مجله پژوهشهای گیاهی (زیست شناسی ایران)
سال سی و دوم شماره 3 (پاییز 1398)

The rapid germination of seeds is one of the factors that determine yield and final product plants. For this purpose, a study was conducted to evaluate the effect of compost tea on seedling growth and germination indices of bean under drought stress. A factorial experiment done based on completely randomized design with 3 replications. Treatments consisted of compost tea in five levels (0, 2.5, 5, 7.5 and 10% v/v) and drought stress in four levels (0, -0.3, -0.6 and -0.9 MP). The results showed that 5, 7.5 and 10% levels of compost tea led to a significant increase germination percent, germination vigor, seed vigor index and plumule dry weigh. Drought stress at all levels compared to non-stress conditions, led to a significant reduction in studied traits. Under -0.3 MPa, 5, 7.5 and 10% compost tea levels significantly increased germination rate, seedling length, radical dry weight and under -0.9 MPa, all levels of compost tea compared to control significantly increased the germination rate, plumule and seedling length. Under non-stress and -0.3 MPa, 10% compost tea treatments led to a significant increase germination rate (+9.4%, +10.1%) radical dry weight (+18.7%, +19.7%), plumule length (+10.7%, +9%), radical length (+6.6%, +8.6%) and seedling length (+8.4%, +7.9%). According to the results of this study, the use of compost tea in the seed germination of beans is recommended for reduce the negative effects of drought stress.

Marmisho region located in 70 km to the northwest of Urmia city is important silver birch site in Iran and encompasses considerable plant diversity. The study aims to determine the flora, life forms and chorology of the woody and herbaceous plants of silver birch site in the region. 30 sample plots were taken using of systematic random sampling method with 100 m× 200 m grid. The 400 m2 sample plot was considered to tree and shrub species collection and 100 m2 subplot was set up for herb species. The results showed that there were 251 plant species belonging to 51 families in the region in which 28 species were tree and shrub species. The maximum nuber of species belonged to Asteraceae with 40 species, Apiaceae with 22 species, Fabaceae with 21, Lamiaceae with each 20 species and Brassicaceae with 17 species. According to Raunkiaer classification, Hemicryptophytes (122 species), therophytes (51 species) and Phanerophytes (28 species) were the most important life forms. Furthermore, most species belonged to Irano-turanian (100 species), Irano-turanian /Euro-Siberianin (59 species) in the region.

Abstract The Kanibarazan Wetland located in West Azarbaijan province is one of the wetlands of the Ramsar International Convention with 907 hectares. This Hunt- Banned region has semidry to mid semidry climate. The plants in the studied area were regularly collected every month during growing seasons 2013 from two habitats : Aquatic and nearby wetland habitats. Then plants were deposited in the herbarium of Kharazmi university (FAR), Tehran. A total of 118 different plant species collected in this study belong to 42 families (2 bryophyte, 33 dicotyledone, 1 ceratophyllaceae, 6 monocotyledon) and 99 genera. Among these families represented in the area, 17 families (11 dicotyledone, 1 ceratophyllaceae, 5 monocotyledon) including 32 genera and 35 species are belonged to aquatic wetland habitat and 25 families (2 bryophyte, 22 dicotyledone, 1 monocotyledon) including 67 genera and 83 species are belonged to nearby wetland habitat. Classification based on life form indicates that the therophytes with 62% abundance in nearby wetland habitate and 35% in aquatic habitate comprise the largest proportion of the plants in the studied area. The most extended chorotype is related to Iran-Turanian region (50% in nearby wetland habitat and 38% in aquatic habitate). Key word: Kanibarazan, Life form, Chorothype, Flora

Micropropagation of apple has played an important role in the production of healthy, disease-free plants and in the rapid multiplication of rootstocks with desirable traits. In this study, the effects of disinfection, medium type and plant hormone on contamination, number of lateral branches, shoot length, callus induction, number of leaves of three rootstocks M106, M111 and B9 as factorial experiment in completely randomized design with three replications were investigated. The explants Surface sterilized by different concentrations of mercuric chloride and sodium hypochlorite and then were cultivated in modified MS, WPM and DKW media. The lowest contamination achieved by mercuric chloride (0.1%) and ethanol (70%) for 3 minutes and 30 Seconds, respectively. In this study, the modified MS medium supplemented with 0.1 mg/L BA with maximum growth had more successful establishment. Mean comparisons showed that rootstock M106 in terms of all studied traits, have a significant difference with other rootstocks, and So that the highest shoot length, leaves number and callus induction observed in this rootstock. The maximum branch initiation achieved from medium supplemented by 0.1 mg/ L IBA and 2 mg/ L BAP. The results showed that genotypes respond differently to culture conditions, as the rootstock B9 showed better response to branch initiation than other genotypes.

Composite family (Asteraceae) is one of the most diverse plant families adapted to the climatic conditions of Iran and widely dispersed so that some of them are known as weed. The aim of this investigation was the study of existing intraspecific diversity in the species Carduus pycnocephalus L. in Hamedan province using D.S.S (Determination of Special Station) method. In this order, 14 special stations were selected for C. pycnocephalus. The study of these stations showed the presence of 59 plant species as Associated species. Analysis of floristic (florisitic marker) and ecologic data cause to determination of 7 groups for this species, therefore showed the existence of intraspecific diversity in this species. Seed storage proteins electrophoresis was used for confirmation of intraspecific diversity in determined groups. Results were also in accordance with floristic and ecological groupments. The results of this study clearly showed that D.S.S method were able to determine level and and kind of intraspecific diversity in the plant species, including aggressive plants, that are important in the agriculture and environment.

Plants are rich sources of phenolic and flavonoid compounds which are important natural antioxidants. Antioxidants today are important in terms of medicine because they reduce oxidative stress in the cells and therefore are useful in the treatment of many cardiovascular diseases and inflammatory diseases. Chenopodium is an herbal medicine (family, Chenopodiaceae) that is used for treat of hemorrhoids, sore throats, eye and liver disorders. The objective of this research was to study of phenolic and flavonoid compounds of three organs (leaves, stems and fruit) of 3 species of Chenopodium (Ch. ficifolium, Ch. sosnovskyi, Ch. novopokrovskyanum) in Sistan region. The essential oil of Ch. Sosnovskyi fruit analyzed by GC/MS. In general, the results showed that phenol and flavonoids had the highest levels in the fruits and leaves of the three species, and the leaves of Ch. Sosnovskyi has a higher level of phenol and flavonoid than the other two species. The highest amount of anthocyanin was observed in leaves Ch. ficifolium. GC/MS analysis showed 56 compounds in leaves of Ch. Sosnovskyi. The highest amount of essentialoil was Cymene (10.54%), Camphor (8.56), Eemol (8.47), α-Cadinol (7.74),3-dehydro-4-oxo-α-ionon l (5.97) respectively. Also, leaves of Ch. Sosnovskyi have the most antioxidant activity. In general, leaves of Ch. Sosnovskyi suggest for more research to use as pharmaceutical agent.

Grapes are one of the important sources of polyphenols in the diet. The aim of this study was to investigate the quantitative and qualitative changes of phenolic compounds in grapes cv. Shahani during growth stages. At five stages, 30, 40, 50 and 60 days after flowering and fruit ripening, the characteristics of berries as well as some phenolic compounds were measured. The results showed that with phase, berry size, berry weight, soluble solids content, pH and total anthocyanins increased and acidity decreased. At the time of fruit ripening, a slight decrease was observed in berry size compared to the time before. With passing time to 50 days after flowering, total phenol content increased in berries, and then decreased at 60 days after flowering and reached its peak again at the time of ripening. The amount of flavonoids in berries decreased with passing time and the highest amount was obtained in 30 days after flowering and the lowest amount was obtained at ripening time. Over time, antioxidant capacity increased and then decreased during the 50 days after flowering, reaching its lowest level at ripening. Also, during the time, the amount of gallic acid, chlorogenic acid and epichatechin increased in grape berries, and peaked at the ripening stage. The amount of caffeic acid and fluoresin increased initially and decreased in 50 days after flowering, and then increased to its highest level at ripening. The amount of phenolic compound of rosmarinic acid did not show any significant differences in different stages.

In order to study the effect of seeds priming with growth stimulating bacteria (biopriming) and hydroperiming on germination parameters, an experiment was carried out on a factorial experiment based on randomized complete design with three replications. Experimental treatments consisted of hydropriming at different times (72, 48, 24, 12 h) and biopriming with Pseudomonas fluorescens and P. putida growth stimulating bacteria at different times (72, 48, 24, 12 h) compared to control (without inoculation). The results showed that seed hydropriming at different times had a significant effect at 1% probability level on germination indices, seed vigor, mean radicle and plumule length, percentage and germination rate. Germination and vigor index showed significant difference upon biopriming treatment. The highest germination index was obtained in inoculation with P. putida in 48 h and the lowest seed vigor index was obtained in seed inoculation with P. fluorescens within 72 h. The maximum mean radicle and plumule length were observed upon P. putida (3.30 and 3.67 mm) and P. fluorescens (3.13 and 3.17 mm) inoculation treatments, respectively. Also, biopriming with P. putida had a positive and significant effect on water uptake and alpha-amylase enzyme activity compared to P. fluorescens and hydro-priming under different times. Therefore, in order to improve germination indices and seedling vigour index, biopriming with P. putida bacteria can be recommended.

Germination is one of the essential period of plants growth that can be affected by chemical agents released by means of other plants. Nowadays, utilization of allelopathic natural compounds is a good alternative to synthetic compounds. Therefore, a factorial experiment was conducted that based on completely randomized design (CRD) with 3 replications. Treatments were included two weeds (wild rye (Secale cereale) and foxtail (Alopecurus myouroides)), three medicinal plants (peppermint (Mentha piperita), chicory (Cichorium intybus) and sage (Salvia officinalis)) and 5 level of aqueous extract (0, 5, 25, 50 and 100 percent). Peppermint and sage extracts have more effects than chicory on wild rye germination percentage and seedling growth. While, peppermint extract was the most effective in germination percentage of foxtail. The minimum plumule length of both weed species was obtained from 50 and 100% concentration of chicory and sage extract. The best fitted models of germination percentage of foxtail in different extracts concentration of peppermint, chicory and sage were Rational Model, MMF and Ratkowsky Model, respectively. Also, for wild rye were Farazdaghi-Harris, Modified Power and Logistic, respectively.

A greenhouse experiment was conducted to study the effect of cadmium application on growth and nutrient concentrations in the duckweed under salinity conditions. The experiment was factorial arranged in a completely randomized design (CRD) with three replications. Factors were cadmium levels (0, 5, 10, 20,40, and 80 mg L-1 cd as cadmium sulfate) and salt concentration levels (0, 10, 20, 40, and 80 mM as sodium chloride) that added to Epstein nutrient solution. The results showed that cadmium and salinity, both alone and in combination, decreased relative growth rate of watercress. Cadmium concentration of duckweed increased by application of cadmium. Salinity increased cadmium concentration of duckweed. The application of cadmium and salinity, both alone and in combination, decreased nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, iron, zinc, copper, sodium concentration. Manganese concentration increased by cadmium but decreased by salinity. In conclusion, duckweed accumulated the high concentration of cadmium, as is a cadmium accumulator plant, although high concentration of cadmium and salinity were causing plant death.

To evaluate effect of two irrigation intervals on morphological charecteristics of different Achillea nobilis, A. biberestini and A. filipendula populations, a field experiment was arranged on the base of factorial experiment in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Experimental factores were irrigation intervals (7 and 14 days) and Achillea nobilis, A. biberestini, A. filipendula populations. The irrigation intervals were applied from the time of plants establishment in the field until the plant yield recorded. The results showed that responses of A. nobilis, A. biberestini and A. filipendula species and populations to irrigation intervals were different. Among three studied species, drought had less impact on plant morphology characteristics of A. filipendula populations. Seven populations of A. nobilis were grouped in three groups. Populations in the group I had higher plant height, yield and flowering time. Polulations group III showed higher crown diameter, flower diameter, stem number and flower number, however shorter full flowering time, indicating favorable production potential of populations group III in semi-arid regions. Accoring to the results of this study, irrigation intervals longer than 14 days are not recommended in geographic conditions similar to Karaj for the A. nobilis, A. biberestini and A. filipendula. Considerable diversity among the populations of studied species indicated the potential of these species in breeding programs in dry and semi-arid regions.

One of the major impacts of climate change on plants is the change in their geographical range. Predicting the potential distribution of endangered plants in response to climate change is essential for their conservation and policy management. This study aimed at predicting the effect of climate change on the geographical distribution of Fritillaria imperialis in Chaharmahal & Bakhtiari province in the central Zagros region. We used RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 (two climate change scenario) and general circulation model HadGEM2-CC in order to predict the future geographic distribution of the species. In this study, we used 19 bioclimatic variables related to rainfall and temperature and three physiographical variables to create the models. In this regard, we used 5 modelling approaches, Generalized Linear Model (GLM), Classification Tree Analysis (CTA), Artificial Neural Network (ANN), Generalized Boosting Method (GBM) and Random Forest (RF) under the ensemble using biomod2 package in the free statistical software environment R 3.3.2. The results of the model showed that annual precipitation and temperature seasonality had the most important to provide habitat suitability of this species. All the models were accurate enough to predict the species distribution, among them, RF presented the most reliable model for the prediction. Under RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 climate scenario, the habitat of the species will shrink to 19.7% and 61, respectively in 2050.

Decane derivates of essential oil of Calotropis procera (Ait.) R.Br. leaves collected from three natural habitats in Kerman province were studied in this project. Leaves of C. procera shrubs from Arzuiyeh (elevation:1067m), Chah Dadkhoda (450 m), and Shamsabad (1700 m) localities in Kerman province gatheredat the height of 150 centimeter from the earth during May/June, 2015. Chemical constituents and decane derivates of leaf essential oil analyzed using gas chromatography connected to mass spectrometry. Decane and its depravities were the prevalent and most abundant chemical compounds in leaf essential oil. Hexadecanoic acid, pentadecane, hexadecane, and octadecane were among the major components of essential oil in leaves of C. procera from the studied areas. Decant derivate constitute about 80% of peak area of chromatogram obtained from Shamsabad area. Based on the results, leaf essential oil of C. procera having different phytochemical compounds including decane derivates are good candidates to be used in variety of industries.

Gerbera is one of the ten most popular commercial cut flowers in the world, but its postharvest vase life is generally short. So vase life improvement of gerbera is one of the first floriculture’s purposes. The present study was conducted to evaluate the effect of different concentrations of salicylic acid (0, 100, 150 and 200 µgl-1), sodium nitroprusside (0, 100, 150 and 200 µgl-1) and ethanol (0, 2, 4 and 6%) on the vase life, fresh weight (FW), relative water uptake (RWU), and stem bending of two gerbera varieties, namely Bayadère and Sunway (with high and low postharvest performance qualities, respectively) arranged in a Randomized Complete Block Design with three replications. The results indicated the significant effect of cultivar, treatment and also their interaction on all evaluated parameters. Accordingly, Bayadère cut flowers with higher postharvest performance quality showed higher vase life; fresh weight and relative water uptake than those of Sunway cut flowers. Also; ethanol, sodium nitroprusside and salicylic acid showed significant effects on post-harvest quality, depending on their concentrations and the studied cultivars. So that the highest longevity and minimum stem bending in both cultivars were obtained in 2% ethanol, 150 µM sodium nitroprusside and 200 µM salicylic acid. Taken together, screening of the varieties and also application of inhibitors of the senescence such as SA and SNP at optimum concentrations in vase solutions might be promising approaches to improve postharvest performance of gerbera cut flowers.

Today, we face with increasing global concerns about loss of biodiversity in forest ecosystems that this important notation is increased in managing forests. The aim of this study is evaluation of forest sustainability using density, number of species, crown canopy percent and biodiversity indicators in Fandoghlou forests in conservation and under-recreation management conditions. To collect the required data, designed an inventory grid with dimension of 50*50m and 60 sample plots in conservation and under-recreation areas were set, respectively (generally 120 plots). In each sample plot, the type of species, and diameter of trees, and 2 crown diameter of shrubs recorded. In present study, by using Past software, were applied Margalef, Berger-Parker, Fisher indicator and evenness criteria to evaluate biodiversity. The results of ANOVA and Duncan multiple test indicated that with increasing intensity of recreational activities, density, number of species, crown canopy percent and also richness and diversity will decreased significantly (pvalue = 0.000), although this is not correct about evenness indicator. Generally, it is concluded that uncontrolled and high recreational activities provided expensive degradation of Fandoghlou forest ecosystem, that this case resulted to negative effects on forest sustainability.

Matricaria chamomilla L. is a medicinal and aromatic species, belonging to the Asteraceae family, which have many pharmaceutical properties. The present study was performed to evaluate the effect of various concentrations of salinity on biochemical and physiological characteristics of M. chamomilla. To investigate the effects salinity on biochemical characteristics of M. chamomilla., Fourteen weeks old plants were subjected to different levels of salinity [control, 50, 100, and 150 mg l-1]. Our results showed that salinity caused a significant increase in proline content and antioxidant activity in M. chamomilla. The proportions of these main compounds of essential oil and polyphenol components were induced by moderate and high salinity. The essential oil components of M. chamomilla were identified and analyzed by GC/MS and GC. Polyphenols were identified and analyzed by HPLC method. The main components of essential oil were α-Bisabolol oxide A, Chamazulene, and En-in-dicycloether. The main components of polyphenols were Chlorogenic acid, Caffeic acid, Catechin, Sinapic acid, Hesperidin, Ellagic acid, Quercetin, and Eugenol.

The goal of this research is floristic survey sites of threatened endemic species Diaphanoptera khorasanica Rech.f. in khorassan Razavi and Northern khorassan provinces and D. stenocalycina Rech.f. & Schiman in Mirzabaylou desert of Golestan National Park. Both species grow in Irano-Turanian region. They are herbaceous perennial and belong to the Caryophyllaceae family. D. khorasanica grow in red soils (serpentine) and D. stenocalycina in saline soils. Using flora sources, digital maps (1:250,000) and field surveys, the habitats of both species were identified and their elevation, longitude and latitude were recorded. phenology reviews and plant specimens of 131 taxon and their associated species in the habitats were collected. They were identified based on the flora references. The dominant life forms in the studied habitats are hemicryptophytes. Life forms of phanerophytes, chamaephytes, cryptophytes, therophytes, annual and perennial parasites are in the next ranks. Most of the families in the habitats of D. khorasanica are Asteraceae, Poaceae, Lamiaceae, Fabaceae, Brassicaceae and in the habitats of D. stenocalycina are Chenopodiaceae and Poaceae families. Due to the strong dependence of these two species on the climatic and soil conditions of the studied areas, both species have a strong need to optimal conservation.

NO is an important signaling molecule in plants, which mediates growth and developmental processes. Among the different environmental stresses, drought is one of the most important limiting factors for growth and production around the world. In this study the effect of sodium nitroprusside (SNP), as a NO donor on the reduction of drought stress in safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) was studied. The effect of the concentrations of SNP (0, 15, and 25µM) and water stress (levels 25, 50, 75and 100% FC (Field capacity)) on shoot fresh weight, shoot dry weight, shoot length, leaf area, relative water content (RWC), catalase (CAT), ascorbate peroxidase (APX) superoxidase activities (SOD) and proline content in leaf and root were studied. When plants had three expanded leaves, were treated by SNP and after 24 hours, exposed to drought. After 7 days, plants again were sprayed by SNP. After 2 weeks plants were harvested to evaluate of growth and physiological parameters. The results showed that drought stress reduced shoot fresh weight, shoot dry weight, shoot length, leaf area, RWC and increased CAT and SOD activities and proline content in leaf and root. Interaction of nitric oxide and drought increased growth parameters, CAT and SOD activities and decreased APX activities and proline content. The results showed that the plants treated with NO are more resistance to drought stress. Keywords: Drought stress, Sodium nitroprusside, Safflower, Nitric oxide

Melatonin (N-acetyle-5-methoxy tryptamine) has recently been considered as a phytohormone in raising the resistance of plants against environmental stresses. The present study aims to assess the effect of melatonin treatment on the tolerance of salt by Phaseolus vulgaris cv. Sadri which was conducted in completely randomized design, repeated three times. In this study, salinity stress was introduced in three levels of 0, 100 and 200 mM of NaCl to bean plants treated by melatonin with respective concentrations of 0, 100 and 200 µM. It was found that salinity stress decreased the dry weight of shoot, the root and the photosynthetic pigments while it increased proline, soluble sugars, malondialdehyde and H2O2 as it increased the activity of antioxidant enzymes of catalase, peroxidase and ascorbate peroxidase. Applying melatonin improved plant growth, the concentration of photosynthetic pigments, proline, soluble sugars and the activity of antioxidant enzymes while it reduced H2O2 and malondialdehyde concentration. Results showed that melatonin had a significant effect on raising the resistance of phaseolus vulgaris cv. Sadri against salt and that lower concentrations of melatonin worked better.

Loranthus grewinkii is a damaging species that is a type of leafy species and inhabits on trees of Zagros forests. This plant in order to provide some of the needed nutrient elements for photosynthesis, it needs its host plant to obtain the water and nutrients. For that reason, they cause changes in biochemical compositions in their host trees. In this research, the effect of Loranthus grewinkii Boiss & Buhse was investigated on organic compounds such as total tannin, total phenol, dense tannin, flavonoids, protein, total sugars, insoluble sugar and proline in Amygdalus Scoparia in Southern Zagros forests, Khoram Abad, Iran. The results showed that the total phenol, dense tannin, total tannin, flavonoids and proline in the leaf of the infected individuals were significantly higher than the healthy wild almond (P≤0.05 and P≤0.01). Also, the results showed that sugar content, soluble sugar and protein in healthy individuals were more than the infected individuals to Loranthus grewinkii (P≤0.05, P≤0.01). It is seemed, increasing secondary compounds such as total phenol, dense tannin, total tannin, flavonoid, and proline due to disease occurs in tree to make efforts in orderto increase tolerance to the disease. Therefore, due to the activity of the semi-parasitic plant on these trees, the drying phenomenon is observed on the crown or branches of wild almond trees, so it can be used in the cleaning practice to prevent the prevalence and spread of Loranthus grewinkii in the Southern Zagros region, especially, Lorestan province.