Jafar Nabati; Elahe Boroumand Rezazadeh; Mohammad Zare Mehrjerdi; Mohammad Kafi
Abstract
Introduction: Conventional seed programmes take more than 10 years and diseases during each round of field multiplication become increasingly common and especially those transmitted through seed tubers. In contrast, the production of large volume of propagation material in protected environments requires ...
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Introduction: Conventional seed programmes take more than 10 years and diseases during each round of field multiplication become increasingly common and especially those transmitted through seed tubers. In contrast, the production of large volume of propagation material in protected environments requires only a few additional years of traditional seed multiplication in the field to produce the desired seed with an improved health status. This is useful especially in countries where there are no vector-free production areas for producing high quality potato seed tubers. In the last few decades, alternative seed production programmers have been developed in which the first multiplication steps are speeded up using in vitro plantlets, microtubers or minitubers. In the area of controlled environment agriculture (CEA), one of the most commonly discussed topics is lighting. The lighting system is generally the most expensive component of a controlled environment agriculture facility in terms of upfront costs as well as ongoing expenses (electricity use as well as replacement lamps). Naturally, advances in lighting technology are of great interest to the controlled environment agriculture community for these very reasons. Light emitting diodes (LEDs) are the most recent lighting technology to enter the controlled environment agriculture arena and have great potential to improve performance and reduce the overall cost of controlled environment lighting. Growth and morphogenetic effects of light (quality, intensity, and duration) and phytohormones are well documented, but their modes of action and mutual interactions are far from clear. One of the important questions is whether at least some of the morphogenetic effects of light are mediated by changes in phytohormone levels. This experiment was conducted in order to study the effect of different light sources on morphology and growth of potato plantlets under in-vitro conditions and their effect on minituber production in greenhouse to decrease energy consumption and production costs.
Materials and Methods: A factorial experiment was conducted based on completely randomized design with six replications under in-vitro conditions and four replications in greenhouse. Factors were consisted of cultivars (cv. Agria and Savalan) and light sources (LEDs emitting red, blue, white, combination of red and blue and also tubular fluorescent lamps as control). The experiment was carried out at the tissue culture laboratory of Yeka Seed Technology of Iran. Disease-free potato in vitro plantlets of Agria and Savalan cultivars were derived from the potato germplasm bank of Agricultural Biotechnology Research Institute of Iran. The plantlets were propagated using single-node cutting. Eight explants were cultured in sterilized culture vessels containing 30 ml of MS and pH was set to 5.8 before adding agar and autoclaving. Culture vessel were closed with polycarbonate caps and sealed with household plastic foil and were placed in a growth chamber at 24 °C and 16 h photoperiod for 4 weeks.
Results and Discussion: Results indicated that red spectrum caused an increase in plantlet height and Agria had a higher plantlet height under in-vitro conditions. Root length was higher in red-blue combination and no difference was observed between cultivars under in-vitro condition. The highest and lowest leaf area was obtained in white and red spectrum, respectively. Also, Savalan showed a higher leaf area in comparison with Agria. The lowest node number in plantlets was observed in red spectrum and the highest in white. The highest and lowest internode length was related to red and blue spectrum, respectively. Fluorescent light was resulted in the lowest plantlet fresh weight and no significant difference was observed among other treatments according to this parameter. Stem diameter and number of branches was not affected by different lights. Results of greenhouse study indicated that light conditions before transplanting of plantlets did not affected minituber number, while minituber weight was significantly affected by this factor and the lowest mean of this parameter was obtained in red spectrum compared to the other treatments.
Conclusion: Generally, results showed that less leaf area plantlet in vitro was also less leaf area in greenhouse (red light emitting diode). Leaf area is an important criteria for photosynthetic and biomass production. Therefore, in this experiment fresh and dry matter production was affected by this characteristics and red light showed the lowest dry matter production. LEDs could be considered as suitable light sources producing plantlets comparable with those grown under fluorescent light under in-vitro conditions along with saving energy and ultimately lower production cost.
Hamid Alipour; Mohammad Kafi; Ahmad Nezami; Amir Hossein Mohammadi
Abstract
Introduction: In Iran, main pistachio cultivation areas are located in the edge of desert. The major problem of these areas is the salinity of soil and irrigation water, which affects the growth and performance of plants and reduce yield.
Material and methods: In the present study, the effects of salinity ...
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Introduction: In Iran, main pistachio cultivation areas are located in the edge of desert. The major problem of these areas is the salinity of soil and irrigation water, which affects the growth and performance of plants and reduce yield.
Material and methods: In the present study, the effects of salinity on growth characteristics and mineral contents of seedlings of seven pistachio cultivars and three genotypes (Akbari, Ahmad-Aghaei, Kaleh-Ghoochi, Fandoghi, Badami, Ebrahimi, Seyfadini and G1, G2 and G3 genotypes) were evaluated. The study was conducted in split plot based on randomized complete block design in three replications. The main plots were salinity levels of the irrigation water (0.6, 15 and 30 dS/m) by adding sodium chloride to tap water, and the sub plots were the pistachio cultivars. After germination of seeds in the lab, the seedlings were transplanted into new vases in the greenhouse. At 3rd leaf stage, the salinity treatments were imposed for a period of four months. At the end of the experiment, all samples were collected for growth and cation contents of shoots and roots and data were analyzed by analysis of variance and correlation method, using SAS statistical software and Duncan’s Multiple Range Test was employed at probability level of 5%.
Results and discussions: The results showed that increasing salinity levels reduced stem, root and leaf dry weight as well as stem height and diameter. Salinity also caused a reduction in leaf number and leaf area. At the salinity level of 30 dS/m, dry weights of root and leaf decreased by more than 70%. The length and diameter of seedlings were decreased by 17.2 % and 37.9 % under the mentioned condition. According to the measured growth characteristics, Akbari and Kaleh-Ghoochi, considered as fast growing cultivars, while G3 genotype and Seyfoddini cultivar were considered as slow growing cultivars. By increasing salinity, sodium and calcium concentrations in root, stem and leaf increased significantly, and the ratio of potassium to sodium decreased in the mentioned parts of the plant. Fandoghi and Kaleh-Ghoochi cultivars accumulated the highest amounts of sodium in leaf, while G1 and G2 genotypes had the lowest sodium level. An important fact is that G3 variety had minimum stem and leaf sodium content and maximum root sodium content. In contrast, Kaleh-Ghoochi cultivar had maximum leaf sodium content and minimum root sodium content. This obviously indicates that G3 variety accumulates sodium in the root and avoids sodium transmission to stem and leaf, and Kaleh-Ghoochi variety acted conversely. G2 genotype and Kaleh-Ghoochi variety contain the highest (3%) and lowest (1.4%) levels of leaf potassium. At salinity levels of 15 and 30 dS/m, the index of potassium to sodium ratio decreased by 93% and 87%, respectively, in comparison to the control salinity level (0.6 dS/m2). Generally, local genotypes of pistachio (G1, G2 and G3) showed lower sodium absorption and transport to leaf, while G3 genotype had the highest sodium content in the root and the lowest concentration of sodium in stem and leaf. G2 genotype and Ahmad-Aghaei cultivar had the highest leaf potassium to sodium ratios of 7/8 and 6/3, respectively, while Kaleh-Ghoochi cultivar had the lowest leaf potassium to sodium ratio (3/95). It seems that Kaleh-Ghoochi, Fandoghi and Akbari cultivars are relatively sensitive and G1, G2 and G3 genotypes and Ahmad-Aghaei cultivar are relatively tolerant to salinity at seedling stage. Results of correlation analysis showed a significant negative correlation between the levels of salinity and growth characteristics of pistachio. Leaf sodium content has a significant negative correlation with leaf potassium content as well as the potassium to sodium ratio in root, stem and leaf. Reduced or stunted growth of the pistachio seedlings can be a result of water stress as well as sodium and chlorine toxicities. The impaired balance of nutrient uptake through the root in salt stress conditions leads to reduced growth characteristic of the pistachio seedlings. As the salinity of the irrigating water increases, concentrations of sodium and chlorine ions in soil solution increases, therefore, balance of nutrients is impaired and the root absorption of sodium and chlorine increases and potassium uptake decreases. Hence, the concentrations of sodium and chlorine ions increased in root, stem and leaf, andpotassium concentration decreased. Salinity tolerance in many plants is attributed to non-transmission or limited transmission of sodium to aerial parts of the plant. Various pistachio cultivars acted differently in absorption and accumulation of these elements in the parts of plant. The pistachio varieties with less sodium absorption and transmission to the leaf, but more potassium absorption and transmission, increased potassium to sodium ratio in the leaf and showed more tolerance to salinity. The mechanism is not clearly recognized, perhaps sodium is re-absorbed from the xylem sap and remained in the root and stem, without transmission to leaf. A similar mechanism probably occurs in local genotypes of pistachio (G1, G2, and G3) and results in improved tolerance to salinity.
Reyhane Setayesh; Mohammad Kafi; Jafar Nabati
Abstract
Introduction: The population growth and water requirement for domestic consumption, industry, agriculture and urban development in Mashhad megacity, increase pressures on freshwater resources. Therefore, planning for water use optimization is necessary. The new allocation of water resources for landscape ...
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Introduction: The population growth and water requirement for domestic consumption, industry, agriculture and urban development in Mashhad megacity, increase pressures on freshwater resources. Therefore, planning for water use optimization is necessary. The new allocation of water resources for landscape greenish, especially in arid and semi-arid is difficult. Therefore, water allocation to landscape is valuable and should be used efficiently. According to water resource limitation, using drought-tolerant plant species and determine threshold of drought tolerance in landscape can improve water use management. Plants that naturally survive in your area are the ones best adapted to your soil, climate and rainfall. By selecting plants that either avoid or tolerate dry conditions, a beautiful, thriving landscape can be made possible. Drought-tolerant plants survive long periods of drought by storing water internally or by developing extensive root systems that sink deep into the soil. Many drought-tolerant plants have additional protection through a waxy coating that reduces evaporation or hairs on the leaf surface that reflect some of the light, insulating the plant. Most drought-tolerant plants use several of these features to survive on low amounts of precipitation. Japanese barberry is a compact woody deciduous shrub with arching branches. Leaf colours include green, bluish-green to dark red and purple. B. thunbergii's progress in the United States has, to date, been held in check to the south by, probably, its need for cold winter temperatures for stratification of the seeds, and to the west by, probably, drought conditions. Although very drought tolerant once established, a very dry terrain would tend to discourage its incursion. Rugged, adaptable, no serious problems or pests, easy to maintain, transplants readily, shade and drought tolerant, deer resistant is typical ad copy found at any site offering this shrub of colourful fall foliage. In this regard, drought stress tolerance thresholds of ornamental barberry plant in Mashhad landscape were evaluated.
Materials and Methods: In order to determine the qualitative and quantitative drought stress tolerance thresholds of ornamental barberry (Berberis thunbergii) plant an experiment was conducted basis on randomized complete block design with three replications in Plant Production Complex of Mashhad Municipality. Treatments included; 100, 80, 60, 40, and 20% of culculated water requirements based on evaporation pan data. Two years old plants with similar size were transplanted from pots to field in 16 March 2012. Treatments were applied after establishment in 28 April and sampling was arranged in 6 August, 23 August, 6 September, and 7 October. During the growing season, the evaporation level was daily measured from pan Class A. In each sampling two plants sampled randomly from each plot for measuring the plant height, highest branches, number of branches, fresh and dry weight, dry mater percentage, irrigation water use index and freshness index.
Results and Discussion: Results showed that with increasing severity of drought stress plant height of barberry reduced significantly, but there were no significant difference between 100 and 80% of water requirement treatments. The highest branches reduced by diminishing water application volume but there were no significant difference among 100, 80 and 60% of water requirement application. The maximum of branch number was observed at 60 percent water requirement, however, there were no significant difference between 100 and 60% of water requirement treatments. The number of branches in 60% was 26% lower than 80% of water requirement. Therefore, application of 60% water requirement with 23 branches per plant produced highest branch number. The highest and lowest plant fresh weight was measured in 100% and 20% water requirement application, respectively. Application of 60% of water requirement produced statistically on the same biomass production of 100% of water requirement application. The lowest freshness index was observed in 20 and 40% of water requirement, but there were no significant difference among 60, 80 and 100% of water requirement applications.
Conclusion: Generally, results showed that ornamental barberry plant is a drought resistant plant and it can be alive by only 20% of its water requirement application, but for having freshness ornamental barberry in urban landscape, at least 60% of its water requirement should be applied. Based on the present results, water application of ornamental barberry could be reduced to 60% of calculated water requirement. It could be saved water application of barberry up to 4400 m-3.ha-1 in a growing season in Mashhad condition.
Azadeh Mousavi Bazaz; Ali Tehranifar; Mohammad Kafi; Ali Gazanchian; Mahmood Shoor
Abstract
Introduction: Worldwide, more than one-third of irrigated land is salinized, and in many regions, fresh water shortage has resulted in restrictions on the use of potable water for landscape irrigation. On the other hand, rapidly expanding population growth is occurring in many arid regions, where soil ...
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Introduction: Worldwide, more than one-third of irrigated land is salinized, and in many regions, fresh water shortage has resulted in restrictions on the use of potable water for landscape irrigation. On the other hand, rapidly expanding population growth is occurring in many arid regions, where soil and water salinity are problems and there are increased demands on limited fresh water resources (9). In the turf grass industry, with the increased use of saline and non-potable water, the development of turf grass landscapes in arid and seashore regions where saline soil is common, and with the use of salt for deicing roadways, the need for salinity tolerant turf grasses is very important (16).Seed germination and early seedling growth is usually the most critical stage in plant establishment, and determining successful crop production (23). Tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schrub.) is an important perennial cool-season grass in temperate regions and it is widely used for both forage and turf purposes (25). There is no study on the evaluation of salinity on tall fescue native populations in Iran. The major objective of this study is to determine the relative salt tolerance and growth response of native populations of tall fescue to salinity in germination stage.
Materials and Methods: In this experiment, seeds of some native populations of tall fescue (TF) (F. arundinacea Schreb) including: Semirom, Mashhad, Sanandaj, Sanajan, Yasuj, Yazd Abad, Daran, Kamyaran, Gandoman, Borujen, Nasir Abad, Alborz and commercial TF (C. TF) seeds were used. Four replicates of 25 seeds were germinated on filter papers with 5 ml of NaCl concentrations placed in 9 cm Petri dishes. NaCl concentrations included: 0, 45, 90 and 135 milimolar. The Petri dishes were transferred to germinator at 23°C.Germinated seeds were counted on the3rd, 5th, 8th, 11th and 14th days. Germination was considered to have occurred when the root length was 2 mm long. The seedling with short, thick, and spiral formed hypocotyls and stunted primary root were considered as abnormally germinated. Then, the total germination percentage, germination rate, root length and shoot length were calculated on Day 15. The vigor index was calculated as VI= (RL+SL)×GP, where for the VI, RL is the root length, SL is the shoot length and GP is the germination percentage. Root length and shoot length were measured manually with a ruler. The experimental design was a completely randomized design with 4 replications and 25 seed per replicate. The data were statistically analyzed by JMP 8.0. The difference between the means was compared using LSD values (P < 0.01).
Results and Discussion: The results indicated that the increase of salinity level leads to a significant decrease in germination percentage, germination rate, length of shoot, root and vigor index in all genotypes. Also, interaction of salinity and genotype was significant for germination percentage, germination rate, and vigor index. The highest germination percentage was related to Mashhad population at 45 milimolar, and Daran population at 90 and 135 milimolar. Also, the lowest germination percentage was related to Kamyaran population at 45 and 90 milimolar and Commercial tall fescue at 135 milimolar. Mashhad population at 135 milimolar, Daran population at 90 and 135 milimolar had the highest germination rates. The lowest germination rate was recorded at 45, 90 and 135 milimolar in Commercial tall fescue, Kamyaran and Sanandaj populations, respectively. The highest root length was seen in Commercial tall fescue at 90 and 135 milimolar, and Mashhad population at 45 milimolar. For shoot length factor, Mashhad population, Commercial tall fescue and Mashhad population had the highest lengths at 135, 90 and 45 milimolar, respectively. The highest vigor index was related to Mashhad, Daran and Mashhad populations, at 45, 90 and 135 milimolar, respectively. NaCl has an inhibitory effect on seedgermination and its effect on germination showed time course dependence for absorption of Na and Cl by thehypocotyls (28).Increasing salinity levels caused delays in seedlingemergence as a result of reducing cell division and plant growth metabolism (28). The negative effect of salinity on seed germination and early growth could be due to the toxic effects of NaCl on seeds, or to the osmotic effect, that prevents the seeds from imbibitions (21).
Conclusion: Major grasses mentioned above could tolerate 45 milimolar salinity without noticeable changes in germination traits. Mashhad and Brujen populations were least affected by 135 Mm Nacl at germination rate and percentage. Also, Daran and Mashhad populations were least affected by different salinity levels in all germination factors compared to other populations and could be suggested as salt-tolerant genotypes at germination stage.
Saeid Khaninejad; Hamidreza Khazaie; Jafar Nabati; Mohammad Kafi
Abstract
Potato is one of the most productive crops in agriculture and is a valuable food source in developing countries. Mycorrhizal fungi involve a symbiosis with most of crop roots and leads to improve the crops growth and yield. In order to investigate the effect of mycorrhiza fungi species on yield of potato ...
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Potato is one of the most productive crops in agriculture and is a valuable food source in developing countries. Mycorrhizal fungi involve a symbiosis with most of crop roots and leads to improve the crops growth and yield. In order to investigate the effect of mycorrhiza fungi species on yield of potato cultivars a factorial experiment was arranged in a randomized complete block design with eight treatments (seven mycorrhiza fungi species and control treatment) on two potato cultivars, Agria and Fontane, in three repetitions. Results show that there is no significant difference in tuber yield and shoot P content in Agria and Fontane, but leaf area and shoot dry weight and total tubers weight in Fontane were higher than Agria. Control treatment and A. longula had the least and G. mosseae، G.intraradices and G. versiform had the highest tuber weights. Among fungi G. mosseae produced the highest tuber yield in both cutivars. Inoculation of root medium with G. versiform produced the highest average tubers weight compared to other treatments. Phosphorus content of treated plants with mycorrhiza was higher than control.
Mohammad Kafi; Shahram Rezvan Beydokhti; Sara Sanjani
Abstract
Abstract
Persian shallot (Moseer) belongs to Alliaceae family, is a perennial medicinal and industrial edible alliums in Iran. Very little information is available about different aspects of this species particularly on its agronomical production. In order to determine optimum sowing date and plant ...
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Abstract
Persian shallot (Moseer) belongs to Alliaceae family, is a perennial medicinal and industrial edible alliums in Iran. Very little information is available about different aspects of this species particularly on its agronomical production. In order to determine optimum sowing date and plant density in Persian shallot, an experiment was conducted as split plot based on complete randomized block design with 3 replications at the Agricultural Research Station, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Iran, during 2009 and 2010. Main plots included different sowing dates (17Oct, 16Nov, 20Feb, 16Mar) and sub plots included different plant densities (6, 10, 14, 18 plant m-2). The results showed that there was a significant effect of sowing date, plant density and their interaction of bulblet production, bulblet weight and diameter, bulb weight and diameter, capsule number per inflorescence, seed number per umbrella, seed weight, seed yield, bulb yield (bulb dry and fresh weight), total dry mater and height. The highest bulb yield was obtained in first sowing date (17Oct) belonged to density of 18 plant m-2 and the lowest bulb yield was obtained in fourth sowing date (16Mar) belonged to density of 6 plant m-2. The highest seed yield was obtained in first sowing date (17Oct) belonged to density 14 plant m-2. The results of simple correlation analysis indicated a significant positive association between bulb yield (fresh), bulb weight, number of seed, weight of 1000 seeds, seed yield and height. Based on the results of this study, the optimum sowing date and plant density for bulb production is 17Oct and the best density is 18 plantm-2 and for seed production the best sowing date is 17Oct and the best density is14 plant m-2 in Mashhad climate conditions.
Keywords: Persian shallot (Moseer), Bulb, Bulblet, Plant density, Sowing date
Mohammad Kafi; Ehsan Keshmiri
Abstract
Abstract
Cumin (Cuminum cyminum) is one of the most important medicinal plants in Iranian dry region. In order to study the effects of irrigation times and salinity stress on yield and yield components of cumin, an experiment was conducted at the Research Farm Ferdowsi University of Mashhad in 2009. ...
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Abstract
Cumin (Cuminum cyminum) is one of the most important medicinal plants in Iranian dry region. In order to study the effects of irrigation times and salinity stress on yield and yield components of cumin, an experiment was conducted at the Research Farm Ferdowsi University of Mashhad in 2009. Factors including irrigation times (1: one time irrigation, 2: two times irrigation 3: three times irrigation and 4: four times irrigation (control)) with two levels of salinity stress (irrigation with normal water and saline water of 5 dS/m) and two Cumin cultivars (Sarayan, Indian cultivar RZ 19) were compared in a split plot based on randomized complete block design with three replications per treatment. The results showed that two and three time irrigation with normal water produced the highest biological and seed yield and there was no significant difference at these traits. One time irrigation and two times irrigation treatments with saline water had lowest seed yield, biological yield and seed number per umber and umbers per plant. Salinity stress decreased significantly all parameters of cumin cultivars such as seed yield, biological yield, number of umbers per plant, number of seeds per umber, 1000 seeds weight. The Indian cultivar was less reduced on seed yield than Sarayan cultivar under salinity stress and also Sarayan cultivar was less affected on seed yield in drought stress than Indian cultivar, however, in overall, Sarayan cultivar had higher seed yield than Indian cultivar in all treatments. Based on the results of this experiment (two times irrigation with normal water for Cumin in Mashhad area) will be achieved as desirable seed yield. However, yield reduction of cumin under irrigation with saline water of 5 dS/m was less than 20% compared with control.
Keywords: Irrigation, Salinity stress, Cumin, Yield, Yield component
Ali Eskandari; Hamid Reza Khazaie; Ahmad Nezami; Mohammad Kafi; Abbas Majdabadi
Abstract
Abstract
In order to Study the effects of irrigation regimes on physiological traits, yield and water use efficiency of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) in Mashhad weather condition, an experiment was conducted in 2009 at research field of the College of Agriculture, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, using ...
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Abstract
In order to Study the effects of irrigation regimes on physiological traits, yield and water use efficiency of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) in Mashhad weather condition, an experiment was conducted in 2009 at research field of the College of Agriculture, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, using factorial experiment based on randomized complete blocks design with 3 replications. Experimental factors were 3 irrigation regimes including: I1: provided with 100% of water requirement of potato, I2: provided with 70% of water requirement of potato applied before tuber initiation and I3: provided with 70% of water requirement applied at all growth period of potato as first factors and 3 potato cultivars (Agria, Almera and Sinora) as second factors. The results indicated that about physiological traits when provided with 100% water requirement of potato the highest of relative water content, quantum efficiency of photosystem II, leaf area index and canopy height related to this irrigation regime. Even though with reduce in irrigation volume because of decreasing in LAI, the SPAD index in some cases was higher. Also in all irrigation regimes total tuber yield of Agria cultivar was better than to others. Considering to the calculation of water use efficiency with 30% decreasing in irrigation volume before tuber initiation, Agria had the highest WUE in provided with 70% water requirement. Finally, it seems that with decreasing in irrigation volume at Mashhad weather condition, Agria had the best growth and more acceptable yield compared to other genotypes.
Keywords: Potato, Irrigation regimes, Cultivar, Water Use Efficiency
Alireza Dadkhah; Mohammad Kafi; Ghorban Ali Rasam
Abstract
Abstract
In order to study the effect of planting season (autumn and spring) and plant density on growth traits and flower yield (dry weight of flower) of Matricaria (Matricaria chamomilla), an experiment was carried out at the Research Field of Agricultural Faculty of Shirvan, affiliated to Ferdowsi ...
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Abstract
In order to study the effect of planting season (autumn and spring) and plant density on growth traits and flower yield (dry weight of flower) of Matricaria (Matricaria chamomilla), an experiment was carried out at the Research Field of Agricultural Faculty of Shirvan, affiliated to Ferdowsi University of Mashhad. A split plot design with two factors, including planting time and plant spacing within row with four replications was used. Planting time was arranged in main plots and plant spacing within row was allocated as subplot. The results showed that planting time significantly affect growth traits of Matricaria plants. Plant height, the number of branches, flowering period, number of flower per plant and consequently flower yield were significantly increased in autumn rather than spring planting date. The best space between two plants within rows was 20 cm in both spring and autumn planting dates.
Key words: Matricaria, Planting date, Plant density, Yield
