In recent years, the use of seaweed and its extracts has been tested as a method to mitigate the effects of salinity stress on plants. According to the studies conducted in some plants, seaweed extract can cause the growth and expansion of the roots and help to increase the absorption of water and minerals through the roots. Also, based on the research conducted on some plants, the use of seaweed increases the amount of chlorophyll in the plant and accelerates the time of flowering and fruit formation in the plant. Echium amoenum is a perennial plant belonging to the family Borage is a valuable plant in terms of its medicinal properties is considered. In general environmental factors have a significant effect on flower production in these plants. Therefore, for the successful cultivation of medicinal plants, including in general environmental factors have a significant effect on flower production in these plants. Therefore, for the successful cultivation of medicinal plants, including Echium amoenum, providing optimal environmental conditions is a priority, providing optimal environmental conditions is a priority. Ascophyllum nodosum seaweed extract contains significant amounts of high-use mineral elements such as nitrogen, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and low-use mineral elements such as iron, copper, and manganese. Therefore, according to the current results, in this study, the effect of foliar spraying of algae extract was investigated. The morphological characteristics of Echium amoenum seedling under salt stress were investigated

In order to investigate the effects of foliar spraying of seaweed extract on borage flower seedlings under salinity stress conditions, a factorial experiment was conducted with two factors of seaweed and salinity stress with sodium chloride salt, in the form of a completely randomized design in the greenhouse. The seeds were purchased from Pakan Seed Company of Isfahan and soaked in normal water for 24 hours, and then they were transferred into small pots containing three parts of peat moss and one part of perlite. One week after transferring the seedlings to the main pots, foliar spraying with seaweed extract was done. Foliar-spraying was repeated once every two weeks and in total the seedlings were sprayed three times with seaweed extract. In this experiment, a concentration of 1500 ppm of seaweed extract and three levels of salinity (EC=1.6, 4, 8) were used. The seaweed extract used in this experiment belonged to Akadin Company. The type of seaweed from which the extract was prepared was Ascophyllum nodosum and it is a type of brown algae. One week after the first foliar application of seaweed extracts, the application of salinity stress began. In order to prevent shock in plants, salinity treatment was done gradually and in three stages. In order to prevent salt accumulation, washing with ordinary water was done once every two weeks.

The results showed that the use of seaweed extract can significantly protect plant growth under salinity stress. Seaweed extract increased the amount of proline and potassium in the leaves of the plant and thereby reduced the harmful effects of salinity stress on the borage plant. In addition, foliar spraying of borage plant with the use of seaweed extract increased the amount of chlorophyll in the plant, and in this way, by increasing the amount of photosynthesis in the plant; it helped the plant to grow better under salt stress conditions. The results of this research indicate that the use of seaweed extract helps plants maintain their health under salt stress by increasing proline levels and enhancing potassium absorption in plant tissues. Additionally, foliar spraying with seaweed extract preserves the chlorophyll structure in plants experiencing salinity stress, thereby increasing photosynthetic efficiency and promoting better growth under such conditions.

Based on the results obtained, it can be concluded that seaweed can mitigate the negative effects of salinity stress in Iranian borage seedlings. Furthermore, due to its low cost and availability, it can serve as a suitable bio-fertilizer to support plant growth in saline conditions.

Urban agriculture, as one of the basic features of urban planning, helps to increase the quality of urban life due to its cultural, economic and social benefits. However, pollution with heavy metals in cities causes the accumulation of these metals in different parts of planted plants and also the risk of consuming them for food in urban green spaces.

This study was conducted to assess the amount of heavy metal absorption and its effect on some biochemical and physiological properties of peppermint plant (Mentha piperita L.), in Mashhad city in 2021.The experiment was carried out as a factorial based on randomized complete block design with three replications. The first factor (location) were phase 4 Park (with high degree of contamination) and Nasim Park (with low degree of contamination). The second factor was the times of harvest (June15, July15 and August 15). At the time of every harvest fully developed leaves were collected to evaluate the traits.

The results of analysis of variance indicated that the effect of location was significant on all traits except for the yield of essential oil. Also, the effect of harvest time was significant on all traits except for peroxidase activity and the yield of essential oil. However, the interaction of location and harvest was significant only on phenol, flavonoid, proline, cadmium and lead concentration. The results indicated that the ascorbate peroxidase, catalase and peroxidase activities were higher in phase 4 Park. Moreover, the highest activities of ascorbate peroxidase, catalase and peroxidase were recorded in phase 4 + first harvest. Heavy metals cause the production of reactive free radicals and also increase the activity of antioxidant enzymes. However, the chlorophyll a, b, carotenoid and total chlorophyll contents were higher in Nasim. Thus, the highest contents of Chla, Chlb, Chltotal and carotenoid were observed in Nasim + first harvest. The higher amount of chlorophyll and carotenoids in the first harvest is due to the optimal growth conditions such as day length and sunlight and ambient temperature. In addition, total phenol, flavonoid, proline, Cd and Pb elements indicated a reducing trend in phase 4 compared to Nasim Park in different harvest times, but the amount of these traits were higher in the first harvest than in the subsequent harvests. Increased amount of total phenol in the first harvest can be related to the high air temperature at the first harvest which caused stressful conditions in this stage. Proline production also increases under heavy metal stress to help protect the plant against toxicity. However, the percentage of essential oil showed an increasing trend with enhanced absorption of Pb and Cd in phase 4 compared to Nasim Park. The higher percentage of essential oil in phase 4 may be attributed to reduced leaf growth due to the higher presence of heavy metals in that area.

Overall, while the concentration of Pb exceeded the global standard level in both parks, contamination with Cd and Pb (especially Pb) was greater in phase 4 than in Nasim Park, contributing to reduced growth traits in peppermint plants. Regarding harvest times, the first harvest exhibited better growth characteristics and higher absorption of heavy metals due to the plant's greater vigor. In contrast, the third harvest showed lower growth characteristics and weaker absorption of Pb and Cd, likely due to the energy expended for regrowth.

The date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) tree tolerate high temperatures, drought and salinity more than other fruit crop, that is why date palm tree is named the tree of life in the desert. Date palm (Phoenix dactiylifera) is one of the fruit tree crops that is cultivated in arid region of Middle East and North Africa having a significant role on the economy of many countries in these regions. Fruit thinning is one of the major operation for improving the quality of dates as also for other fruit trees. Quality of dates is improved by increasing fruit weight and size and regulating date palm production by reducing the magnitude of year to year production affecting the date palm. Date palm orchard operations include all operations that are repeated annually to produce date fruit. Alternate bearing is common phenomenon in date palms. The thinning is one of the main methods that often helps to solve this problem. The main purpose of thinning is to create a suitable balance and often to increase the leaf to cluster ratio. It is creating a balance between vegetative growth and flowering and reducing the possibility of aging in the alternate bearing. Fruit thinning is one of the necessary operations that affects the growth, quality, fruit yield and regulation of the alternate bearing of the tree. The thinning process is performed manually, mechanically and chemically. Therefore, choosing a thinning method that saves time and money is necessary for date palms, especially in critical situations. The purpose of this experiment was to investigate the effects of manual and chemical thinning on the qualitative characteristics of date fruit at different stages of development for the Khadrawi cultivar.

An experiment was carried out as factorial experiment based on randomized complete block design with 3 replications at Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz in 2022 and 2023. The Experimental factors included: hand thinning (No hand thinning, removal of 33%, removal of 25% of the total number of strands) and chemical thinning (zero, 50 and 100 mg per liter of naphthalene acetic acid). Chemical and strand thinning were done in the Hubabok stage (about 4 weeks after pollination) and the Kimri stage (12 to 13 weeks after pollination), respectively. In two consecutive years, the fruits were transferred to the plant physiology laboratory of the Department of Horticultural Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz. The qualitative traits such as total soluble solids (%), pH, total acidity (%), taste index, antioxidant activity (%), total phenol (mg.g-1 FW), total soluble tannin (mg.g-1 FW), ascorbic acid (mg.g-1 FW), poly-galacturonase enzymes (U.g-1 FW), methyl pectin esterase (U.g-1 FW), cellulase (U.g-1 FW) and invertase (U.g-1 FW) and the percentage of reducing (%), non-reducing (%) and total sugars (%) were measured.

The results of this experiment showed that in the Tamar Stage, the interaction of hand and chemical thinning improved the qualitative characteristics of the fruit and on the characteristics of soluble total tannin, polygalactronase activity, pectin-methylesterase and reducing and total sugars, and the effect of hand thinning on total and percentage phenol and Non-reducing sugar and chemical thinning had a significant effect on ascorbic acid and cellulase enzyme. The results showed that there was upward trend in amount of total soluble solids, pH, total acidity, taste index, poly-galactronase, pectin-methyl-esterase, cellulase and invertase enzymes and the reducing and total sugars from the Kimri to Tamar stage. Also, there was downward trend in amount of total phenol, total soluble tannin content, ascorbic acid, and non-reducing sugar percentage from the Kimri stage to the Tamar.

The Khadrawi date variety has short strands, which results in a significant density of fruits on the strands of a cluster, which leads to large changes between fruits in most of the biochemical properties and has a negative effect on marketability. Fruit thinning is one of the most important agronomic practices in groves, as it enhances the quality characteristics of the fruit. Although hand thinning is more expensive, time-consuming, and relatively more difficult than chemical thinning, our findings showed that the quality of date fruit from the Khadrawi cultivar improved with the removal of 25% of the total number of strands and with chemical thinning using 100 mg/liter of naphthalene acetic acid. These treatments are recommended for palm growers.

Urea is one of the sources of nitrogen fertilizer, which has many applications in agriculture due to its low cost, easy application and high nitrogen content (46%). The main role of nickel is to participate in urea metabolism in plants with urea nitrogen source. This research was conducted with the aim of investigating the effect of nickel and urea nutrition in the hydroponic cultivation conditions on the growth characteristics and also reducing the negative effects of ammonium application in the winter season (decreasing the pH of the root environment and disrupting the absorption of elements) of cut roses of (Rosa hybrida cv. Tonight). A factorial experiment was performed based on completely randomized design with three levels of urea (0, 500 and 1000 µmol) and three levels of nickel (0, 2.5 and 5 µmol) from the source of nickel nitrate by directly adding it to the fertilizer solution. 3 months after applying the treatments, sampling of the developed leaves was done to analyze the morphological and biochemical traits. The results of this experiment showed that the interaction of nickel and urea was significant on the traits of steem height, flower length and flower diameter, fresh weight, steem diameter, chlorophyll and carotenoid content, total protein, anthocyanin and phenol. The application of 1000 (µmol L-1) of urea and 2.5 (µmol L-1) of nickel led to a 40% increase in yield compared to the control treatment. The highest stem height (86.96 cm) was obtained in the treatment of 1000 (µmol L-1) of urea and 2.5 (µmol L-1) of nickel. High concentrations of nickel led to leaf toxicity, reduction of anthocyanin, chlorophyll, and increase of total phenol, and as a result, reduced the green color of leaves. The highest amount of superoxide desmutase enzyme (0.577 U/mg Protein) was obtained in the treatment of 500 micromoles of urea and 2.5 micromoles of nickel, and the lowest amount of the enzyme (0.337 U/mg Protein) was gained in the treatment of 500 micromoles of urea without the presence of nickel. Application of urea alone had no significant effect on the above traits. By replacing ammonium with urea in the nutrient solution, it prevented the decrease in the pH of the environment.

In a greenhouse experiment, the responses of three varieties of paper flowers to varying levels of sodium bicarbonate and iron chelate were studied. This investigation was structured as a randomized complete block design with four replications. The treatments included three levels of bicarbonate (0, 15, and 30 mM) and three levels of FeEDDHA iron chelate [(3 μM (deficiency), 30 μM (normal), and 60 μM (excess)] and three cultivars of paper flowers (ʻBarbara Karstʼ, ʻJamaica whiteʼ, and ʻLady Mary Baringʼ). The results showed that the fresh and dry weight of shoot and root, relative water content, transpiration rate, and stomatal conductance decreased with increasing alkaline stress. Additionally, the treatment of 30 mM sodium bicarbonate and 60 μM iron chelate increased the amount of ion leakage and water use efficiency compared to lower concentrations. The ion leakage levels in the three flower-paper cultivars rose in response to alkaline stress. The relative leaf water content in the ʻBarbara Karstʼ cultivar decreased by 27.75% with rising alkalinity up to 30 mM. However, in the ʻJamaica whiteʼ and ʻLady Mary Baringʼ cultivars, these reductions were 26.49% and 2.1%, respectively. Notably, under high concentrations of sodium bicarbonate and iron (30 mM and 60 μM), the photosynthesis rates decreased significantly by approximately 45.14%, 49.80%, and 57.32% in the ʻBarbara Karstʼ, ʻJamaica whiteʼ, and ʻLady Mary Baringʼ cultivars, respectively. Based on the results, it is evident that the ʻBarbara Karstʼ cultivar exhibited superior tolerance to sodium bicarbonate stress compared to the ʻJamaica whiteʼ and ʻLady Mary Baringʼ cultivars.

In this study, the impact of silicon application under salt stress on growth and photosynthetic characteristics of GF677 and GN15 rootstocks in a hydroponic culture system was examined. The experiment was performed over the 2019 and 2020 years in the Horticultural Sciences research greenhouse, Faculty of Agriculture, Urmia University. The research was conducted in a factorial experiment based on randomized complete block design with three factors: rootstock at two levels (GF677 and GN15), salt stress at three levels (0, 50 and 100 mM sodium chloride) and silicon treatment at three levels (0, 1 and 2 mM) with three replications under greenhouse conditions. Results demonstrated the exposure of rootstocks to 100 mM salinity stress, caused a notable decrease in leaf production, with a 38.6% decrease observed in GF677 rootstock and a 53.2% decrease in GN15 compared to the control condition. Stem length also showed a substantial decline, as 40.1% in GF677 and 53.8% in GN15 rootstocks under the 100 mM salinity stress. Also the findings showed that the salt stress treatments caused a decrease in photosynthetic pigments and gas exchange indices. The application of silicon, improved all measured parameters in both studied rootstocks. In general, the results from this study demonstrated that silicon could increase the tolerance of the studied rootstocks to salt stress with the 2 mM concentration showing the most substantial effect.

Nowadays, one of the environmentally friendly methods to increase the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites in medicinal plants is the use of biological elicitors. For this reason, the present study was conducted to investigate the effect of chitosan and seaweed biofertilizers on the quantitative and qualitative traits of garden thyme. This experiment was factorial in the form of a randomized complete block design with two factors: chitosan liquid fertilizer (0, 3, 6 and 9 ml.l-1) and seaweed extract (0, 2.5, 5 and 10 ml.l-1) was performed with three replications. The results showed that all the experimental treatments caused a significant increase in the studied traits; So that the highest amount of plant height, photosynthetic pigments and carotenoid were obtained with the simultaneous application of 6 ml.l-1 of chitosan and 10 ml.l-1 of seaweed. Also, the application of the highest level of fertilizer (9 ml.l-1 of chitosan and 10 ml.l-1 of seaweed) resulted in the production of the largest diameter of the main stem (1.67 times the control), fresh and dry weight of aerial parts (98% increase compared to control), biological yield, total phenol (75% increase compared to control), and total flavonoid (3.81 mg of quercetin per gram of dry weight). The maximum production of essential oil in garden thyme was also observed as a result of foliar spraying of 3 ml.l-1 of chitosan along with 10 ml.l-1 of seaweed, which was about 3.25 times higher than the control. Therefore, the use of biofertilizers can be an effective way to improve the quantity and quality of garden thyme, as well as preserve the environment and increase the food and medicinal safety of plants due to the reduction in the use of chemical fertilizers.

Soils that have low fertility and calcareous, vegetative and reproductive growth of plants, including strawberries, are limited in these soils. For this reason, natural minerals such as zeolite are used to improve the physical and chemical properties of soil. To investigate the effect of mycorrhiza and zeolite on growth, yield and content of mineral elements of Aromas strawberry plants, a factorial experiment based on a completely randomized design with 4 replications was performrd in greenhouse in 2012. The first factor consisted of three levels of mycorrhizal fungi (Glomus intraradices, Glomus etunicatum and without fungi (50 g) and the second factor included 4 levels of zeolite (0, 4, 8, 12 g kg-1 soil). The results showed that the highest leaf area was noticed after inoculation with G. atonicatum without zeolite with increse of 8.3% compared to the control. Additinally, the highest root fresh weight (12.83g) and the percentage of soluble solids (7.05%) related to the treatment of 8 g kg-1 zeolite and G. intraradices. The highest fruit weight was related to the interaction of G. atonicatum and 12 g kg-1 zeolite in soil (13.44 g). G. atonicatum caused a significant increase of 20.2% and G. intraradicus increased the yield by 15.7% compared to the control treatment without fungus application. The highest total potassium uptake was found after application of 4 g kg-1 zeolite and G. intraradicus. The highest rate of root colonization was recorded in the treatment of 8 g kg-1  zeolite and G. atonicatum. In general, 4 g kg-1 zeolite in soil and 50 g G. atonicatum had the greatest effect on strawberry yield and the other measured properties.

In order to study the effect of Putrescine on some quantitative and qualitative traits of barberry in “on” (2018) and “off” (2019) years, an experiment was carried out in a completely randomized block design with factorial arrangement and three replications. Putrescine solution (0, 0.1, and 1 mM/L) sprayed at full bloom and the fruit set stage. Wet and dry fruit weight, length and diameter, pH, anthocyanin and phenol content of berry measured in two years. The results showed that all parameters differed significantly in the “on” and “off” years. The content of acids, anthocyanins, and phenols was higher (9.52, 2.98 and 2.26 percent, respectively) in the “on” year than in the “off” year. In addition, Putrescine at a concentration of 1 mM /L was the most effective treatment for increasing all parameters except acidity and phenolic content. In addition, this treatment increased pH, soluble solids content, length, and fresh and dry weight (21.59, 9.45, 12.47 and 23.58 percent, respectively) of berries in the “on” year. There was no significant difference between measured parameters in the “on” and “off” years. Putrescine treatment (1 mM /L) reduced some quantitative and qualitative traits in on year.

Calcium plays a crucial role in improving the growth and quality of cut flowers, and selecting the appropriate calcium source can significantly benefit rose producers. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of foliar application of calcium nitrate, calcium amino chelate, and control (distilled water) on the growth, morphological traits, nutrient concentrations, and vase life of the rose cultivar 'Jumilia.' The research was conducted in the ornamental research greenhouse at Ferdowsi University of Mashhad in a completely randomized design with four replications, each containing six plants, over a period of six months from early August 2022 to early February 2023. The results showed that foliar application of calcium nitrate significantly improved the growth traits of roses, increasing stem length, stem diameter, fresh stem weight, flower diameter, and flower count by 38.26, 29.87, 37.47, 19.38, and 12.20%, respectively. Additionally, calcium nitrate application increased chlorophyll a, b, and total chlorophyll content by 20.96, 65.77, and 37.53%, respectively, resulting in a 23.32% increase in photosynthesis rate. The highest carotenoid content and root volume were obtained due to the application of amino calcium chelate. The findings also indicated that calcium nitrate was effective in supplying calcium to the petals, leading to a 13.62% increase in membrane stability index and a 4.1-day extension in vase life compared to the control treatment. Amino calcium chelate played a key role in delaying weight loss and providing calcium and nitrogen to the roots, as well as phosphorus and potassium to the leaves. Meanwhile, the highest nitrogen concentration in leaves, as well as phosphorus and potassium concentrations in roots, were achieved with calcium nitrate application. Based on the results, weekly foliar application of calcium at a concentration of 160 mg/L, especially from calcium nitrate, is recommended to supply the calcium requirements of roses and improve their growth traits and vase life.

Myrtus communis is one the most important Mediterranean species in Zagros forest. Although, M. communis widely spreads in Zagros forest, little information is available about its distribution in south western parts of Iran. Due to the lack of information on its distribution in southern Zagros, in the present study soil physical and chemical properties of M. communis stands in Fars, Khuzestan, and Kohgiluyeh and Boyer Ahmad provinces were determined to generate basic information about soil properties in its stands in south western provinces of Iran. In each site, five 25 × 25 meter plots were selected and soil samples were taken from the 0‒20 cm layer. Soil analysis included total nitrogen, available phosphorous, available potassium, organic carbon, pH, texture and bulk density. Our results indicated that the highest values for soil nitrogen and organic carbon contents belonged to the M. communis stand in Nourabad Mamasani and were significantly higher compared to the other sites. While the lowest values of soil nitrogen and organic carbon recorded for Andika, were significantly lower compared to the other sites. M. communis stands in Nourabad Mamasani had the highest soil fertility, compared to the other sites. Besides, M. communis spreads in neutral or slightly alkaline soils. Soil textures in the studied sites were loam, sandy loam and silt loam classes. Independent sample t-test showed that M. communis stands had higher soil nitrogen, organic carbon, phosphorus, and potassium compared to the vicinity stands. Overall, M. communis prefers coarse and loamy soils with neutral pH or slightly alkaline and high nutrients.

In some saline areas, pollutants such as heavy metals have been spread due to industrial activities. Halophyte plants can be useful for phytoremediation of such areas. To investigate the effect of salinity and heavy metal copper and their interaction effect on the halophyte plant Bassia scoparia L., two factorial experiments were conducted in a completely randomized design in hydroponics laboratory of Birjand University. In the first experiment, interaction effects of five levels of salinity (0, 100, 200, 300, and 400 mM) and five levels of copper (0, 50, 100, 200, and 300 mg/L) on the germination characteristics of B. scoparia seeds were measured. Results of this experiment showed that the increase in salinity and copper concentration had a significant negative effect on the germination and growth of seedlings. In the second experiment, the effects of three levels of salinity (0, 100, and 300 mM) and three levels of copper (0, 50, and 100 mg/L) on the traits related to growth and sodium and copper contents in root and shoot were investigated in pot culture. Salinity significantly increased the amount of sodium in root and shoot but did not affect the amount of copper in root and shoot. In the copper treated conditions, amount of this metal increased in root and shoot of B. scoparia. However, by having accumulation factors of less than one, B. scoparia does not seem suitable for plant extraction of copper, although it can be used to stabilize this metal by having a suitable biomass and considerable absorption of copper in root.

Many efforts have been made to find suitable ways to improve the quality of soil and agricultural products, among which are biofertilizers and organic fertilizers. This study was performed to investigate the effect of mycorrhiza fungus (M) (Funneliformis mosseae), different levels of humic acid (HA) (0, 200, and 400 mg pot-1) and salicylic acid (SA) (0, 100, and 200 mg L-1) on the growth indices, biochemical characteristics and nutrient levels of lemon balm (Melissa officinalis L. cv Citronella) in a greenhouse in northern Iran. The experiment was performed in a completely randomized design with three replications. The results showed that all treatments had a significant effect on the measured variables. The highest fresh and dry weights of shoot, phenol and flavonoid, nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium contents were observed in the M + HA 400 + SA 200 treatment and the highest fresh and dry weights of shoot and root volume were obtained in the M + HA 400 + SA 100 treatment. Also, the maximum total chlorophyll content and essential oil yield were obtained in the M + HA 200 + SA 200 treatment. In general, mycorrhizal fungus with humic acid 400 mg pot-1 and salicylic acid 200 mg L-1 treatment is effective to improve vegetative growth, essential oil and nutrient uptake in lemon balm.

The gradual rise in temperature, reduced rainfall, and soil fertility decline in recent decades have significantly lowered saffron stigma yield. Given saffron's vital economic and social role in Iran, enhancing traditional cultivation methods and advancing industrial cultivation technology are crucial. This study assessed the impact of four non-soil cultivation substrates (three perlite variants - fine, medium, coarse, and a perlite-cocopeat-cocochips mixture) on saffron growth and development. Using a completely randomized design with five replications, the physiological and morphological characteristics of leaf (net photosynthesis rate, total photosynthesis rate, weight, number, and area), corm (weight, number, large-sized percentage), and root (contractile root formation) of saffron were evaluated. Measuring physical indices revealed that the mixed substrate had the most optimal water-to-air ratio. Plants grown in this substrate exhibited the highest leaf weight, net photosynthesis rate, and large-sized cormlet weight (and weight percent). Among the three pure perlite substrates, the medium-sized perlite showed superior physical properties and higher plant yield compared to the other two substrates. Corms grown in the pure perlite substrates produced contractile roots. Overall, the study indicated that despite saffron being a low-water geophyte, adequate water and nutrient supply significantly enhance its physiological and morphological parameters, including nutrient storage in corms, crucial for efficient reproduction in subsequent generations.

The objective of this study was to compare the effect of municipal sewage sludge (MSS) and triple superphosphate (TSP) application on some growth traits and P uptake of quinoa under saline and non-saline conditions. Therefore, a pot experiment was conducted in a completely randomized factorial design with 3 TSP levels (0, 29 and 38 mg kg-1 soil, named as T0, T1 and T2, respectively), 3 MSS levels (0, 0.25 and 0.5 %w/w, named as M0, M1 and M2, respectively), 2 irrigation water salinity levels (2 and 12 dS m−1, named as non-saline and saline, respectively) and 3 replicates. The results showed that, although all the growth traits of quinoa significantly decreased by increasing of irrigation water salinity, application of MSS and TSP (especially combined treatments) was able to diminish the negative effect of salinity. In the non-saline condition, the highest amounts of shoot dry weight, seed yield and P uptake were observed for T2M2, which were 2.8, 3.1 and 13.7 times more than T0M0, respectively. In the saline condition, although T2M2 had the greatest enhancement in all the measured traits, there was no statistically difference between this treatment and T1M2. This result suggested that application of T1M2 in the saline condition was more convenient for improving the growth of quinoa as well as fertilizer management. The T2M2 and T1M2 were the best treatments in the non-saline and saline conditions, respectively, probably due to improvement of P uptake by quinoa as well as increase of soil organic matter content.

The increase in the world’s population induces new challenges including environmental pollution and sufficient food supply for human. The use of sustainable agricultural solutions can reduce environmental degradation and restore natural ecosystems by overcoming these problems. Soilless cultivation systems have become very popular as one of the sustainable agricultural tools in the cultivation of high-use agricultural products. This research was conducted as a mixed analysis of variance in places based on a completely randomized design with three replications. The aim of this study was to compare the yield and yield components and the nutrients contents of the commonly used accessions of basil (green and purple) grown in ten growth media (perlite, cocopeat, sand, pumice in pure form and also in combination with each other with a volume ratio of 50:50) under aquaponic and hydroponic systems. The findings of showed that the studied basil accessions had greater growth in the aquaponic system than in the hydroponic system. In fact, the optimal harmony between the components of the aquaponic system, i.e. carp, bacteria and basil, led to sufficient and effective nutrition of plants and increased growth. Besides, vegetative traits, yield components and minerals of basil had the highest values ​​in the perlite + cocopeat growth medium, while the lowest growth was observed in the sand and pumice growth media. Therefore, the aquaponic system, with the selection of appropriate cultivation substrates, has high performance for basil and can be used as alternative soil cultivation system, especially in regions with water scarcity and arid lands.