جستجوی مقالات مرتبط با کلیدواژه « ذخایر ژنتیکی » در نشریات گروه « کشاورزی »

The plateau of Iran has very high diversity of different species of the genus Pyrus that has not been evaluated at the species level and used in the national pear breeding programs. The present research was carried out with the aim of evaluating the variation in fruit, seed and the initial seedling growth characteristics of 10 native pear species and comparing them with three East Asian pear species during 2021-2022. The results showed that P. salicifolia and P. hyrcana species had the highest and lowest seed thickness that could be used to distinguish these species. The highest (226.5 g) and lowest (0.67 g) fruit weight was observed in the two Asian pear species, P. bretschneideri and P. betulifolia. The evaluation of the seedlings of pear species showed that the highest seedling height, stem diameter, number of internodes, number of leaves, number of leaflets and petiole length belonged to the seedlings of P. communis cv. Dargazi, and the lowest related to P. pashia. Cluster analysis based on morphological and pomological characteristics grouped pear species in two groups. The first group included P. communis cv. Dargazi and P. bretschneideri that were very similar for pomological characteristics. Considering the importance of breeding for devlepment of dwarf rootstocks, it is necessary to study the dwarf pear species especially P. pashia in future and for longer period.

Considering the importance of honey bees in the production of honey and other valuable products in the country, as well as the adaptation of Iranian honey bees to the different climates of Iran, conserving the population of this species is one of the managerial goals and main pillars of research in the field of animal husbandry. The requirement to protect Iranian honey bee populations as genetic resources is to have a comprehensive and Geo-database, so that through it the information of the populations can be registered and managed and also use them when necessary. In this regard, one of the most appropriate methods is the use of a geographic information system (GIS). The purpose of the current project was to implement a Web-GIS system with the aim of registering, monitoring and managing the genetic resources of Iranian honey bees. By using the various capabilities of this system such as data registration, spatial querying and calculating the distribution area and distances between genetic resources, the information of the honey bee genetic resources can be monitored and managed in specific geographical locations throughout the country. In addition, this system can be used as a location-based database for honey bee genetic resources.

Studies of native plants are very attractive as valuable reserves and pristine species in the study of plant diversity. The Iridaceae family is valuable and have special importance in the ornamental-medicinal plants industry. Yellow flag that often grows in wetlands and very humid places is a famous ornamental plant and has economic value in the perfume industry. The study of plant morphological traits as a basis for genetic diversity is very efficient and based on this in the present study, yellow flag diversity based on morphological traits has been studied.

In this study, 16 accessions of yellow flag species in Guilan and Mazandaran provinces from the coasts from Astara to Juibar were identified and collected by field studies and also grouped into three populations based on their geographical location. Thirteen morphological and ornamental attributes of yellow flag including length, width and number of leaves, length and diameter of peduncle, length and width of pendant, length and width of cream, length and width of petals, number of flowers per branch and flowering branch length have been carefully measured. In order to perform analysis of variance and compare the mean data of morphological traits in a completely randomized design in three replications have been evaluated using SAS software and graphs were drawn using Excel software and Principal component analysis has been evaluated using SPSS software. The data were embedded in NTedit software to generate the matrix. To determine the similarity of 16 studied accessions and group them in terms of phenotypic characteristics (morphology), cluster analysis was performed.

The results of analysis of variance showed that all ornamental morphological traits of yellow flag including length, width and number of leaves, pedicel length and diameter, sepal length and width, style length and width, petal length and width, number of flowers and stem length showed significant differences in the studied accessions at the level of 1 and 5 percent. In cluster analysis, it was found that the studied populations were divided into four main groups in terms of traits measured from the cut-off points obtained in clustering the whole populations. Thus, accessions F, P, H, M, O, K, E, and G in the first group, accessions B, J, I, L, A and N in the second group, accession C in the third group and accession Q in the group of four clusters have been became. The results obtained from the correlation table of quantitative traits show that the most positive and significant correlations are related to sepal length and sepal width (r = 62%), sepal width and petal width (r = 68%) as well as sepal width and style width. (r = 61%). The mentioned parameters are one of the most important ornamental traits in iris and the existing correlations show that the factors that improve each of them can probably also improve the traits associated with them.

The findings of the analysis of the present study indicate that there is considerable variation in morphological traits among the studied accessions. From the results of vegetative and reproductive traits, it can be inferred that Ramsar accession has more potential in the field of morphological studies of yellow flag. This indicates that there is a good genetic potential among yellow flag accessions in Guilan and Mazandaran provinces as one of its distribution centers in Iran. Therefore, breeders in the field of ornamental plant breeding can identify the desired traits and characteristics in commercial ornamental plants to collect hereditary reserves.

Among the country's horse breeds, the Arabian horse has the largest population. Arabian horses are very beautiful and resistant to harsh environmental conditions and are mostly bred in the southern regions of the country. Due to the large population of this breed in the country, it has given rise to several genera that may be genetically distinct. Knowing these differences is important in managing and conserving genetic resources. The aim of this study was to investigate the genetic diversity of Arabian horses and their different breeds in Iran.

In the present study, the genetic diversity of nine Iranian Arabian horse breeds including Kahilan, Abyan, Hamdani, Saglavieh, Julfan, Khersan, Maliha, Nasmani and Vedeneh was investigated. The identification of the strais was based on the information in the studbook of the Arabian horse that has been published by the Equestrian Federation of Iran. All samples were genotyped using 12 microsatellite markers recommended by the international society of animal genetics (ISAG). Electrophoresis of amplified DNA fragments was performed by 3130 genetic analyzers. Data analysis was performed using GENALEX version 2.0 and NTSYS version 2.02 softwares.

A total of 100 alleles were identified using this number of markers on 251 Arabian horses. ASB17 marker with an average of 7.22 alleles and HTG4 marker with an average of 4.77 alleles showed the highest and lowest number of alleles among all strains, respectively. The highest and lowest heterozygosity was observed in AHT4 marker with a mean of 0.786 and ASB23 marker with a mean of 0.631 allele in all studied strains. Also, the highest and lowest mean heterozygositys were calculated in AHT4 markers with 0.784 alleles and ASB2 with 0.598 alleles, respectively. The average Shannon index for all markers was 1.427. The principal component analysis test showed no specific grouping due to the demographic separation of different Arabian horse strains, and all horses were located in one area on the coordinate axis.

The results of the present study showed a better understanding of the genetic structure of different strains of Arabian horses. The results of this research can also help horse breeders to manage their genetic diversity and breeding. Because there is relatively large genetic diversity within different strains of Arabian horses, there is good potential for breeding programs to improve performance and prevent their extinction.

Extensive application of imported poplar clones, can lead to destruction of genetic resources. Determination of intensity and direction of gene flow between population origin, provided important information in order to orienting the improvement and conservation programs. In between, introducing some reliable morphological traits, those are important in clonal differentiation, could accelerate this process considering lower costs in compare with molecular markers.

In present study five clones of black poplar (Populus nigra) in order to investigating the feasibility of clonal differentiation and estimating genetic parameteres like genetic distance and gene flow by means of morphological markers were planted in a complete randomized block design by three replications in selection nursery of Yasouj university and leaf morphological traits of one-year-old saplings were investigated. Morphological traits related with leaf blade, dentation and lobe, vein, petiole, and tip and base shape of leaf was measured in late fall, and the feasibility of clonal differentiation using discriminant functions analysis and cluster analysis was investigated. Finally, by means of an integrating approach consists of predicting models of discriminant functions and cluster analysis of phylogenetic relations, genetic distance, and intensity and direction of gene flow between clones were discussed and investigated.

The results of discriminant analysis revealed that leaf fresh weight, leaf virtual and actual aspect ratio, by 65 percent accuracy, had the highest effects in clonal differentiation of poplar clones. Among the investigated black poplar clones, the Irannian native clone with its small and narrow leavs was distincted from the Turkish native clone, and other clones were in the middle. These variations were in accordance with the geographical location and climatic conditions of these clones. The native and breeded Iranian clones had the lowest and highest amount of plasticity, respectively. Examination of the genetic structure of the clones showed that there was no significant gene flow between most of the studied clones, but significant gene flow was observed between the anonymous native Turkish clone and breeded Iranian clones, and the direction of this flow was more from the Turkish to Iranian clone.

In conclusion, in general, there were few signs of hybrid swarm between Iranian native poplar with the other studied cultivars, but the widespread use of the improved Iranian poplar cultivars increases the need to pay attention to the protection of native genetic resources.

Wheat is one of the most important crops worldwide and one of the most essential commodity in the global market. Many studies showed that it is necessary to increase global wheat production double before 2050 in order to meet the growing demands of the population, changing diets and consuming biofuels. In recent decades, climate changes have complicated the prediction of drought frequency and extent in the Mediterranean Basins. Therefore, more genetic sources are needed to identify lines carrying genes for tolerance and adaptation to drought conditions. One of the most important factors limiting growth, development, and productivity of crops is drought. Landraces breeds have become particularly important as genetic resources adapted to local conditions. An appropriate level of genetic variability in breeding materials and parental germplasm is vital for generating improved germplasm with desired traits that help to increase crop production and thus improve human nutrition. Landraces may facilitate to capture genetic recombination required for creating new genotypes tolerant to biotic and abiotic stresses. It is necessary to comprehend well the available genetic variation in primitive wheat, wild species, and landraces.

A core collection of 249 bread wheat landraces throughout Iran which belong to six different geographic origins were studied under supplemental irrigation and rainfed conditions at Sararood Agricultural Research Station in Kermanshah during 2016-17 growing seasons. Phonological, morphological and physiological traits were scored including days to heading (DTH), days to maturity (DTM), plant height (PH), peduncle length (PL), relative water content (RWC), number of seed per spike (NSPS), 1000 kernel weight (TKW), harvest index (HI), and grain yield (GY). Phonological, morphological and physiological traits were analyzed based on unbalanced combined completely randomization design. Two environments of supplemental irrigation and rain-fed were compared based on Hotelling T square test for the measured traits and multivariate analysis was also used to compare geographic origins in each environment separately. Shannon's index is employed to investigate diversity in germplasm and was utilized GT-bi-plot technique in order to depict relationships among diversity pattern for investigated traits and geographical origins of Iranian landraces.

The results of unbalanced analysis of combined variation and multivariate analyses revealed significant differences among geographical origins of Iran. Multivariate analysis showed significant differences among genotypes with different geographic origins in terms of Wilks’ lambda (0.69, 0.39), Pillai's trace (0.33, 0.81), Hotelling-Lawley trace (0.41, 1.1), and Roy’s greatest root (0.32, 0.57) for all traits at 1% probability level in supplemental irrigation and rainfed conditions, respectively. It means that the present population had high variegation. The results of bi-plot depicted significant differences between south geographic origins landraces and other geographic origins landraces for GY, HI, and TKW under the both supplemental irrigation and rainfed conditions. GT bi-plots revealed that the south landraces were early in flowering with high GY potential and also they indicated more compatibility to unpredictable situations in medium drought (supplemental irrigation) and severe drought (rainfed) conditions. The results indicated earliness (short DTM) as the most important phonologic trait affecting GY under rainfed conditions. South landraces can be suggested as highly valuable resources for using in breeding programs to develop new high yielding cultivars under unpredictable harsh environmental conditions. The examined Iranian wheat landraces showed high variations for important traits including GY, HI, TKW and earliness.

Our finding indicated that the explored variation play an important role in developing new cultivars and may be used in breeding programs aiming for adaptation to drought conditions. It is necessary to use a wide range of breeding strategies in order to gain present diversity in bread wheat which will lead to the expansion of the genetic basis of current cultivars and improvement of new wheat cultivars adapted to dryland conditions.

The present study was performed to classify and study genetic diversity between Calotropis procera accessions from different regions of Kerman province (Iran) using ISSR markers. In total, DNA from 14 plant samples with nine ISSR primers was amplified by PCR and their banding pattern was obtained. The primers showed acceptable polymorphism (35.93) and minimum and maximum polymorphic information content (PIC) of primers in this study were 0.11 for ISSR9 primer and 0.41 for ISSR3 and ISSR8 primers, respectively. Genetic similarity based on Nei index was varied from 0.405 to 0.745 and the lowest genetic similarity was found between J3 (Related to Jiroft) and D2 (Related to Dosari) and the highest genetic similarity was found between J1 and J2 (both of them for Jiroft). By using UPGMA cluster analysis, samples divided into four groups, and the second and third groups contained more accessions. In terms of genetic similarity, two accessions of Jiroft 1 (J1) and Jiroft 2 (J2) which classified in the same cluster were closer. Also, the accessions collected from Anbarabad were at a longer genetic distance than other accessions. Principal coordinate analysis also showed that the first and second components justify 67 percent of obtained genetic diversity. In general, ISSR markers were useful for classifying Calotropis procera accessions and according to the obtained information about existence of genetic diversity between Calotropis procera accessions of Kerman province, this diversity could be useful in the future for breeding and production of Calotropis procera.

Leaf rust is one of the most important rusts diseases of wheat in the world, and its potential impact on wheat yield losses has always been considered significant in many regions. Identifying and using resistance genes against fungal diseases in wheat genetic resources is one of the most effective approaches to introduce new sources of resistance to improved commercial wheat cultivars. In this study, 82 bread wheat landraces and commercial cultivars from different parts of the world were evaluated under field conditions and by using molecular markers assay. In the field nursey, 56 genotypes showed susceptible reaction, 22 genotypes were moderately susceptible, and four genotypes showed resistance or immunity to leaf rust. Reactions varied from moderately susceptible to immunity in different genotypes such as genotypes originated from Iran, Nepal, Pakistan, Turkey, and India. Most of these genotypes were landraces which indicates the importance of studying wheat genetic resources. The results of the Lr34 molecular assay using csLV34, caSNP4 and caSNP12 markers were identical, and showed the same pattern of resistance allele in six genotypes. In molecular assay, cultivars from Iran with CIMMYT origin and genotypes from India and Turkey had effective alleles of Lr34 gene. The observed genetic diversity and frequency of genotypes with resistance genes in this study can be useful to enhance germplasm for leaf rust resistance in bread wheat breeding programs in Iran.

Citrusgermplasm has an extensive diversity in Iran which is due to cross pollination, long history of seed propagation and abundance of genetic variations. For determining the classification status, the phylogenetic relationships and the genetic distance between members of this valuable genetic reserve, it is necessary to use of morphological characters along with DNA-based molecular markers. In the present study, to obtain information on the degree of genetic affinity between 79 unknown citrus biotypes in Kotra Citrus Research Station and determining their relative distance from 18 commercial cultivars, three types of markers (morphological, ISSR and PCR-RFLP) were used.

The present study was carried out asa three-year research toobtain passport data for 79 biotypes and 18 commercial cultivars (check) of citrus trees, recognition of phylogenetic relationships and determination of genetic distance between these genotypes. This study was conducted on the basis of a comparative study of 19 vegetative and 40 reproductive traits and the analysis of chloroplast DNA based on ISSR and PCR-RFLP markers of leaf samples.The three-year average of morphological traits according to standard citrus descriptor were recorded.In order to perform molecular investigations, DNA extraction from the leaf samples of each genotype was performed and DNA was quantified using UV-visible spectrophotometer (nano-drop) at 260 nm. Cluster analysis of morphological and molecular data was performed based on the unpaid pairs (UPGMA) and Jaccard's similarity coefficient anddifferences between genotypes were determined by coding and ranking of them.

Obtained results from cluster analysis of morphological and molecular data with NTSYS-pc and POPGENE software, using the UPGMA method with Jaccard's coefficient of similarity showed that all genotypes can be categorized according to morphological traits, ISSR and PCR-RFLP markers into 12, 9 and 5 main groups respectively in the 40% , 53% and 60% similarity coefficient respectively. According to morphological traits, the first cluster (A) can be divided into two subgroups which there are three lemon varieties in one of them. Another group (B) contains all sweet orange and mandarin cultivars and the third group (C) was incorporates three genotypes including Citron, Pomelo and Duncan grapefruit.The use of ISSR marker showed that polymorphism of examined genotypes was varied from 92% to 53% for N10 and N1 markers, respectively and a significant number of them had close affinity to sweet orange.The results of this study also showed that kumquat, based on molecular characteristics and apparent traits, is a distinct genus of Citrus family and should be placed in separate group.On the other hand, sweet oranges, grapefruits and pomelos were all in the same group which is consistent with the fact that grapefruits are hybrids of sweet oranges and pomelo. In this way, the degree of similarity of the local unknown genotypes was determined to each other and to the commercial varieties (checksamples(.Also, the differentiation of three species (C. reticulata, C. medica and C. maxima) was possible.

The data obtained from the measurement of morphological and molecular characteristics of unknown citrus genotypes could obtain a passport data for each biotypes and determine the phylogenetic relationships of biotypes with each other and with commercial cultivars. Obtained results could determine the genetic distance of biotypes from each other as well as from commercial varieties. In this way, in the future, parents can be efficiently chosen to perform corrective breeding programs for creating of new varieties.

Salinity is one of the most important environmental stress which limits growth and yield of crops. Breeding and development of tolerant varieties is the most effective approach to confront salinity. Improvement of tolerance to salinity in crops necessitates existence of diverse genetic resources. Genetic variability for salinity tolerance has been reported. Wheat germplasm is a valuable genetic resource for tolerance to abiotic stresses including salinity. This research was performed with the objective of screening and selecting salinity tolerant genotypes in wheat germplasm.

A total of 97 bread wheat genotypes selected from previous studies along with three tolerant check cultivars of Kavir, Roshan and Mahooti were planted in research filed of Karaj (normal condition) and Meybod (saline soil and irrigation water, EC=6.55 ds/m and 5.61 ds/m, respectively) in lattice statistical design with three replications. Agronomical traits were evaluated according to international descriptor. Stress tolerances indices were calculated and the superior genotypes were distinguished by analyses of cluster and principal components. Stepwise regression was used in order to identify effective trits in tolerance to stress.

Grain yield of the check cultivar Kavir was higher than Roshan and Mahooti in stress condition. A total of nine genotypes had higher grain yield in stress condition than Kavir. Genotype KC.4419 had the highest amount of grain yield in normal condition (966.67 g/plot) and the highest values for the indices STI, GMP, HM and HM. The indices STI, GMP and MP had high correlations with grain yield in both normal and stress conditions. The studied genotypes were separated in the biplot of grain yield in normal and salinity stress conditions. A total of 38 genotypes along with all three check cultivars having higher grain yield in normal and salinity stress conditions were located in Region A of biplot. The results of principal component analysis based on the evaluated traits along with STI indicated that three PCs comprised 74.79% of the total variation. While the first PC emphasized on obtaining higher grain yield in stress condition through increasing grain filling period and producing larger seeds, the second PC highlighted the accumulation of dry matter in vegetative tissues. The results of stepwise regression for STI showed that harvest index entered in both models of normal and salinity stress conditions. The trait appeared specifically in regression model of stress condition.

The genotypes KC.1514, KC.4382, KC.4419 and KC.4407 (from Esfahan), KC.142 (from Khoy), KC.3100 (from Mashhad), KC.1143 and KC.388 (from Iran with unknown province) and KC.106 (from USA) with higher grain yield in stress condition than check cultivars were selected as tolerant genotypes. STI, GMP and MP were suggested as the most suitable criteria for selecting superior genotypes in salinity stress condition due to their high correlations with grain yield in both normal and stress conditions.

Salinity is one of the most important tensions in global agricultural production. About 20% of the irrigated lands are facing salinity problems in arid and semi-arid regions of the world, and salinity in these areas is increasing. In Iran, the salinity is about 44.5 million hectares, which has varying degrees of salinity and alkalinity (Banaei, et al., 2005). Selection of salt tolerant genotypes in farmer conditions is a practical and dealing ways in using saline water and soil. Millet cultivation in Iran has a long history and according to the short growth period, is able to feed forage in conditions where other sources of forage are not available. The cultivated area in Iran is about 10,000 hectares (Aaron, 2006). According to recent studies, it is possible to develop plant cultivation in all regions of the country. The area under cultivation of this plant in the south khorassan province is about 1000 hectares and the cultivation of this plant has long been rooted in the culture of farmers in this area (Bina, 1993). According to the adaptability of this plant to unfavorable environmental conditions, soil poverty and environmental stresses that are characteristic of arid and semi-arid regions such as South Khorasan. One of the easiest ways to identify and selection of resistant genotypes is explosion to stress and selection the genotypes that tolerate these conditions better than the others. In order to evaluation of salt tolerance in foxtail millet genotypes, two separate experiment with 15 genotypes in saline and none-saline conditions arranged in randomized complete block design with three replications conducted in two years of 2012 and 2013 at the Research and Education Center of Southern Khorasan. Combined analysis of variance showed that salt stress lead to a significant reductions in days to heading, days to maturity, plant height, panicule length, number of panicule per plant and thousand seed weight.In the end, after determining the grain and forage yield in stress and non stress conditions, MP, GMP, TOL, HARM, STI and SSI indices were calculated and using SAS software, correlation between the indices with grain yield and The dry forage was examined and using the SigmaPlot software, the three-dimensional distribution chart of each sample was plotted in A, B, C, and D ranges. Millet seed yield and dry forage yield in saline condition decrease about 40 and 38 percent, respectively. Genotypes number 15-118, 15-24 and 15-120 with averages of 3827.8, 3805.1 and 3803.2 kg/ha had the highest and number 15-80 with 1977.2 kg/ha had the lowest two year averages of yield, respectively. Results of correlation of seed yield and dry forage yield of millet genotypes in saline and none-saline conditions with tolerance and sensitivity indices revealed that STI, MP and GMP are the best indices for selection and recognition of salt tolerance genotypes of foxtail millet. Genotypes numbers of 15-24, 15-76, 15-118 and 15-120 indentified as the most tolerant genotypes to salinity stress on the basis of 3D scattering graph.

Identification of biological threats and the ways to deal with them in order to create food security as well as genetic resources conservation are important goals of non-operational defense in agricultural and animal husbandry fields. One of the major threats in Iranian beekeeping industry is legal and illegal importation of colony products such as pollen, wax, honey, royal jelly and especially the honeybee queen. These importations not only are risks to the extinction of the native subspecies of Iranian honeybee as a precious genetic resources of Iran, but also increase of pests and diseases importation and damaging to food security. Because of the biological characteristics and mating behaviors of honeybee, the importation of queens cause replacement of native queens with foreign queens and loss of native species of honeybee in the country and also it causes to entrance new honeybee diseases and pests. The new diseases which were reported from Iran during the recent years because of illegal queen importations are including: Israeli Acute Paralytic Virus, Sacbrood Virus, Deforming Wing Virus, Kashmir and the Black Queen Cell Viruses. Generally, due to the vital role of honeybee in producing of agricultural crops and one third of human food are necessary using of legal tools in the non-operational defense organization for reducing vulnerability against the crises and biological threats of Iranian honeybee as one of the valuable genetic resources of Iran.

Identification and classification of cold water fishes in water resources of Iran is scientifically and economically very important. The study of geographical distribution, biological traits and ecological status of species groups in inland water resources and cultured systems are considered as base of programming for the conservation and sustainable exploitation of the genetic resources of these fish. According to the most reliable references, the most important indigenous cold water species in Iran with high economic value include several species of fish from Salmonidae (Salmo caspius and S. trutta), Cyprinidae (Squalius turcius) and percidae (Sander lucioperca). Problems such as genetic disorders and subsequent adverse and unfavorable their effects on rainbow trout, reduced stock of Caspian salmon (spring race), over-exploitation and illegal (Salmo trutta, Squalius turcius, Sander lucioperca), the lack of biological information from other species (Squalius turcius) have caused the genetic reserves of these species to be critically endangered, endangered and vulnerable.  Rainbow trout and Salmo caspius (because of their economic and nutritional importance) and Salmo trutta and Sander lucioperca are protected and exploited in the priority due to their vulnerability.

A total of 1198 Iranian accessions of Bread Wheat Collection of National Plant Gene Bank of Iran were evaluated and screened for resistance to powdery mildew disease. The genetic materials were evaluated separately in three different sets, each comprising about 400 accessions, in three disease hot spots of Sari, Moghan and Gorgan under natural infection of the disease. The resistant accessions were purified leading to 168 lines which were then evaluated again in three hot spots for resistance under the field condition. Different number of resistant genotypes were determined in each location, however, two genotypes B1G11 (From Khorasan) and B2G6 (From Ilam) were resistant in all three location. The pathogen isolates were collected from different regions and purified by single clones and were inoculated on the differential cultivars. Three pathotypes were determined, all had virulence factors for Pm3b, Pm4a, Pm5, Pm6 and Pm7. The pathotypes lacked virulence factor for Pm2, Pm4b and Pm17. The resistance of 165 genotypes was also evaluated with these three pathotypes at seedling stage in greenhouse. Eighty-nine genotypes were resistant to three pathotypes. Forty-two genotypes had different reaction patterns compared to differential varieties suggesting different resistance gene(s) other than those in differential varieties. The results of this research indicated the potential of Iranian bread wheat germplasm as a source for determination of resistant genotypes to powdery mildew disease.

Multiplication of pear cultivars using conventional vegetative propagation techniques such as soft or hard wood cuttings is difficult. Therefore, the possibility of micro-propagating 10 Iranian native pear cultivars and the establishment of their in vitro collection were studied. In vitro cultures of these cultivars, established using single node soft cuttings on MS Medium supplemented with BAP (1 mg/l) and NAA (0.1 mg/l), were evaluated for growth characteristics. At this stage, time to shoot induction in cvs Ghosi and Natanzi with the mean of 4.75 days was the shortest and in cv Khooj with 20.75 days was the longest, among all cultivars examined in this study. Cultivars Ghosi and Natanzi also produced the highest number of leaves ( 4.25 and 3.25, respectively) and the highest shoot height (9.25 and 6.5 cm, respectively). Micropropagation of in vitro grown plantlets were then studied by assessing 21 days old Micropropagated plantlets on the modified QL medium containing growth regulator combination of BAP (1mg/l), NAA (0.1 mg/l), Zeatin (1mg/l) and 2ip (1mg/l). Cultivar Ghosi produced plantlets with an average of 3.75 leaves and the average height of 4.27 cm, showing the highest growth rate. On the other hand, plantlets of cvs Beiruti and Shahmiveh with an average shoot height of 1 cm showed the lowest growth among the cultivars examined. Modified QL media supplemented with different concentrations of Auxin, IBA, were used for rooting of four selected pear cultivars. NO roots was observed on any of the four cultivars, cultured on media with IBA concentrations of 0.5 and 2.0 mg/l, while all selected cultivars rooted on the medium containing IBA with concentrations of 1mg/l. The highest mean number of roots (6.33) was produced in cv Ghosi and the lowest in cv Sardroodi (1.66). Root length was the highest in cv Shahmiveh and lowest in cv Sardroodi. The results of this research work showed that Iranian native pear cultivars can easily be micopropagated under in vitro conditions, but their growth and multiplication characteristics is genotypic specific. This research also successfully established the first Iranian in vitro collection of native pear genetic resources.

Indigenous genetic resources of every country are the result of millions of years of evolution and adaptation to special climatic conditions. These resources are valuable and necessary to breed and use beneficial genes in current and future research plans. There are many wild flowers and ornamental plants available in Iran’s vast region such as Tulips, Fritillaria, Rose, Poppy, Narcissus, Lily, Iris, Carnation, Gladiolus, Primula and Cyclamens which most of them also have medicinal properties. Extreme climatic changes caused by excessive modern human interference, the development of modern cultivars with a limited genetic base and the development of gene transfer techniques are important factors causing a sharp decline in biodiversity in the past few years. Preservation and reproduction of the available variation in Iran’s flowers and ornamental plants are the initial and necessary steps for the development and implementation of the next major steps in ornamental plants industry.

One of the approaches to agricultural sustainability is using diversity of plant species, including forage crops. A total of 64 accessions of forage grass genus: Agrostis, Bromus, Dactylis, Festuca and Phalaris were sown in a field experiment, and their agro-morphological traits were characterized according to standard descriptors. A high diversity was observed for most of the studied traits on the genus. F test was significant for most of the traits based on one-way ANOVA. Duncan mean comparison method was performed to grouping genus based on the recorded traits. Phalaris located in the highest rank for herbage summer yield followed by Bromus, Festuca and Dactylis in the next group and Agrostis and Poa located in the last group. Results showed forage grasses can be seemed as candidate to be used in agronomy systems due to the existence of high potential for forge yield in the studied materials.