نشریه فنآوری تولیدات گیاهی
سال هفدهم شماره 1 (تابستان 1396)

Salvia mirzayanii Rech. f. & Esfand. (Lamiaceae), with the common name of Moortalkh, is an endemic species grown in Bushehr, Khuzistan, Sistan and Baluchistan, Fars, Kerman and Hormozgan Provinces of Iran. In the present study, variation of the essential oil content and composition among seven populations of the plants collected from different natural habitats including Fars Province (Bavanat, Darab, Sarvestan and Lar) and Hormozgan Province (Tange-Zagh, Sarchahan and Sirmand) was investigated. The essential oil was first isolated by hydrodistillation and then analyzed by GC/FID and GC/MS and finaly their chemical variability was determined. Results showed that maximum and minimum essential oil content (w/w%) obtained from Sirmand (2.2%) and Sarvestan (0.6%) populations, respectively. Altogether, 127 compounds were identified in the oils. Linalyl acetate, trans-sabinene hydrate, 1,8-cineole, linalool, γ-cadinene and α-terpenyl acetate were the major compounds. Cluster analysis (CA) of the essential oil components characterized five chemotypes as I) linalyl acetate,8-cineole, II) linalyl acetate阩�訥α-terpenyl acetate, III) linalyl acetate놦 hydrate, IV) linalyl aceateγ-cadinene and V) α-terpenyl acetate,8-cineole. The high chemical variation among populations according to their geographical and bioclimatic distribution could be considered for in situ and ex situ conservation and domestication of the plants.

In this study, the genetic diversity of 26 apricot genotypes collected from Agricultural Research Station of Kurdistan Collections was evaluated using morphological traits based on a randomized complete block design with three replications. Analysis of variance showed that the effect of genotype on all morphological traits was significant at the 1% level of probability. The high diversity for yield, productivity, percentage of incomplete flowers, percentage of the dry matter was observed among genotypes. Results showed that the yield of apricot trees ranged from 9.49 kg per tree in Ghamishlou to 81.71 kg per tree in Tilton. Percentage of incomplete flowers ranged from 2.5% in Khorramta2 to 95.3% in Ghamishlou genotype. Stone weight ranged from 1.3 in Khorramta1 to 4.02 in Malayer. Dry matter ranged from 10.13 gr in Ghamishlou to 20.36 gr in Canino. Estimation of phenotypic and genotypic coefficients showed that the percentage of two pistil and incomplete flowers had the maximum amount of genetic diversity. The highest heritability was belonged to tree growth habit, tree growth vigor, flower density, pistil/ stamen height and fruit density and the lowest heritability was associated with the percentage of two pistil, leaf area and petiole length.

Roses are one of the most important ornamental plants in which the short vase life of cut flowers and postharvest problems cause loss of their quality and marketability. To gain the benefits of natural and safe chemicals towards better vase life and quality, current study was conducted to investigate the effect of salicylic acid (SA) in four doses (0 (control), 50, 100, 200 µM) on postharvest indices of rose cut flowers cv. Hater Class. The results showed that SA had a significant effect (1%) on vase life, total chlorophyll content, relative solution uptake, fresh weight reduction, ion leakage, neck bent, developmental stages, flower diameter and catalase and peroxidase activity compared to the control. Postharvest SA application prolonged vase life in cut rose flowers by increasing antioxidant capacity related to increased activity of catalase and peroxidase, and relative solution uptake as well as decreasing fresh weight reduction and ion leakage reduction compared to the control.

To evaluate corn yield, yield components, and water use efficiency as well as biochemical responses to deficit irrigation, a farm experiment was executed in Karaj in 2009 and 2010. The factors consisted of five different irrigation regimes [including full irrigation (I1), 12.5% (I2), 25% (I3), 37.5% (I4) and 50% (I5) water deficit] and three corn (Zea mays L.) hybrids (Sc704, Sc500 and Sc301). Deficit irrigation decreased starch content and increased soluble sugars in the leaves and roots of all three hybrids. Proline level in roots of all three hybrids was also increased in response to deficit irrigation. The increase in proline content was higher in leaves than in roots, but the increase in soluble sugar content and decrease in starch content were higher in roots than in leaves. Results indicated that the highest leaf and root proline and soluble sugars levels were related to treatment I5 and the highest leaf and root starch content were related to full irrigation. Results also indicated that the highest number of grains per ear, weight of one thousand grains and grain yield were related to full irrigation. There was no significant differences between full irrigation and 12.5% of water deficit. In the conducted test, maximum water use efficiency in Sc704 was observed in treatment I2 and in Sc500 and Sc301 were observed in treatment I3. In sum, it is concluded that the hybrid to Sc704 in 12.5% of water deficit could be recommended in order to achieve maximum yield and water use efficiency.

Recently, Fuji apple has been considered in Iran, however its production comes with problems such as decay and internal browning incidence during long-term storage. In this study, one minute postharvest dipping of two organic calcium compounds including Calcicat and Folical was compared with calcium chloride on Fuji apple in and the friut quality was investigated. According to the results, after three and six months storage, the fruits treated with tree types of calcium solutions had higher calcium content than the control. Acidity content and tissue firmness of fruits reduced during storage, but this reduction in fruits treated with CaCl2 and Folical was lower than the control and fruits treated with Calcicat. The immersed fruits in different calcium solutions produced lower ethylene. Flesh phenolics and antioxidant activity of samples were affected by calcium treatments significantly. The highest phenolics and antioxidant activity were found in fruits treated with CaCl2. Significant variation was observed among fruits treated with different calcium compounds regarding storage disorders incidence, so that fruits treated with Folical showed lower decay and internal browning.

Strawberry seed germination is long and non-uniform and variable, which can cause problems for the plant breeding programs. Reducing the time of germination for strawberry seeds and achieving a high percentage of germination, will allow breeders to easily assess the strawberry germ plasm. Recently, carbon nanotubes have been used to improve seeds germination of plants. Therefore, this experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of carbon nanotubes on in vitro germination of strawberry seeds. The test was carried out through a factorial experiment based on a completely randomized design with 5 replicates. Factors included two in vitro culture media (B5 and MS), different concentrations of carbon nanotubes (0 (control), 5, 10, 20 and 40 µg/ml) and two cultivars of strawberries (Paros and Camarosa). At the end of experiment (40 days) germination indexes including germination percentage, germination rate, time to 50% of final germination, means of radicle and plumule length (two weeks after germination) were evaluated. The results showed that seeds of the two cultivars cultured on MS and B5 media containing 10, 20 and 40 µg/ml nanotube had no sign of germination. In 0 (control) and 5 µg/ml, seeds on both culture media germinated significantly compared to the other treatments. In most indexes, control treatment was better and significantly different among treatments. The results showed that carbon nanotubes in high concentrations restricted the strawberry seed germination possibly because of toxicity induction for the seed embryo.

Selenium is a beneficial element with antioxidant characteristics that can improve plant growth and increase plant resistance to environmental stress. In order to study the effect of different concentrations of selenium on growth parameters, antioxidant enzyme activities, antioxidant properties and total phenol of hot pepper cv. Suryankhi Cluster in a hydroponic culture, this experiment was carried out in a completely randomized design with three replications the treatments were consisted of five Se concentrations (0 as control, 3, 5, 7 and 10 µM). The results showed that Se application at the rate of 3 µM increased growth traits such as stem length, shoot and root fresh and dry weight. The highest root length was also observed in plants treated with 7 µM Se. The activity of antioxidant enzymes such as Catalase and Peroxidase markedly increased at 7 µM Se. Antioxidant activity increased with increasing Se concentration, showing the highest activity at 10 µM Se. Total phenol increased by application of 3 and 5 µM Se and then decreased at 7 and 10 µM compared to 5 µM Se. Proline content significantly increased at 10 µM compared to the control. In general, it can be concluded that selenium application may improve plant growth and increase phenolic content and antioxidant activity of hot pepper.

In order to study the effect of zinc sulfate and iron sulfate under drought stress on yield and kaempferol in chicory (Cichorium intybus L.), a field experiment was conducted at Bu-Ali Sina university in 2012 growing season. The experiment was carried out as split plot based on complete randomized block design with three replications. Drought stress in three irrigation levels at 60 (Control), 90 (mild stress) and 120 (severe stress) mm from evaporation pan class A were assigned to main plot and four foliar application (Fe, Zn, Fe Zn and control) treatment were randomized in sub-plots. Results showed that drought stress in 90 and 120 mm caused reduction about 70.52 and 111.51 Kg/h in seed yield, 1280.71 and 1811.96 Kg/h in biological yield, 121.03 and 293.54 Kg/h in leaf yield compared to the control, respectively. Drought stress also increased kaempferol percentage in 90 and 120 mm irrigation regime about 38 % copmpared to 60 mm irrigation regim. Foliar spray of zinc and iron had no significant effect on the percentage of leaf kaempferol. The number of lateral baranch and SPAD number in 90 mm irrigation regime and foliar application of Zn Fe increased about 9.4 compared to the control. Foliar application of zinc sulfate increased root yield and biological yield about 70.43 and 314.5 Kg/h, respectively. The number of lateral branch and biological yield in 120 mm irrigation regime and application of zinc and iron at the same time increased about 529 Kg/h. Foliar application of Zinc sulfate also increased root yield about 37.5 Kg/h compared to the control.

To study the effect of bio and chemical fertilizers on quantitative and qualitative characteristics of Melissa officinalis, a greenhouse experiment was conducted during 2013 growing season at research greenhouse of Agricultural Research Organization of Qazvin, Iran. A Factorial experiment was conducted based on randomized complete block design with 18 treatments and 3 replications. Factors included: chemical fertilizer at three levels (0, 50 and 100% of current consumption); vermicompost at three levels (0, 15, 30 percent of the pot) and Biophosphate at two levels (with and without application). The results showed that vermicompost had a significant effect on morphological characteristic and essential oil content in lemon balm, so that the maximum plant height, number of branches per plant, seed weight and percentage of essential oil, were obtained by 30 % pot volume vermicompost. The maximum fresh weight (183.33 gr) was obtained by applying 30% vermicompost per pot plus biophosphate. However, the highest plant dry weight (75 gr) was occurred with the vermicompost plus chemical fertilizer. The highest amount of citronellal (47.78%) in the plant essential oil was observed in applying 30% vermicompost per pot. Chemical fertilizers also had a significant effect on the citronellal percentage, so that the use of chemical fertilizer significantly reduced the amount of citronellal. The highest percentage of geranial (19.818%) was obtained by applying 100% of current consumption of NPK. In addition, our results indicated that the combination of vermicompost and biophosphate fertilizers, improved the growth and quality of lemon balm plants.

In order to study the yield and quality characteristics of medicine forage (additive intercropping of alfalfa and fennel) under the effect biofertilizers, an Experiment was conducted at the College of Agriculture, Shahed University in 2011. The experimental design was split plot based on randomized complete block design with three replications. The main factor included 4 levels of fertilizer application viz. control (no fertilizer application), Biofertilizer (Azospirillum/Azotobacter, biophospherous fertilizer), 3. Integrated fertilizer (bio fertilizers 50% chemical fertilizer), 4. Chemical fertilizer (triple super phosphate based on the soil analysis). The sub plots comprised 4 levels of mixtures viz 1. Sole alfalfa, 2. Sole fennel, 3. Intercropping of alfalfa 50% fennel, 4. Intercropping of alfalfa 100% fennel. Results showed that the effect of fertilizer, intercropping and their interaction on the yield of alfalfa and fennel, yield of essential oil, amount of anethole and methyl cavicol was significant by 1%. The highest dry matter of alfalfa (7377.07 kg/ha-1) from sole alfalfa and integrated fertilizer, dry matter of fennel (9334.33 kg/ha-1) and yield of essential oil of fennel (54.2 Li/ha-1) was obtained from Sole fennel when received integrated fertilizer. According to the results, sole fennel treated with biofertilizers, produced the highest anethole and the lowest methyl cavicol. Calculation and evaluation of Total Relative Yield and Relative Crowded Coefficient showed 100% alfalfa 100% fennel in control and the use of biofertilizers were the best, respectively.

In order to investigate the effect of zeolite on yield and yield components of red beans under drought stress in the field, an experiment was conducted in 2014 in the Takhte Shirin Plantation Company located in the Sahneh, Kermanshah through split plot based on a randomized complete block design with 3 replications. In this experiment, water stress was the main factor with 3 levels, (normal irrigation based on 60 mm evaporation from evaporation basin, mild drought stress after the four-leaf stage based on 90 mm evaporation from evaporation basin and severe drought stress after the four-leaf stage based on the 120 mm evaporation from evaporation basin) considered in the main plot, and zeolite with 4 levels (0, 5, 10 and 15 t/ha) was placed in the sub plots. The results showed that different levels of drought stress caused a significant reduction (P

In order to identify the chromosomes involved in salt tolerance in growth characteristics of wheat and classification of chromosomes in terms of salt tolerance, a complete chromosome substitution line series in which chromosomes of Chinese Spring variety (recipient) have substituted with their related homologous chromosomes from Timstein (donor) were used. Plant genetic materials were evaluated through a randomized complete block design with three replications under two salinity conditions of 5 and 10 ds/m in the Imam Khomeini International University. Analysis of variance showed that there was significant difference among genotypes for height, spike length, width and weight, leaf width and length and dry weight. The results revealed Chinese Spring variety was sensitive while Timstein variety was resistant to salinity stress. The results of cluster analysis showed that in 5 ds/m salinity CS(5D), CS(3A), CS(6B) and Timstein variety and in 10 ds/m salinity CS(2D), CS(3A), CS(4A) and Timstein variety were assigned to resistant group. Therefore, in 5 ds/m salinity chromosomes 5D, 3A as well as 6B and in 10ds/m salinity chromosomes 2D, 3A and 4A from Timstein were carrying the salinity tolerance genes with more probability than other chromosomes. Plant breeders by focusing on these chromosomes can identify the exact place of salt tolerance genes and by transferring these genes into high performance but sensitive plants, can improve salt stress tolerance in wheat.

This research was carried out in 2011 to evaluate the effect of blooming delay on growth and qualitative and quantitative traits in grapes cultivar Fakhri through a factorial experiment based on a randomized complete block design using soybean oil and Naphthalene acetic acid spraying. Treatments were time of spraying (March and April) and type and concentration of chemical compounds including distilled water (control), NAA at 100 and 200 mg/l, soybean oil at 5% and 10%, 100 mg/l NAA 10% soybean oil and 200 mg/l NAA % soybean oil. Soybean oil at 10% concentration, alone or in combination with NAA 100 mg/l, reduced branch length and diameter and decreased percentage of dead buds, compared to the control and auxin treatments. The highest and the lowest percentage of fruit set, number and weight of clusters were obtained from the control and 10% soybean oil alone or in combination with NAA, respectively. The application of 10% soybean oil resulted in larger berry size as well. Spraying vines in March was more effective in reducing number of clusters and berry weight, compared to the application of chemicals in April. However, fruit quality, except for soluble solid content, was not influenced by time of spraying. Delaying bud break for a relatively long period, through the application of soybean oil at 10% concentration, alone or in combination with NAA 100 mg/l, significantly reduced fruit quality to some extent which may be improved by delay in harvesting time.

In this study genetic diversity of 48 asparagus accessions from Mazandaran province was evaluated using 24 morphological characteristics and 35 accessions using Random Amplified Polymorphism DNA (RAPD) molecular marker. Based on factor analysis, nine main factors explained 80 percentage of total variation and spear characters were more effective in accessions classification. Based on cluster analysis of studied morphological traits accessions divided into two main groups. Seventeen out of 90 primers could produced sharp and evaluable bands and the amount of polymorphism was 98.11%. Based on cluster analysis of RAPD analysis using unweighed pair group method with artithemtical average (UPGMA) method, accessions were classified into seven groups at 0.42 of similarity coefficient and asparagus accessions from Mazandaran were separated from Mary Washington UC350 cultivar, A. persicus and Taleghan accession. In this research, using morphological traits and RAPD marker, Mary Washington UC350 cultivar was separated from asparagus accessions from Mazandaran.

Different habitats with various climatic conditions have different effects on the growth and secondary Metabolites in plants. Knowledge of the chemical compounds in plants in different regions helps to study the effect of climatic conditions on these chemicals. In this study, biophenolic compounds of four olive cultivars were identified through the high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The results showed that different cultivars of olives in various regions were significantly different in terms of the compositions of biophenolic compounds. Among the olive cultivars and regions, the highest coefficient of variation (45.08 and 45.03 percent) was obtained for Dialdehyde-Oleuropein aglycon and Apigenin-7-glucoside, respectively. Mean comparisons showed that Oleuropein compound in all three regions had the highest quantity. Interaction between the region and the cultivar showed that Sevillana cultivar in Kouhdasht and Khorram-Abad regions and then the Manzanilla in Veysian region had a higher quantity for Oleuropein, Apigenin-7-glucoside, Luteolin-7-glucoside and Verbascoside compounds than other the cultivars in different regions. Cluster analysis of biophenolic compounds distinguished the two groups in -19.79 distances. Distribution diagram of cultivars in different regions using the first and second components showed that the distribution of samples based on two main components were consistent with cluster analysis, as samples of Sevillana cultivar in Kouhdasht region, Sevillana cultivar in Khorram-Abad region and Manzanilla cultivar in Veysian region were at a distinct group with the highest quantity of the biophenolic compounds.

Tissue culture methods are widely used for crop breeding specialty for the selection of salt-tolerant plants. Salinity is one of the major abiotic stresses affecting agricultural production worldwide. In this study, the effect of different levels of salinity on some physiological and cells-growth characteristics in the cells of three potato cultivars (Agria, Marfona and Sante) in suspersion culture was studied. Calli were produced from the stem internodes of plants cultured on the semi-solid MS media containing 2 mg L-1 2,4-D and 0.4 mg L-1 Kinetin. Growing cells were then sub-cultured on the same culture media followed by transferring them into the liquid media containing 0, 50, 100, 150, 200 and 250 mM NaCl. Study was performed in a factorial experiment based on a completely randomized design with three replications. The amount of proline, total soluble carbohydrate, total soluble protein and the concentration of Na and K as well as the fresh and dry weight of the cells were measured. The results showed that by increasing salinity, the amount of proline, total soluble carbohydrates and total soluble protein as well as dry weight and Na concentration of the cells were increased, while their fresh weight and K concentration decreased. Three potato cultivars had different reactions to different levels of salinity. Sante cultivar has the highest accumulation of proline, total soluble carbohydrates, total soluble protein and potassium. This indicates that the above cultivar is more to lerant to salinity than the other cultivars.