Pomology
Seyed Asghar Mousavi; Akram Vatankhah; Ali Imani
Abstract
IntroductionAlmond (Prunus dulcis L.) is one of the valuable nut trees that is cultivated in many temperate regions and Mediterranean climatic conditions for domestic consumption and export. Almond belongs to the genus Prunus, from the Rosaceae family. Identifying and introducing genotypes and cultivars ...
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IntroductionAlmond (Prunus dulcis L.) is one of the valuable nut trees that is cultivated in many temperate regions and Mediterranean climatic conditions for domestic consumption and export. Almond belongs to the genus Prunus, from the Rosaceae family. Identifying and introducing genotypes and cultivars of late bloom is one of the most important goals of almond breeding programs. The correct choice of almond rootstock causes better management of the garden, compatibility with all types of soil and resistance to nematodes. Peach × almond hybrid has been the most widely used rootstock in both dry and irrigated conditions in the past years. Creating an orchard by selecting grafted genotypes on suitable rootstock for sustainable cultivation of almonds is particularly important. Cultivation of superior genotypes grafted on fruit trees has an effect on pomological characteristics, yield and quality of nuts. The requirement for the introduction and production of superior cultivars is an accurate selection between cultivars, which is possible through the identification of cultivars and their diversity. The purpose of this research is to investigate and evaluate the most important vegetative, phenological, quantitative and qualitative characteristics of nuts and kernels in 36 promising cultivars and genotypes grafted on GN15 rootstock, in order to introduce superior cultivars.Materials and Methods:In this research, 36 promising almond cultivars and genotypes on GN15 rootstock were investigated in garden conditions in terms of various vegetative traits, nut and kernel characteristics in order to obtain suitable commercial cultivars. This research was conducted at the Badam research station in Saman region affiliated to the Center for Research and Education of Agriculture and Natural Resources of Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province as a randomized complete block design with three replications. Vegetative traits of tree height, canopy length, canopy width, and branch length were measured by meter in the garden, and rootstock diameter, scion diameter, and branch diameter were measured in the garden with calipers. In order to measure the nut and kernels, 100 fruits were harvested from each of the studied cultivars and genotypes at the time of fruit ripening, and their green shell was separated and dried. Measurement of traits such as length, width, diameter of nut and kernel was done by digital caliper and weight of nut and kernel was measured by digital scale with accuracy of 0.01. Coding of some traits was done based on almond descriptor (Gülcan, 1985) with some changes. The data obtained from the experiment were analyzed using SAS software (version 3.1.9). To compare the means, Duncan's multiple range test was used at the 5% probability level.Results and DiscussionAccording to the results of analysis of variance (ANOVA), there was a statistically significant difference at the level of 1% between the attributes of tree height, canopy width, rootstock and scion diameter, branch length and diameter, and the ratio of tree height to canopy length. (P<0.01). The results of variance analysis show that there is a significant difference between the investigated nut and kernel traits in promising cultivars and genotypes grafted on GN (Table 5). These differences show the diversity in the investigated traits and it is possible to choose cultivars for different values of the same trait. Based on the average comparison results of the vegetative traits, the highest height in genotypes GA4, GA3, GA35, The highest canopy width was observed in genotypes GA5, GA17, GA3, and GA20, GA15, GA5, the highest diameter of rootstock and scion, and the highest length and diameter of one-year branches were observed in genotype GA18. The results of the comparison of the average nut and kernel characteristics show that there is a significant difference in the cultivars and genotypes investigated in this research. The results of the comparison of the average nut and kernel characteristics show that there is a significant difference in the cultivars and genotypes investigated in this research. Based on the obtained results, cultivars and genotypes of GA5, GA24, GA12, GA9 and GA1 showed relative superiority in terms of nut and kernel traits. The results of this research showed that the GA35 genotype grafted on the GN15 rootstock had the highest length, width and diameter of the nut, and the highest weight of nut and kernel. The kernel color light, the without shrinking the kernel and the highest percentage of kernel and the highest ratio of kernel weight to nut weight.ConclusionThe results of this research showed that the examination of vegetative traits, nuts and kernels in the studied cultivars and genotypes could show the diversity between cultivars and genotypes. The results showed that the investigated cultivars and genotypes have significant differences in terms of all nut and kernel traits, which indicates the existence of diversity between the investigated cultivars and genotypes. This indicates that these cultivars and genotypes can be considered as a source of good germplasm for breeding programs. Cultivars and genotypes with higher percentage of kernels had thinner shell, more patterns on the skin, and light to medium kernel color. Based on the obtained results, cultivars and genotypes of GA5, GA24, GA12, GA9 and GA1 showed relative superiority in terms of nut and kernel traits. The results of this research showed that the GA35 genotype grafted on the GN15 rootstock had the highest length, width and diameter of the nut, and the highest weight of nut and kernel. The kernel color light, the without shrinking the kernel and the highest percentage of kernel and the highest ratio of kernel weight to nut weight.
Ali Imani; Khosro Parvizi; Hamdollah Beyrami jam; Ebrahim Hadavi
Abstract
Introduction: Iron chlorosilicon caused by calcium carbonate can be controlled widely with iron chelate in nutrition management of gardens, but it has high costs and potential environmental hazards. Such constraints have led to alternative strategies for managing iron nutrition in relation to soil and ...
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Introduction: Iron chlorosilicon caused by calcium carbonate can be controlled widely with iron chelate in nutrition management of gardens, but it has high costs and potential environmental hazards. Such constraints have led to alternative strategies for managing iron nutrition in relation to soil and plant parameters. Almond rootstocks and almond x peach hybrids (GF 677) are widely used as the rootstock for almonds, peaches and nectarines in the Mediterranean basin, moreover, in addition to its drought resistance, has a high tolerance to iron chlorosis. Different references of almond tree have introduced this fruit tree as a chlorosis resistant, but it shows different ranges of chlorosis when grafted on almond x peach hybrids such as GF677 and GN15. Therefore, this study carried out to evaluate the effect of calcium bicarbonate on some physiological characteristics of selected almond cultivars on the GN15 rootstock.
Materials and Methods: This research was conducted during 2015 and 2016 to evaluate the resistance to bicarbonate and the amount of chlorosis produced in selected almond cultivars on the hybrid rootstock (peach and almond) as a factorial experiment with completely randomized design with three replications in greenhouse conditions. The first factor consisted of different concentrations of calcium bicarbonate (0, 20, 10, 30 and 40 mmol L-1) and the second factor included nine selected almond cultivars grafted to the GN15 rootstock and a GN15 (non-grafted) rootstock. Almond cultivars included 9 cultivars including Supernova, 25-1, 40-13, Mamaei, 16-1, Kaghazi, Sahand, 200A, 7-9, and GN15 rootstock. Each plot included a pot, where the rootstock planted. In the spring, the cultivars and GN15 rootstock planted in plastic pots with soil compositions including perlite (50%) and cocopeat (50%). After sufficient growth of these rootstocks in the pots, almond cultivars were grafted onto them and immediately after the transplantation, the calcium bicarbonate treatments began after proper growth of the scions. In order to apply bicarbonate treatment, 1.62, 3.23, 4.86 and 6.48 g L-1 calcium bicarbonate (Ca (HCo3) 2) were added to the pots. In addition, 10% of calcium bicarbonate added also to the pots because of the deficiency of 10% chemical purity. After applying the treatments, chlorophyll, chlorophyll a and b, carotenoids, chlorophyll fluorescence were measured in two stages at intervals of 30 and 90 days. After the end of the growth period, the length and diameter of the current season branches and the leaf length and width of each almond cultivar were measured and recorded in different treatments. Two-way ANOVA of the data was carried out using SAS software (v. 8.02, SAS Institute, Cary, NC) and the means were compared based on Duncan’s multiple range test.
Results and Discussion: Based on the ANOVA results, it was determined that the effects of calcium bicarbonate, cultivar and their interactions on the content of chlorophyll a and b were statistically significant (p≤0.01). The lowest decrease levels of chlorophyll a and b were found in the leaflets of Kaghazi, Mamaei, saplings, 25-1, and 40-13 cultivars, but the highest decrease was observed in Supernova cultivar, 7-9, and GN15. The reasons for decreasing the chlorophyll content of the leaf with the increase of bicarbonate levels can be related to iron deficiency and its deactivation and the role of iron in the synthesis of chlorophyll. Nevertheless, the difference for chlorophyll depletion at different levels of bicarbonate in different cultivars can be due to the capacity of these cultivars to tolerate higher levels of bicarbonate and the possibility of the synthesis of chloroplastic proteins in leaf cells even with a relative lack of iron. In all cultivars, as well as the GN15 rootstock, the level of carotenoids decreased with increasing concentrations of calcium bicarbonate. However, the response of the cultivars was different. Under bicarbonate conditions, reducing leaf iron concentration reduces chlorophyll and carotenoids. The results of the mean comparison showed that bicarbonate induced height growth reduction and branch diameter in the current season, while the reaction of the studied rootstocks were also different. So that the highest decrease in growth rate was observed in Supernova, 7-9 cultivars and GN15 rootstock and the lowest decrease of growth rate were found in the cultivars of Kaghazi, 1.25-1 and -40-13. High concentrations of bicarbonate, by disabling and decreasing iron absorption, indirectly reduces DNA synthesis, cell division, and thus decreases cell growth and plant biomass. The results of this study are in agreement with Ghasemi et al. (2010) in different responses of the rootstock to bicarbonate concentration on the height and diameter decreasing of current season branch. Mean comparison of data showed that the length and width of leaf area in all studied cultivars decreased with increasing concentration of calcium bicarbonate in irrigation water. Also, leaf length and width decrease in rootstock grafted cultivars had a significant difference, so that the lowest reduction in leaf length and width was in pepper, midwifery and 25-1, and the highest leaf area decrease in Supernova cultivars, 7-9 and GN15 base was observed. Leaf growth decreases in calcareous soils due to a decrease for iron in the symplast. The specific effects of high bicarbonate on leaf growth in almond cultivars and the different reaction of almond rootstocks in this study are in agreement with Tedaion et al. (2004) results in orange, as well as Wahom et al. (2001) in olive and peach.
Conclusion: Totally, the results of this study indicate that cultivar and rootstock cause the amount of chlorosis tolerance induced by calcium bicarbonate. In general, in terms of morphological and physiological traits studied in this research, Kaghazi and 25-1 cultivars are the most tolerant, while 7-9 and supernova are the most sensitive cultivars to bicarbonate.
Nader Yaghubi Akram; Ali Imani; Davood Sadeghzadeh-Ahari
Abstract
Introduction: Apple tree is one of the widely grown fruit crops in Iran. Apple is not only consumed as fresh fruit in Iran but also it is one of the most important export products in country. Iran has a good ranking among the first world ten apple producing countries and it annual production is about ...
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Introduction: Apple tree is one of the widely grown fruit crops in Iran. Apple is not only consumed as fresh fruit in Iran but also it is one of the most important export products in country. Iran has a good ranking among the first world ten apple producing countries and it annual production is about three million tons. Although Iran has acceptable ranking in the case of apple production in the world, but its mean yield is about 13 tons per hectare. Unsuited nourishing and unbalancing of the nutrients in the soils is one of the reasons for reducing of apple yields in most parts of Iran.
Calcium (Ca) is one of the plant nutrients that most closely related to improvement of fruit quality and increasing of fruits shelf life. Calcium mobilization from leaf to fruit is controlling by transpiration of plant. With growing of fruits, calcium deficiency will be increase especially in high temperature and drought condition because of dilution effect.
Calcium ions bind tightly to the pectins in the cell walls and produce cationic bridges between pectic acids, or between pectic acids and other acidic polysaccharides. These bridges make the cell walls less accessible to the action of pectolytic enzymes.
It is suggested that addition of calcium to fruit can either enhance resistance of fruit to postharvest pathogens or reduce susceptibility to postharvest diseases and disorders.
Calcium chloride (Ca Cl2) and calcium nitrate [Ca (NO3)2] are commonly used for foliar sprays. Application of calcium chloride has been reported to control fruit disorders and improve fruit quality of apples and pears. Calcium chloride solution by immersion did not significantly differ from the untreated control in pH, total soluble solids (TSS), total titratable acidity (TA).
Boron is an essential micronutrient required for optimal yield and quality of apple fruit. Its availability to plants decreases with increasing of soil pH and under drought condition. Boron deficiencies may reduce Ca movement in a tree. Boron plays a significant role in pollination success and it plays a role in the trees ability to translocation of Ca from the roots to other parts of the tree. Foliar application of boron is preferred over soil application because of the very narrow range from deficient to toxic levels. Efficiency of calcium and boron increases plant height by increasing mitotic activity in the terminal meristems.
Dwarfing rootstocks have been used in most parts of the world. They have more differences in adaptability with different soils and agro-climatologically conditions. Recently using from East Maling 9 (M9) and Maling Merton 106 (MM106) has been extended in Iranian apple gardens.
Regarding to the difficulties of apple growing gardens in Iran that due to appearing serious difficulties in nutrients absorption by plants and importance of improvement of qualitative and quantitative apple production on the other hand, this study carried out.
Materials and Methods: The research study was conducted at the Khorramdarreh region located in 36○.13' eastern longitude and 49○.12' northern altitude and 1560 meter above the free seas levels, during spring and summer 2014 to determine the influence of foliar calcium chloride + calcium nitrate and boron mixture application on growth and yield performance of Star King apple cultivar grafted on M 9 and MM 106 rootstocks. Trees were nine years old. The experiment was laid out in factorial based on randomized complete blocks design with 3 replications. Factor A was rootstock in two level(M 9 and MM 106) and factor B was foliar spraying of calcium chloride + calcium nitrate and boron mixture with three levels(0, 3000 and 5000 ppm).
Mixture of calcium chloride, calcium nitrate and borax (3000 and 5000 ppm), were applied as foliar spray in four times with 22 days interval started from 28 of June (after June drop). A back-held spray pump was used for foliar application of the chemicals. After spraying two branches were selected at two eastern and western directions with 80-100 centimeter length and 1-1.5 centimeter diameter for noting the growing related traits such as length and diameter of new branches also the tress height and diameter were noted. After ripening of the fruits, ten randomly selected fruit were picked around the tree canopy from each treatment and in laboratory some qualitative characteristics such as pH, titrable acid and total soluble solids of them were tested.
The data were analyzed using MSTAT-C software and treatment means were separated by the Duncans Multiple Range Test (DMRT) at a 0.05% level of significance.
Results and Discussion: Results showed that effect of rootstock factor was significant on length of new branches, tree diameter, annual increasing of tree diameter and fruit pH. The highest length of new branches (30.56 cm) belonged to MM 106 rootstock that 47% increased comparing with M9 new branches length. The lowest tree diameter was 11.50 cm and belonged to M 9 rootstock that decreased about 51% comparing with MM 106 rootstock. The highest annual increasing of tree diameter (6.8 mm) belonged to MM 106. The maximum fruit pH (4.7) belonged to M9 rootstock that had significantly differences with fruit pH in MM 106(4.5).Concentration factor had significantly effect on individual tree fruit yield, yields per hectare, length and diameter of new branches, trees height and diameter, annual increasing of tree diameter, fruit total soluble solid, fruit juice and fruits texture hardiness. Interaction effect of rootstock × concentration was significant only on length of new branches. With increasing of solution mixture (calcium chloride + calcium nitrate and boron) concentration, growing of new branches (in length and diameter), trees height and diameter were increased.
Conclusion: It can be concluded from these results that three time foliar application of calcium chloride + calcium nitrate and boron mixture on Star King apple cultivar grafted on M 9 and MM 106, results in a significant increase in tree and fruit qualitative and quantitative production. According to the results of study spraying of Star King apple cultivar with 5000 ppm concentration of calcium chloride + calcium nitrate and boron mixture, recommended in Khorramdarreh region.
Ali Akbar Shokouhian; Gholamhossein Davarynejad; Ali Tehranifar; Ali Imani; Ali Rasoulzadeh
Abstract
Introduction: One of the microbiological preparations used for this study was Effective Microorganisms (EM), being a commercial mixture of photosynthesizing bacteria, Actinomycetes, lactic acid bacteria, yeasts and fermenting fungi. The microbiological composition of the EM concentrateincludesStreptomyces ...
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Introduction: One of the microbiological preparations used for this study was Effective Microorganisms (EM), being a commercial mixture of photosynthesizing bacteria, Actinomycetes, lactic acid bacteria, yeasts and fermenting fungi. The microbiological composition of the EM concentrateincludesStreptomyces albus, Propioni bacterium freudenreichil, Streptococcus lactis, Aspergillus oryzae, Mucor hiemalis, Saccharomycescerevisiae and Candida utilis. Moreover, EM also contains an unspecified amount of Lactobacillus sp. Rhodo pseudomonas sp. and Streptomyces griseus. Effective Microorganisms have a positive effect on the decomposition of organic matter, limiting putrefaction, increasing nitrogen content in the root medium of plants, phosphorus, improving soil fertility and as a result contributing to the growth and development of the root systems of plants.
Selection of almond vegetative rootstocks for water stress tolerance is important for almond crop production in arid and semi-arid regions. The study of the eco-morphological characteristics that determine the success of a rootstock in a particular environment is a powerful tool for both agricultural management and breeding purposes. The aim of this work was to select the new rootstocks for water shortage tolerance, impact of water stress as well as Effective Microorganism (EM) on morphological characteristics of almond rootstocks.
Materials and Methods: In order to select the new rootstocks for water shortage tolerance, impact of water stress as well as EMonmorphologicalcharacteristics of almondrootstocks were studiedin thedepartment ofHorticulture, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, in 2011-2012. The experiment was carried out with four replications in a completely random blockdesign to study the effects of two concentrations of EM (0 and 1%), three irrigation levels (normal irrigation 100%-control-and irrigation after depletion of 33 and 66% of available water), and four almond rootstocks including GF677 and selected natural hybrid of peach × almond (H1and H2), and almond vegetative rootstock (local control).In this study,EMtreatments for 60 days before stress treatments were applied so that in each irrigation, EM solution to a concentration of one percent was given to half of the experiment pots. Other pots were irrigated equally with normal water. Stress levels were applied from July as follow: full irrigation, watering after unloading 33% and 66% soil moisture availability. In order to evaluate the performance, seedling survival, plant growth, number of leaves, leaf area, root fresh and dry weight and leaves and root length were measured.
Results and Discussion: Analysis of variance showed that between rootstock levels across all treatments were significantly differences at 0.01 level of probability. Comparison of means showed that the highest fresh and dry weight and leaf are awere observed forGF677and H1.Rootstockannualgrowth rate was also different. Most of the growth was related to the H1 Rootstocks. Thes urvival ratewas significantly different from the Rootstocks ofGF677,andH1showedthe highestpercentage of survival. The degree of adaptation to drought in varieties of almonds is different. The results showed that changes ingrowthparametersinGF677and H1were observed less often than other rootstocks. Because of strong roots,GF677and H1continue to attract more minerals under stress conditions.
Analysis of variance showed that the between irrigation levels for all treatments were significantly different at 0.01 level of probability. Comparison of means showed that among the study traits, the highest amount was obtained from complete irrigation, while irrigationat66 percenthad the least amount. Water stress may directly affect photosyn thesis, through leaf photochemicalprocessorindirectly,byclosing stomata, reducingleaf area and growth.
The results showed that the levels of(EM) on the leaf surface, leaf number, annual growth, root dry weight and volume were significantly different (p
Ali Momenpour; Ali Imani; Davoud Bakhshi; Hamed Rezaie
Abstract
Introduction: Almond (Prunus amygdalus B.) is one of the most important crops consumed as a dry fruit and it is mainly adaptable to arid and semi-arid regions mostly suffering from salinity stress (8). Soils with dry humidity regime are dominant in Iran and in the world at large and mostly include regions ...
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Introduction: Almond (Prunus amygdalus B.) is one of the most important crops consumed as a dry fruit and it is mainly adaptable to arid and semi-arid regions mostly suffering from salinity stress (8). Soils with dry humidity regime are dominant in Iran and in the world at large and mostly include regions with more evaporation than precipitation. This in turn leads to increased salinity of the soil (9 and 10). Based on available reports, roughly 12.5% of land areas in Iran are saline, which overwhelmingly contain sodium, while more than 800 million hectares of land area on the earth (6% of overall global land area) are affected by salinity (9 and 10). Therefore, compound of rootstock and scion may be used as one of the influence factors in sensitivity or tolerance to salinity of planted fruit trees including almonds (8 and 11). In recent years, for various reasons including the uniformity of trees, instead of sexual rootstock, vegetative rootstock is used. Rootstock GF677 an inter-specific hybrid (Almond Peach) is propagated asexually as clone (8). It has been reported that rootstock GF677 is tolerant to salinity while rootstock nemagard (P. persica X P. davidiana) is sensitive to salinity (16). It has been reported that rootstock GF677 tolerated salinity (5.5 ds/m), (19) or 5.2 ds/m (17 and 14).However, as plant species and different cultivars within the same plant species vary considerably in their tolerance to salinity (10), properly selecting plants and/or cultivars that can be grown well under adverse conditions, created in the root zone by salinization, is the most efficient and environmentally friendly agricultural practice for a more permanent solution of the problem of salinity (10).
Despite the presence of information on the effect of salinity on concentration of nutrition elements of almond cultivars leaves and roots, tolerantscion/rootstock combinationshave not been introduced for this plant. Therefore, the aim of the present study is to evaluate the effects of salt stress on concentration of nutritional elements of selected almond genotypes leaves and roots, grafted on GF677 rootstock and introducing most tolerant genotypes to it.
Materials and Methods: In this research, the effects of salinity stress were investigated on nutrient of almond leaves and roots by a completely randomized design (CRD), with two factors, genotype (in the four levels) and irrigation water salinity (in the five levels) with tree replications in the research greenhouse of Seed and Plant Institute in the year 2013. Studied Genotypes included ‘Shokofeh’, ‘Sahand’ and ‘13-40’ budded on GF677 and ‘GF677’ (none budded as control) and irrigation water salinity included 0, 1.2, 2.4, 3.6 and 4.8 g/l of natural salt (whose electrical conductivity are equal to 0.5, 2.5, 4.9, 7.3 and 9.8 ds/m, respectively).Nutrition elements such as K+, Ca++, Mg++, P, Na+, Cl-, Zn++, Cu++, Fe++, Na+to K+ ratio, Na+ to Ca++ ratio, Na+ to Mg++ ratio, Na+ to P ratio, were investigated in selected almond genotypes leaves and roots. Then salinity stress was applied.
Results and Discussion:The results showed that type of scion and level of salinity had affected nutrient concentration of leaves and roots. Evaluation of nutrition elements concentration in leaves and roots showed that in the total studied genotypes, the highest percentage of Na+, Cl-, Na+to K+ ratio, Na+ to Ca++ ratio, Na+ to Mg++ ratio, Na+ to P ratio and the lowest percentage of Ca++, Mg++, P and concentration of Cu++ in leaves and roots and the lowest concentration of Zn++ in leaves were observed in treatment 9.8 ds/m. The result showed that the type of scion was effective in obstruction of Na+absorptionby therootsand their transportationtoleaves.Percentageof Na+, Cl-, Na+ to K+ ratio and Na+ to P ratio in levels of salinity 3.6 and 4.8 g/l and Na+ to Ca++ ratio, Na+ to Mg++ ratio in level of salinity 4.8 g/l in ‘Shokofeh’ cultivar were significantly lessthan other genotypes. Also, this cultivar could compare with control plants at levels of salinity 3.6 and 4.8 g/l by increasing the percentage of K+and concentration of Fe++ ,and it could tolerate the harmful effects of Na+ more than other genotypes.
Conclusion: Overall, the results showed that both rootstock and type of scion were effective in tolerance to salinity. GF677 rootstocks (non-budded) tolerated salinity of 2.4 g/l (4.9 ds/m), but withincreasingsalt concentration, plants were severely damaged. The results showed that the type of scion affected tolerance to salinity. In this research,at base concentration of nutritional elements,‘Shokofeh’ cultivar was the most tolerant cultivar against salinity stress. This cultivar could well tolerate salinity of 3.6 g/l (7.3 ds/m) and partly salinity 4.8 g/l (9.8 ds/m). In contrast, Sahand cultivar was the most sensitive cultivar to salinity stress. These cultivar as GF677 rootstocks (non-budded as control) only could tolerate salinity of 2.4 g/l.
Mehdi Oraei; Seyyed Jalal Tabatabaie; Esmaeil Fallahi; Ali Imani; Leila S. Fatemy
Abstract
Boron (B) toxicity is an important disorder that can limit plant growth in arid and semi-arid environments. It has been proven that use of tolerant rootstocks impede B uptake or transport to the aerial portions of plants. This may alleviate B toxicity in the scion, consequently improves the tolerance ...
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Boron (B) toxicity is an important disorder that can limit plant growth in arid and semi-arid environments. It has been proven that use of tolerant rootstocks impede B uptake or transport to the aerial portions of plants. This may alleviate B toxicity in the scion, consequently improves the tolerance to excess B in the root zone. An experiment was conducted to find the effects of B toxicity on vegetative growth, physiological characteristics and B distribution of almond tree (Prunus dulcis Mill.) cv. “Ferragnes” grown in the controlled environment. Three levels of B (0.25, 10, 20 mg/L) from H3BO3 and two almond rootstocks (GF677, Tuono) were factorially combined in a completely randomized design with four replications. The results showed that B toxicity had significant effects on vegetative growth, physiological characteristics and B distribution in almond tree. With increasing B levels in nutrient solution, vegetative characteristics including leaf production percentage and main shoot elongation was decreased significantly. However, Fr/Tuono was affected less than Fr/GF677. Also, physiological characteristics such as electrolyte leakage percentage, proline content and leaf necrosis percentage were increased significantly in two scion-rootstock combinations. On the basis of these results, GF677 because of an inability to restrict uptake and/ or transport of excess B from root system to aerial parts of scion, have a higher sensitivity to B toxicity. Instead, Tuono via mechanism of preferential distribution of B in roots inhibited the accumulation of high concentration of B either in young leaves or meristematic tissues partially and protected these susceptible organs against injury caused by B toxicity. In conclusion, it seem that under excess B conditions Tuono rootstock have higher tolerance than GF677.
Ali Momenpour; Ali Ebady; Ali Imani
Abstract
Abstract
Almond is an important nut tree which is cultivated in many Mediterranean countries. This study was carried out to study some vegetative and reproductive traits as well as qualitative and quantitative characteristics and their correlation in some self-compatible and self-incompatible genotypes ...
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Abstract
Almond is an important nut tree which is cultivated in many Mediterranean countries. This study was carried out to study some vegetative and reproductive traits as well as qualitative and quantitative characteristics and their correlation in some self-compatible and self-incompatible genotypes obtained from crossing between Touno (male parent) and Shahrood 12 (female parent). Quantitative traits were analyzed in Completely Randomized Design (CRD), with 12 replication using SAS program. The mean was separated by Duncan Multiple Range test. The results showed that genotypes together were significant difference in all traits measured except Double kernels percentage. The results showed that genotypes No. 6 and 23 are very late blooming and self-compatible with had medium size and moderate quality fruits. However, genotypes No. 15 and 24 were classified as late to very late blooming and self-compatible. They produced large size and good quality fruit. The results correlation between traits showed that kernel weight had significant positive correlation with nut weight and fruit weight. In-shell/kernel ratio had also significant positive correlation with shell softness and suture opening of the shell. Kernel taste had significant correlation with kernel to shell ratio, percentage of empty seeds, color intensity of kernel and smoothness of kernel. Therefore, the smoother, clearer and low percentage of empty seeds resulted in sweet and good quality kernel.
Keywords: Almond, Vegetative and generative traits, Correlation
Mehdi Oraei; Seyyed Jalal Tabatabaie; Esmaeil Fallahi; Ali Imani
Abstract
Abstract
Salinity tolerance is one of the major factor influencing crop productivity in arid and semi-arid areas. The salinity tolerance of fruit trees can be enhanced through the use of tolerant rootstocks. This experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of salinity stress and rootstock on ...
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Abstract
Salinity tolerance is one of the major factor influencing crop productivity in arid and semi-arid areas. The salinity tolerance of fruit trees can be enhanced through the use of tolerant rootstocks. This experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of salinity stress and rootstock on the growth, photosynthetic rate and nutrient concentrations of almond (Prunus dulcis Miller.) cv. “Ferragnes” grown in the soilless culture and controlled environment. Three levels of NaCl (0, 50, 100 mM) and two rootstock (GF677, Tuono) was factorially combined in a randomized complete block design with four replications. The results showed that the salinity stress had a significant diminish effects on vegetative and physiological characteristics and nutrient concentrations of almond. The severity of the adverse effects of salinity varied among rootstocks. Fresh and dry weights of leaf and root, leaf number and chlorophyll index was increased in F/GF677 at 50 mM salinity level and then decreased compare to that in control, however it was decreased at 100 mM salinity concentration in F/Tuono. Photosynthetic rate, leaf area and K/Na ratio was decreased with increasing salinity in both rootstocks, it became more pronounced in F/Tuono. With increasing NaCl levels, leaf concentrations of N, P, K was decreased and Na concentration was increased in both rootstocks. This results imply that GF677 have a exclusion mechanism such as restrict either the uptake or transport of Na from root to shoot or maintain sufficient level of K, have a higher salt tolerance than Tuono hence, under salinity conditions can be useful salt-tolerant rootstock for different almond cultivars.
Key words: Almond, Rootstock, Salinity tolerance, Salinity stress, Photosynthesis
