مجله علوم و فنون باغبانی ایران
سال بیست و دوم شماره 3 (پاییز 1400)

Intercropping has become important in many parts of the world due to the optimal use of resources and increasing the quantitative and qualitative yield of medicinal and agricultural plants. To evaluate the effects of different intercropping patterns of black mustard and [d1] lavender on some morphological traits, essential oil content and the Land Equivalent Ratio [d2] (LER), an experiment was conducted based on a complete random block design [d3] in three replications on the research farm of Islamic Azad University, Yasooj Branch during 2017-2018. Different ratios of black mustard and lavender were intercropping treatments, these treatments included: 100% black mustard (black mustard sole crop), 75% black mustard + 25% lavender, 50% black mustard + 50% lavender, 25% black mustard + 75% lavender and 100% lavender (lavender sole crop). Study traits included root fresh weight, root dry weight, shoot fresh weight, shoot dry weight, number of branches, plant height, essential oil content and land equality [d4] ratio. The results showed that different intercropping patterns had a significant effect on all the studied traits. The highest content of essential oils and other mentioned traits in both plants were obtained by intercropping treatment (50% black mustard + 50%lavender). A positive regression relationship was observed between essential oil content and shoot dry matter in both black mustard and lavender plants. There was a positive and significant correlation among essential oil content and other traits in lavender. The Land Equality Ratio (LER) index in all intercropping treatments was more than one (1.38 and 1.84), indicating the superiority of the intercropping systems compared to the sole crop system. In total, intercropping of 50% black mustard + 50% lavender compared to sole crop is recommended due to the improvement of morphological traits and increasing its usefulness.

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of nitrogen, iron and zinc on the fruit quantity and quality of the 6-years-old sweet lime trees budded on Mexican lime rootstock in the research orchard of Jahrom Islamic Azad University. For this purpose, nitrogen, zinc and iron elements (from sources urea, iron sulfate and zinc sulfate, respectively) were foliar sprayed at concentrations of 0, 3 and 5 g L-1, alone and in combination, before flower induction, in October 2017. The experimental design was factorial based on the randomized complete block design with 27 treatments and three replicates and one sweet lime tree per each replicate performed at two separate locations in the orchard named groups A and B (each group included 81 trees). Based on the results, different amounts of nitrogen, iron and zinc, individually and in combination, had significant effects on all quantitative and qualitative traits of sweet lime fruit atP≤0.05. The effect of location was significant only on the total acids, vitamin C and fruit juice percentage. The highest average fruit weight (228 g) and yield of a single tree (313 kg) was obtained from the combined application of N, Fe and Zn elements at the highest concentration (5 g L-1). The highest TSS and total acid (10.62% and 0.208 mg L-1, respectively) were observed by application of 5 g L-1 Fe without N and Zn, in addition the greatest vitamin C was recorded by application of combined treatment of 3 gL-1 N and Fe and 5 gL-1 Zn with 56.93 mg/100 ml fruit juice.

The quantity and quality of olive oil have been affected by various factors such as climatic and regional conditions, cultivar, and harvest time. This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of different harvesting times on the oil quantity, quality, and profile of fatty acids in four cultivars of olive, including Roghani, Zard, Amphissis, and Beladi in Isfahan region. For this purpose, the olive fruits were harvested at four stages (two weeks intervals) starting in early October. At each stage of harvesting, the quantitative and qualitative characteristics of the oil were evaluated and the profile of fatty acids was examined. The results showed that in all cultivars, with the progress of fruit ripening and increasing the maturity index, the percentage of fruit oil and the free fatty acid increased and chlorophyll content and phenolic compounds in the oil decreased. In this study, the lowest amount of saturated fatty acids (palmitic acid and stearic acid), the highest ratio of monounsaturated fatty acids (oleic acid) to polyunsaturated fatty acids (linoleic acid), and the lowest rate of cox index (oxidation index) that indicate higher quality of olive oil were obtained in the second stage of harvest time in Amphissis and Roghani and in the fourth stage of harvest time in Zard and Beladi cultivars. According to the results of this study, in all cultivars the highest oil content were obtained when fruits harvested at the latest time (November 14).

This experiment was performed to investigate the effect of magnetized nutrient solution under four electromagnetic treatments (0, 20, 40 and 80 GAUSS) on growth, physiological properties and nutrient elements of two rose cultivars (Samurai and Luxor) in a factorial completely random design with three replications. In each experimental unit, four bushes were planted in PUMedia medium and were nourished with nutritional solution by digital timer in open system. The results showed that pH and electrical conductivity of the nutrient solution were slightly reduced in all treatments. Flowering stem high increased significantly in 40 GAUSS treatment for Samurai cultivar 23% and 20 GAUSS treatment for Luxor cultivar 16%. Stem diameter increased significantly in 40 GAUSS treatment for Samurai cultivar 22% and 20 GAUSS treatment for Luxor cultivar 10%. The leaf area increment of the two cultivars was significant and its amount in 40 GAUSS treatment was 68%. Phosphorous concentration of cultivars decreased significantly. Flower number, calcium and nitrogen concentration, as well as leaf chlorophyll and flower color indices weren't affected. Vase life changes in both cultivars were slight and insignificant in all treatments.

To study the effects of the bulb storage conditions on the growth and bulb production of lily, a factorial experiment based on a completely randomized design with two cultivars (the Tiber and Donato), three storage temperatures (-2 °C, 4 °C, and ambient temperature), and three storage durations (4, 8, and 12 weeks) was performed. Bulb sprouting percentage, days to bulb sprouting, number of leaves, leaf area, bulb weight, propagation rate, plant height, stem diameter, days to bud emergence, number of buds, bulb size, and number of scales were evaluated. The results showed that the lowest number of days to bulb sprouting and days to bud emergence, the highest bulb sprouting percentage, plant height, stem diameter, leaf area, bulb weight, bulb size, and propagation rate were observed in Donato cultivar. Tiber cultivar showed the highest number of buds, number of leaves, and number of scales. The minimum number of days to bulb sprouting and days to bud emergence, the highest bulb sprouting percentage, bulb weight, bulb size, number of scales, and propagation rate obtained by storing the bulbs at 4 °C for 12 weeks. In conclusion, 12 weeks storage of the bulbs at 4 °C was the best condition for propagation of two studied lily cultivars.

Rapid wilting and browning of the petals are some of the most important factors limiting postharvest life of Narcissus tazetta cut flowers. The present study was conducted to investigate the effects of salicylic acid on the postharvest quality of narcissus cut flowers (cv. Shahla) based on a factorial completely randomized design with three replications. Cut flowers were treated with salicylic acid (SA) at two levels (1 and 2 mM) for 18 hours (pulsing) and transferred to containers with 2% sucrose at 20 ± 2 ℃ and 60-70% relative humidity. The control treatments were 2% sucrose solution and distilled water. Different traits of samples were evaluated during 0, 3, 6, 9 days after treatment. The lowest PPO and POD enzymes activity and percentage of browning were observed using 1 mM SA compared to distilled water and sucrose controls. Moreover, this treatment resulted in the lowest color changes (ΔE), the highest color brightness of the petals (L*), the highest flower quality, and maximum relative water content. The flower stem chlorophyll content was not affected by SA. In general, it can be concluded that 1 mM SA can play an effective role in controlling the polyphenol oxidase and browning of the narcissus cut flowers during postharvest.

Optimal planting pattern and proper nutritional management, especially the vital element of nitrogen, are among the most important and influential factors on the quantitative and qualitative traits of tomatoes. Two experiments were performed in two regions in Agricultural Research Stations of Bushehr Province in 2017-18 crop year in the form of split plots in a randomized complete block design with three replications. The main plot consisted of two planting patterns (single row and twin row) and the sub-plot consisted of four nitrogen levels (0, 90, 180 and 270 kg ha-1 nitrogen). The results showed that the interaction effect of nitrogen × planting pattern in Bondarooz region had a significant effect on single plant yield, vitamin C, pH and partial factor productivity of nitrogen. In Saadabad region, the interaction of planting pattern and nitrogen on the number of locules per fruit and total soluble solids was significant. In Bondarooz, the highest and lowest single plant yields were obtained by application of 180 kg ha-1 nitrogen in single row planting method and without nitrogen application in twin row planting method, respectively. In Saadabad, application of 270 kg ha-1 nitrogen increased the yield of single plant by 116% compared to no application of fertilizer. The most important reason for the difference in yields between two regions was the amount of soil organic matter.

Iran is one of the countries placed in arid and semi-arid areas. Using endemic perovskia (Perovskia spp.) in the urban landscape helps in optimizing the amount of water in the irrigation. In addition, due to their compatibility with the country climate, high drought resistance and attractive flowers, provides suitable field for achieving the sustainable landscape development. This study was laid out to introduce different varities of perovskia, which are suitable for urban landscaping of dry and semi dry areas. Therefore, perovskia plants were collected from three regions in Isfahan, khorasan and Markazi provinces and their tolerance to drought stress was evaluated in four levels (25%, 50%, 75% and 100% of field capacity) in three different species of perovskia (P. atriplicifolia, P. artemisioides & P. abrotanoides). Results indicated that drought stress increased proline, catalase, peroxidase, ion leakage and reduced chlorophyll and carotenoids. Although, due to drought stress, morphological parameters (plant height and diameter, shoots number, leaves number and plants fresh and dry weight) was decreased. Between three species, P. atriplicifolia showed the highest indexes in case of morphological and physiological parameters in drought stress condition. According to the results, we can introduce endemic perovskia, which is a less known plant, as a suitable drought tolerant plant for urban landscape.

Responding mechanisms to water stress were evaluated for 8-month-old seedling rootstocks of Mexican lime, sour orange, volkameriana and rangpur lime in greenhouse conditions. Watering regime was withholding water for 14 days and then rewatering for 3 days at field capacity. Physiological and biochemical indices were evaluated in seedlings leaves at a minimum of two times (end of drought stress and rewatering periods). According to the results, drought led to a significant reduction in the water potential and relative water content of all rootstocks compared to controls, but all differences disappeared after rewatering. Evaluation of the maximum quantum yield of photosystem 2, malondialdehyde content and ion leakage showed that the photosynthetic apparatus of rootstocks, except for volkameriana, was oxidatively damaged due to photoinhibition, but only sour orange had no ability to recover its normal physiological condition after rewatering. According to data analysis, the decreased chlorophyll content of Mexican lime and rangpur lime leaves under stress was likely to be part of the mechanisms responsible for alleviating photoinhibition-related oxidative damage to the photosynthetic apparatus. Under stresss, the chlorophyll content of volkameriana and sour orange leaves was increased and decreased, respectively; which was irreversible for sour orange. Enzymatic antioxidant efficiency of volkameriana, Mexican lime and rangpur lime seedlings under water stress was appropriate and improved by rewatering resulting in acclimation to stress conditions. In conclusion, volkameriana rootstock had the best performance in stress tolerance compared to other evaluated rootstocks. Mexican lime and Rangpur lime had similar physiological and biochemical reactions to water stress and rewatering. The sour orange rootstock had no ability to show appropriate reactions to stress or to recover its normal condition after rewatering.

In order to investigate the effect s of titanium dioxide nanoparticles (nano -TiO2 ) on some quantitative and qualitative characteristics of strawberry cv. Sabrina, a factorial greenhouse experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design with three replications. The strawberry plants were sprayed with titanium dioxide nanoparticles (0, 6 and 12 mg L - 1 ) and under different deficient fertigation treatments (90, 110 and 130 ml). At the end of the experiment, traits such as leaf chlorophyll a and b, pH, TA, TSS, carotenoids, fresh and dry weight of aerial parts and roots, fruit weight, length and width and yield were evaluated. The results showed that the interaction effect of deficient fertigation and titanium dioxide nanoparticles treatments on fruit weight, fresh and dry weight of roots and aerial parts, chlorophyll a and yield was significant, so that the highest yield, fruit weight and fresh and dry weight of roots and aerial parts were observed in 130 ml of deficient fertigation and 12 mg L - 1 titanium dioxide nanoparticles treatments. Also, the main effects of deficient fertigation and titanium dioxide nanoparticles treatments were significant on fruit length and width, pH, TA, TSS, chlorophyll b and carotenoids traits. The highest length and width of fruit s, pH, TSS and carotenoids were observed by separate using of 12 mg L - 1 titanium dioxide nanoparticles or 130 ml of deficient fertigation. In general, the obtained results of this study showed that the concentration of 12 mg L - 1 of titanium dioxide nanoparticles had the highest effect on increasing the yield of strawberry cv. Sabrina under deficient fertigation.