نشریه تولیدات گیاهی
سال چهل و سوم شماره 3 (پاییز 1399)

Determination of genetic diversity level is fundamental for identification of desirable parents to be used in different breeding programs, and molecular markers have been succssfully taken for the analysis of genetic diversity in various crops. The objective of this study was to inversitgate genetic diversity among 28 genotypes of barley using root and shoot characters and 14 ISSR primers through two separate experiments (greenhouse and molecular experiments).

The greenhouse experiment was carried out as randomized complete block design with two replications in the research greenhouse of Faculty of Agriculture, University of Tabriz, Iran. The traits measured in the greenhouse were root dry weight, root volume, shoot dry weight and ratio of root to shoot dry weight. The molecular experiment was conducted to study the diversity of barley genotypes using 14 ISSR primers. The polymorphic information content and marker index were calculated for each ISSR primer.

Analysis of variance showed significant differences among the genotypes under study for all traits. According to the mean comparisons, genotypes 3, 5, 9 and 20 had higher mean in terms of all characters. The cluster analysis, based on Ward 's algorithm and Euclidean distance, grouped genotypes in four clusters. Group 3 had the highest mean in terms of all of the studied characters. Out of 14 ISSR primers used, 11 primers generated scorable and appropriate banding pattern. A total of 559 polymorphic bands with 80-3000 bp were produced. Polymorphic information content was estimated to be between 0.116 and 0.252 with the average of 0.187. The marker index ranged from 3.528 to 27.972 with the mean of 9.704. Classification of the studied barley genotypes was conducted by molecular data using neighbor joining algorithm based on distance coefficient of number of differences, which assigned the genotypes into four groups. There was a concordance between the grouping of genotypes based on molecular data and the characters in the greenhouse, but this concordance was not complete. Association analysis of ISSR markers with measured characteristics of barley genotypes showed that ISSR1 and ISSR5 had significant relationship with most of the root and shoot traits.

Highgenetic diversity was observed among barley genotypes with respect to root and shoot traits. The results showed that ISSR primers have the ability to separate barley genotypes from each other. Also, it seems that ISSR markers under study can be used in marker assisted selection of barley genotypes in breeding programs.

Red flesh apple belongs to Malus niedzwetzkyana of Rosaceae family. It has high levels of important phytochemicals like antioxidants, flavonoids and anthocyanins in its cortex, which, in addition to attractiveness, is a source of benefit compound. The aim of the present investigation was to optimize efficient protocols for micro propagation of red flesh apple in order to use the results in future breeding strategies.

During the early spring, stem cuttings of growing red flesh apple trees were surface-sterilized in 70% ethanol and 50% sodium hypochlorite. Then, sterilized samples were placed in the test tubes containing MS medium supplemented with 2 µM BAP. At the proliferation stage, interactive effects of BAP (0, 2, 4, 6 mM) and GA3 (0, 3, 6 mM) on various aspects of proliferation (multiplication rate and vegetative growth characteristics such as number of produced shoots per explant, shoots length, leaf numbers, and the fresh and dry weight of explants) were investigated. At rooting stage, the effect of different concentrations of IBA or NAA (0, 1, 2, 3,4 µM) on the percentage of rooting, number of roots per explant and length of roots were compared. At acclimatization stage, the plantlets were transferred into pots with a volume of 200 ml containing sterile compound at the greenhouse condition.

The results showed that there was a significant difference between the effects of various concentrations of BAP and GA3 on micro propagation of red flesh apple. The best result in proliferation (7.9 of axillary shoots after 8 months) was obtained from explants that were cultured in the medium containing 4 mM BAP and 3 mM GA3. At rooting stage, the maximum rooting percentage (85.2%) was obtained in the medium containing 3 mM IBA. In addition, rooted explants from IBA treatments were successfully acclimatized (100%) in the greenhouse, but rooted explants in NAA treatments were weak in acclimatized stage (40%).

Measuring the growth rate is the major economic parameter for successful plant production at in vitro conditions, which is usually characterized by the number of axillary shoots, number of regenerated leaves and increase in the length of shoots and fresh and dry weight. We obtained the highest growth rate of red flesh apple in the culture medium containing 4 μM of BAP. The efficiency of BAP as an important cytokinin in apple proliferation has been reported in other studies as well. The results of the present investigation showed that highest rooting percentage was obtained from culture medium containing 3 μM of IBA. In addition, morphology of roots varied in callus formation and longitudinal growth and the samples rooted in IBA treatments had stronger roots than the rooted samples in NAA treatments. It seems that exposure to NAA instead of IBA stimulates indirect organogenesis and produced undesirable side effects on roots, such as callus formation, which can cause plantlets weakness during the period of acclimatization.

Salinity stress is one of the major environmental factor limiting plant growth and productivity. The adverse influence of salinity stress is evaluated on all plant levels. Ascorbic acid is a small, water-soluble antioxidant molecule that acts as a primary substrate in the pathway for detoxification and neutralization of superoxide radicals and singlet oxygen. Ascorbic acid has been shown to play multiple roles in plant growth, such as in cell division, cell wall expansion, and other developmental processes. The objective of the present experiment was to investigate the effects of the exogenous application of ascorbic acid on the growth parameters and photosynthesis attributes of tomato plants.

The experiment was conducted as a factorial in a completely random design with three replications in greenhouse conditions. Salinity stress was applied by 0, 25, 50, 100 mM NaCl in modified Hoagland solution. Ascorbic acid treatments (0, 2.5 and 5 mM) were sprayed on the leaves every three days until the end of experiment. Leaf, stem, and root fresh and dry weight, total fresh and dry weight, yield per plant, net photosynthesis, Stomata conductance, transpiration, internal CO2 concentration, chlorophyll a, b and total chlorophyll, proline and total soluble sugar content were evaluated.

In the present experiment, salinity stress sharply reduced the leaf, stem, root and total fresh and dry weight, yield per plant, net photosynthesis, stomata conductance, transpiration, internal CO2 concentration, chlorophyll a, b and total chlorophyll content whereas the exogenous treatment of AsA appreciably delayed the loss of all studied traits. Foliar application of ascorbic acid under both stress and non-stress conditions improved the growth parameters and photosynthesis attributes. Salinity stress also increased total soluble sugar content and proline accumulation in the leaf of the tomato plant. Application of ascorbic acid under both non-stress and salinity stress conditions decreased total soluble sugar content and proline accumulation and reduced the effects of salinity stress.

This experiment showed that treating the tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L. cv. Mobin) with 5 mM ascorbic acid substantially influences several metabolic processes, leading to the increased growth. The protection of the plant against salinity stress by using of ascorbic acid was possibly to be caused indirectly as a result of increasing amount of chlorophyll which plays an essential role in photosynthesis process and then formation of carbohydrates. Thus, it might be concluded that exogenously applied ascorbic acid has low external osmotic potential and ion toxicity and it might be effective in amelioration of the adverse effects of salt stress.

One of the key strategies in sustainable agriculture is to restore diversification into agricultural ecosystems and its effective management. The results of various studies have shown that the ecological advantage of intercropping is due to the efficient use of environmental resources. The purpose of mixed cultivation experiments, especially forage plants, is to increase the yield of forage in quantitative and qualitative terms, maintain the ecological balance and stabilize the system.

In order to compare the forage yield and determine the best planting ratio in mixed cropping of Triticale, Barley, Crimson clover (Trifolium incarnatum L.), and Vicia sativa, an experiment was conducted based on the complete randomized block design with sixteen treatments and three replications in paddy fields of Rice Research Institute of Iran (Rasht) during 2012-2014 for two years. Experimental treatments included pure planting of Triticale, Crimson clover, Vicia sativa, and Barley, planting mixtures of Triticale and Crimson clover with ratios of 70:30, 50:50 and 30:70, planting mixtures of Triticale and Vicia sativa with ratios of 70:30, 50:50 and 30:70, planting mixtures of Barley and Crimson clover with ratios of 70:30, 50:50 and 30:70 as well as planting mixtures of Barley and Vicia sativa with ratios of 70:30, 50:50 and 30:70. The studied traits included plant height, number of stems, number of tillers, number of plants per m2, fresh forage yield, dry forage yield as well as land equivalent ratio (LER) values for fresh and dry forages. The obtained data were analyzed by SAS software and mean comparisons were performed using LSD test.

The results of analysis of the variance showed significant differences between the experimental treatments in most traits. Mean comparison showed that planting ratio of 30% Vicia sativa + 70% Triticale had maximum fresh and dry forage yields with averages of 48844 and 15269 kg. ha-1, respectively. Most treatments had LER of greater than one. Planting ratio of 70% Triticale and 30% Vicia sativa showed LER values of 1.31 and 1.54 for fresh and dry forage yields. The treatment is recommended for planting in paddy fields of Guilan area due to its relative advantage with respect to other planting ratios.

Considering that the main objectives of crop forage production in rice paddy fields are the optimum use of paddy fields, sustainability of rice production, production of forage for livestock, and increasing farmers' incomes, the cultivation of all treatments tested as pure and mixed crops in rotation with rice has no problem with regard to the interference of harvesting of the forages with the time of cultivating the seedling rice.

In agriculture section, more than half of the consumption energy is used for tillage. No-till systems can provide optimal conditions for some crops production because of less energy usage, optimal watering, and physical regime for plant and optimal microbial activities for humus synthesis. Although the climate change and the drought in recent years have restricted alfalfa cultivated area, it still provides about 40% of animal feed within 35 million hectares. Alfalfa with 20% protein is the first forage in the world.

In order to compare alfalfa cultivation in no-till and tillage methods with different rate of seeding, an experiment was carried out as RCBD in the form of a strip split plot plan, during 2013-2015 in Semiroum region, Esfahan province, Iran. The main strip plot (horizontal) was cultivation methods including no-till and conventional tillage methods, and strip subplot (vertical) was the four rate of alfalfa seeding including 10, 20, 30, and 40 kg/ha. The cutting time of alfalfa was the time factor in treatments. The planting operation was carried out after harvesting of barley cereals with 30% residual straw in the mid-summer. The measurable parameters in different treatment included the number of established plants in the first spring, fresh and dry forage yield divided different cuts, stem density divided different cuts, and the numbers and weight of weed.

Variance analysis showed that there is no significant difference between no-till and conventional tillage methods in terms of fresh and dry forage production. The seeding rate as a sub-factor has significant effect (level 1%) on fresh and dry forage and number of stem per unit area, whereas the interaction effect between cultivation methods with seeding rate has not significant effect on forage production and number of stem per unit area. The plant density, and the number of weeds were affected from cultivation methods (conventional tillage and no-till), whereas the plant density and number of weeds in no-till method was superior to tillage system. The plant density was varied between different of seeding rate, whereas the number of weed has not affected from the seeding rate.

The obtained results indicated that regarding the alfalfa cultivation in no-till method (with 30% residual straw), not only the forage production was equal to conventional tillage method, but also the number of plant in no-till method was higher than tillage method. It seems that the superiority of no-till method in plant referred to proper seed placement because of minimum plough of soil in no-till method. However, the number of weed in no-till method was higher than conventional tillage method, but this item had no effect on the yield and stability of alfalfa, because the presence of weeds was only related to the first cutting. Using the no-till cultivation method with 30 kg of seeding rate per hectare produced 60.76 ton/ha fresh forage and 10.77 ton/ha dry forage.

Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) is one of the vegetable crops of a global economic importance. The reduction of genetic variation in tomato through domestication and breeding has resulted in the need for conservation and utilization of all existing genetic resources. Local populations are among the most important genetic resources. They are often heterogeneous and composed of different genotypes which are mostly homozygous. Therefore, assessment of their diversity requires a different approach of common methods. The objective of this study was estimating the phenotypic variation among and within the tomato local populations of Kalaybar area using Nei’s genetic diversity index.

Plant material consisted of 8 tomato local populations collected from Kalaybar area in the East Azerbaijan province.The experiment was carried out as a randomized complete block design with three replications. A total of 36 plants of each population in three blocks were planted with the distance of 140 cm between rows and 80 cm between plants. Seven traits, including fruit yield and some of its related traits, was measured. All continuous traits were divided into three classes with equal width and the frequency of classes was used to estimate total diversity index (HT), phenotypic diversity within each population (Hs) for each trait. Then, mean diversity index () for all traits, proportion of phenotypic diversity among populations (GST) for each trait, and mean diversity index for each population across all traits () were calculated.

The total diversity index (HT) for each trait ranged from 0.46 to 0.53 with an average of 0.49. Most of values were around the mean. All traits had relative high value of mean diversity index ( > 0.40). The mean phenotypic diversity among populations (GST) was 0.10. For the majority of traits, little diversity was observed among populations. The greatest value of GST (0.16) was relevant to the mean of fruit weight per plant. Most of population had similar magnitudes of mean phenotypic diversity within each populations () across all traits (0.42 to 0.49). The fruit yield (0.51) and mean of fruit weight per plant (0.51), the number of fruit per plant (0.56), the number of node on stem (0.54), the number of floret (0.54), the number of days to flowering (0.44), and the number of days to fruit (0.54), had the highest diversity index (Hs) values in Gharavanloo, Rostamkandi, Sheykhlan-sofla and Kalantar, Sheykhlan-olya, Alisharloo, and Sheykhlan-olya populations, respectively.

The results showed a relatively wide phenotypic diversity present in tomato local population of Kalaybar area for most of the studied traits. The highest diversity was within the populations and there was little variation among the populations. The traits that contributed the most to within populations’ heterogeneity differed from population to population. However, the Sheykhlan-olya population had the highest fruit yield (4.83), the number of fruits (18.4), the number of nodes on stem (20.7), the number of flowers (83.5), and it was concluded that population could be used as a genetic source for future tomato breeding programs in Kalaybar region.

Biofertilizers are now one of the most important inputs to increase agricultural production. The use of biofertilizers in potato production could reduce the use of nitrogen fertilizers. On the other hand, previous studies have shown that the spraying of amino acids not only improves the growth and yield of plants, but also improves the activity of useful microorganisms.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of application of biofertilizers (non-application of fertilizers, application of pseudomonas, application of azotobacter, and application of azospirilium) and spraying of amino acids (non-spraying of amino acids, spraying with 2.5, and 3.75 g /L) on growth, yield, and nutrient uptake of potatoes. The study was carried out in Malek Azad University as a split plot based on the randomized complet block design with three replications in 2018. The studied traits in this study included the number of tubers per plant, length of tuber, number of tubers per plant, mean weight of tuber, tuber yield per m2, nitrogen percentage, phosphorus percentage, and tuber protein percentage.

Based on the results of this study, all traits except the percentage of phosphorus, the interaction of two factors such as biofertilizer, and the spraying of amino acids did not have a significant effect, but each of the studied factors had a significant effect on the growth and yield of potatoes. The yield of potato plants affected by spraying with a concentration of 3.75 g / l of water increased by 44.6% due to an increase in the average weight of the tubers (7.7%) and the number of produced tubers (32.2%) was in the bush. The application of biofertilizer increased the yield of both functional components, the average weight of the tuber and the number of tubers on potato tuber yields. Azotobacter application treatments and Azosperilium application increased the potato tuber yield by 29.6 and 34.1%, respectively. Potato leaf area was not affected by amino acid spraying, but the biofertilizer had a positive effect on this trait. The percentage of protein in potato tubers also increased by the influence of amino acid spraying and the application of bio-fertilizer.

Both spraying agents of amino acids and biofertilizer had a positive effect on the dry weight of potato leaves. Improving the assemilation of carbon dioxide in leaves due to the use of amino acids and biofertilizers was probably due to increased potato growth and yield. The results of this study showed that soluble treatments with a concentration of 3.75 g / L of water, application of Azotobacter and application of Azospirilium could have an effective role in increasing potato yield.

Apricot is one of the most important horticultural crops because of its attractive taste and nutritive value. Different cultivars of apricot contain highly variable content of ascorbic acid, cartenoids, and phenolic compound,which are good sourecs of antioxidant. Fuit quality is an important trait for concumers and producers. The purpose of this work was to estimate the effects of pre-harvest application of polyamines on quality characteristics of apricot fruits at the end of fruit ripening process.

The experiment was carried out as a factorial based on the randomized complete block design (three concentrations of spermidine at three harvesting time) with four replications. The selected branches of trees were sprayed as a pre-harvesting application method by three concentrations of spermidine (0, 2, and 3 mili molar) 7 days before commercial harvesting time. Fruits were harvested during harvesting times (3 days interval) and then some fruit characteristics such as total soluble solids (TSS), total ccidity (TA), vitamin C, firmness of fruit tissue, pH of fruit extract, total phenol, flavonoid, and total antioxidant capacity were measured in the laboratory of flower biology and fruit growth development at the department of horticulture, faculty of agiculture, university of Tabriz.

The results showed that the effects of different harvesting times were significant regarding all traits. The best results were observed in 3 mM spermidine and this treatment improved all the measured characteristics of fruit. The highest value of total antioxidant capacity (3.01%), vitamin C (3.29%), and fruit firmness (3.27%) were found in 3 mM spermidin at three harvesting times. In some characteristics such as TSS and TA, there was no significant difference between 2 and 3 mM spermidine, but among treated and non-treated fruit a full significant difference was observed. We assume that the second harvesting time can be the best harvesting time regarding fruit quality parameters. During fruit ripening, the amount of TSS and TA increased, while firmness, total phenolic, and flavonoids compounds and total antioxidant capacity decreased gradually.

Fruit physicochemical properties are very important for understanding the product behaviour during the harvesting, transporting, packaging, and storing of fruit crops. The results of this study showed that the pre-harvesting application of polyamines delayed the ripening and increased the quality of fruit during the different harvestings times.

Introduction of high yielding forage cultivars for different climates is necessary to use in pasture establishment and rangeland renovation. Thus, increasing forage yield is one of the most important goals in cool-season grass breeding programs. Tall fescue (Festuca Arundinacea Schreb.) is a perennial cool-season grass adapted to a wide range of growing conditions. Tall fescue is one of the most drought, heat, and wear tolerant species among perennial cool-season grasses. Due to its large and deep root system, it is able to take up water in dry periods when other grasses have stopped their growth. Then it could be a good choice for pasture establishment and rangeland renovation in Iran. This study was carried out to identify important traits which are effective to increase forage yield in the tall fescue in East Azarbaijan region of Iran.

For this purpose, 32 tall fescue genotypes were evaluated in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with 4 replications in research farm of Agricultural Biotechnology Research Institute of Northwest and West region of Iran- Tabriz in 2016. Each replication contained 5 spaced single plants 60 cm apart. Eleven agro-morphological characteristics were measured.

The correlation coefficients showed that total dry forage yield and seed yield had significant and positive correlation with all traits except days to heading and days to pollination. Total dry forage yield had significant and positive correlation with plant height, canopy diameter, stem number, and crown diameter (0.650**, 0.763**, 0.500**, and 0.750**, respectively). Stepwise regression analysis, considering the total dry forage yield as the dependent variable, showed that canopy diameter and crown diameter were entered into the model. These traits in total justified 64.1 percent of the regression model changed. Moreover, stepwise regression analysis, considering the seed yield as the dependent variable, showed that total dry forage yield, stem number, and canopy diameter were entered into the model. According to the results, canopy diameter (0.453) and crown diameter (0.394) had highest direct effects on the total dry forage yield and for the seed yield, total dry forage yield (0.797) and stem number (0.423) had highest direct effects.

Based on the results of this study, canopy diameter and crown diameter had greater relative importance in determining the total dry forage yield of tall fescue. Thus, plant canopy and crown diameter cold be used as an indicator in selection of best tall fescue genotypes in breeding programs.

Background and Objectives:

 Potato is extremely sensitive to water stress, both from inadequate or excess water, resulting in reductions of tuber yield and quality. The plant has a relatively shallow root system, locating about 85% typically in the upper 30 cm of soil, which increases the sensitivity of the crop to water stress. Variation in soil moisture conditions can also lead to the occurrence of tuber physiological disorders such as brown center, hollow heart, growth cracks, bruise susceptibility, and heat necrosis, typically during the bulking period. A direct relation between low moisture conditions of soil and misshapen tubers has been reported. The aim of study was to assess the growth, yield, yield components, and water productivity of some conventional potato varieties in Bardsir region of Kerman.  

Materials and Methods:

 In order to evaluate the effect of various irrigation methods on growth, yield and yield components of potato varieties, an experiment was conducted as the split-plot based on the randomized complete block design with three replications at experiment station of the Agricultural Faculty of Bardsir, Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman during 2015 and 2016. The experimental treatments were irrigation

1- Furrow (flooding), 2-sprinkler and 3- drip assigned to main plot and potato varieties: 1- Marfona, 2- Sante, 3- Agria and 4- Banba as the subplot.   Results The results showed that the effect of irrigation method was significant (P≤0.01) on all the studied traits except in water productivity and percentage of tuber dry mater. The highest mean of tuber weight (71.55 g), number of marketable tuber (6.99), tuber yield (36.98 t ha-1), and shoot dry weight (5.97 t ha-1) were recorded in the furrow irrigation method. The lowest values of the traits were observed using the sprinkler method. The effect of variety treatment on all traits was significant (P≤0.01). For drip and sprinkler irrigation methods, the largest tuber was related to Sante variety, and regarding the surface method, it was gained at Marfona. The highest number of tuber per plant belonged to Sante variety (9.50) followed by Marfona (8.89) which had a significant difference with Banba (7.15) and Agria (6.88) varieties. Tuber percentage of dry weight for Agria variety (27.22) was significantly higher than other varieties (19.93-22.74). The tuber yield for Sante, Marfona, Banba, and Agria was 34.84, 28.91, 26.14, and 21.57 t ha-1, respectively. The maximum level of water productivity (5.93) was gained for santé variety using the sprinkler irrigation method.  

Discussion :

In general, the results indicated that Marfona variety was justly appropriate for flooding irrigation conditions, and santé variety is best for low water supply (drip and sprinkler irrigation methods).

 Background and Objectives :

Salinity is one of the detrimental environmental factors that limit the productivity of crop plants worldwide. Most of the crop plants are sensitive to salinity. Selenium (Se) has not been classified as a plant essential element, but its role as a beneficial element and its ability in amelioration of different environmental stresses has been reported in different plant species. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of Se on sunflower plants under salt stress conditions.

  Materials and Methods:

 The experiment was conducted as factorial in a completely randomized design by three replications in a hydroponic system with a temperature regime of 25/18°C, photoperiod of 14 h, and relative humidity of 70% in a growth chamber. Seeds were germinated in petri-dishes and then uniform 3-day old seedlings were transferred to 50% Hoagland solution. One week after pretreatment, plants were transferred to 100% Hoagland solution and treated with selenium) sodium selenate; 0, 5, and 10 µM) and salinity (sodium chloride; 50 and 100 mM) for two weeks. Plant's shoots were harvested 15 days after treatments, and frozen in liquid nitrogen until assays.  

Results:

 The results indicated that salinity at both levels significantly increased the MDA as well as free phenol and decreased the flavonoids contents of plants. The anthocyanin, soluble sugars, and total protein contents and the activity of APX increased significantly in response to 50 mM of NaCl, while the proline, tannins, and lignin contents increased, but dry weight and height of shoot decreased significantly in response to 100 mM of NaCl. In non-saline condition, Se application at 5 µM decreased the flavonoids and lignin contents and increased the free phenols, shoot height, and POD activity significantly. Application of Se at 10 µM in non-saline conditions significantly increased the lignin and MDA contents and APX activity. In saline condition with 50 mM of NaCl, Se application at both two levels decreased the soluble sugars and APX activity, and at 10 µM decreased the lignin and increased the tannin contents significantly. In saline condition with 100 mM of NaCl, Se application at both two concentrations considerably decreased the proline, lignin, and tannin contents but increased the APX activity. Furthermore, a reduction in soluble sugars by application of 5 µM of Se was seen in plants that were in saline conditions with 100 mM of NaCl.  

Discussion:

 According to the results of this study, salinity induced oxidative stress in sunflower, especially at 100 mM that was obvious by elevated level of MDA. Even though the Se application in saline condition could induce the notable changes in the phenolic compounds and promoted the activity of APX, it could not inhibit the MDA formation and dry weight falling in plants. Selenium application in non-saline conditions also could not result to the considerable benefits in sunflower plants.

Iris Germanica has become the most well-known flower for landscape planning due to its colorful flowers, reproduction by creeping rhizomes, flat leaves, and a trio of flower parts, resistance to calcareous soils and adverse environmental conditions, and low watering requirements. Given the pharmaceutical-ornamental importance of I. germanica, this research was conducted to find new hybrids and their significant traits. Diversity and innovation in the field of flowers and plants are good, the world is presented with hundreds of colors and varieties and given the importance of I. germanica, the management to achieve hybridization between the new hybrid was performed.

Three genotypes of I. germanica with brown and blue (female parent) and yellow (paternal line) colors were selected for hybridization out of a total of 15 progenies and three parents to be evaluated in a randomized complete block design with three replications. The research was conducted in Ornamental Plants Research Center (OPRC) in Mahallat from 2014 to 2016. Quantitative traits included leaf width, peduncle length, peduncle thickness, flower diameter, outer petal width, inner petal length, inner petal width, bush length, flowering branch diameter, and crown diameter. The statistical analysis was conducted in the SAS and Excel software packages. According to the instructions of UPOV, 10 quantitative traits and some statistical parameters such as simple correlation coefficients, estimates of broad sense heritability, phonotypical and genetically coefficient of variations were measured.

Results showed significant (P≤0.01) differences between genotypes in all studied traits, indicating wide variations in traits except for the flower diameter. The correlation coefficients of quantitative traits among genotypes (parents and progenies) showed the most positive and significant correlation between the diameter of flowering branch and crown diameter, peduncle length, and inner length of petal. The highest broad sense heritability was related to the outer petal width (96.28), inner petal length (93.66), and bush length (93.40) and the lowest was related to peduncle length (42.58). The findings indicated that hybrid NIOP8 had the highest stem diameter. It was also superior in crown diameter, flower branch diameter, and peduncle diameter versus the other hybrids. The results indicated that hybridization has a significant effect on the traits.

The hybrids NIOP5 and NIOP8 outperformed the other hybrids and parents significantly in the length of inner petal, the width of the inner petal, and leaf width.