Pomology
S. Karami; S. Faraji
Abstract
Introduction
Mineral nutrients (macro and micro) and polyphenolic compounds are natural components of many fruits and play an important role in maintaining the quality and nutritional value of the fruit. Therefore, optimal management of plant nutrition in order to increase the quantity and quality of ...
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Introduction
Mineral nutrients (macro and micro) and polyphenolic compounds are natural components of many fruits and play an important role in maintaining the quality and nutritional value of the fruit. Therefore, optimal management of plant nutrition in order to increase the quantity and quality of the product and improve the synthesis of secondary metabolites, especially during fruit growth, is necessary and unavoidable. Nevertheless, in the last decade, the occurrence of pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) aril paleness has been reported as a new and pervasive factor in reducing the quality of pomegranate fruit in many countries, including Iran. The present research was conducted with the aim of comparing the mineral concentrations (iron, zinc, and calcium) and biochemical characteristics (anthocyanin content) in pomegranates affected by aril paleness and healthy pomegranates of the ‘Malase Saveh’cultivar (2022). Additionally, the study aimed to investigate the effect of foliar application of the mentioned mineral elements on the incidence and severity of the aril paleness condition (2023).
Materials and Methods
This study was carried out during two years (2022 and 2023) and two independent trials. First, based on the introduced factors affecting the occurrence of pomegranate paleness (temperature, irrigation water and soil salinity), two orchards with medium and high percentage of pomegranate aril paleness (orchard number 9 and 17, respectively) were selected based on the results of Faraji & Karami (2024a). The first trial in 2022 (orchard No. 9): At harvest and after splitting fruits, twenty healthy fruits and affected fruits by the aril paleness disorder were randomly selected and were used for determination of mineral nutrient (Fe, Zn and Ca) and anthocyanin content in the laboratory. The second trial in 2023 (orchard No. 17): In the first phase, 70 trees were selected and labeled, then at the end of September (2022), percent and severity aril paleness of each tree was calculated. In the second phase (2023), based on the results of the first year, 54 trees as experimental unit (with aril paleness percentage>85 and paleness severity of high/very high) were selected from previous trees. Afterwards, a factorial experiment (3×3×2) based on a randomized complete block design with three replications and two stages (the beginning of fruit set and the beginning of fruit ripening) were implemented. Experimental treatments included foliar spraying with three concentrations of iron sulfate (0, 2 and 4 per thousand respectively F0, F2 and F4), three concentrations of zinc sulfate (0, 3 and 6 per thousand respectively Zn0, Zn3 and Zn6) and two concentrations of calcium chloride (0 and 4 per thousand respectively Ca0 and Ca4). Then at harvest, the percentage and severity of aril paleness each treatment was calculated.
Results and Discussion
Data analysis using the independent t-test (α=0.05, df=38) for the first trial (2022) showed that, the nutritional value of the affected fruit by aril paleness is anticipated to be far less than that of the healthy fruit; so that except for the Zn concentration, the concentration of Fe, Ca and anthocyanin content in affected fruits were lower than in healthy fruits. The results of the variance analysis for the second trial (2023) indicated that foliar spraying with iron sulfate, zinc sulfate, and calcium chloride, either individually or in combination, was effective in reducing the occurrence and severity of aril paleness. A comparison of the mean percentage of aril paleness between the two groups (before and after foliar spraying, regardless of the treatment combination) using a dependent t-test (α=0.05, df=16) also showed that foliar spraying was effective in reducing the percentage of aril paleness. Furthermore, the involvement of calcium in reducing the incidence and severity of aril paleness was found to be significant. In the absence of calcium element, the incidence of paleness was recorded in the range of 60.17-75.00%, and with the inclusion of calcium in the treatment compounds, the percentage of paleness was recorded in the range of 21.83-0.53%. Also, the mean comparison of the double interaction and main effects of elements indicated the synergistic effect of calcium element with Fe and Zn element in reducing the aril paleness disorder. So that, the combination of Fe-Ca and Zn-Ca has been more successful in reducing the aril paleness disorder than the pure application of each element of iron, zinc and calcium.
Conclusions
Overall, the simultaneous application of Zn-Fe in combination with Ca was more effective in reducing of the mentioned traits than other treatments. Therefore, in order to simultaneously reduce the occurrence and severity of aril paleness, spraying with Fe4Zn6Ca4 and Fe4Zn3Ca4 is recommended in two stages of pomegranate fruit development, including the beginning of fruit set and the beginning of fruit ripening.
Pomology
M. A. Ahmadi; S. Daghighi; F. Azarmi-Atajan; H. Bayat
Abstract
IntroductionJujube (Ziziphus jujuba Mill.) as one of the invaluable medicinal plants, is widely used in the pharmaceutical industry due to its vitamins, mucilage, antioxidants, alkaloids and phenolic compounds. South Khorasan province is the most important area of jujube fruit production in Iran. Optimum ...
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IntroductionJujube (Ziziphus jujuba Mill.) as one of the invaluable medicinal plants, is widely used in the pharmaceutical industry due to its vitamins, mucilage, antioxidants, alkaloids and phenolic compounds. South Khorasan province is the most important area of jujube fruit production in Iran. Optimum supply of nutrients in fruit trees can increase fruit quality. Calcium is one of the most important elements that can affect quantity, quality, storability and marketability of many horticultural crops. Due to the relatively high amount of lime in the agricultural soils of South Khorasan province, the amount of calcium in these soils is almost high. However, due to low mobility of calcium from soil to plant, calcium deficiency is common in horticultural plants. Also, potassium is required for cellular osmotic and ionic balances, electrochemical processes, neutralization of organic acids, regulation of stomatal function, cell division, enzyme activation, protein synthesis, as well as the synthesis and translocation of sugars. Foliar spraying is an effective way to supply nutrients needed by plants, especially in calcareous soils with high pH. In this method, nutrients are directly available to different parts of the plant in a short period of time. Studies have shown that leaf feeding with calcium and potassium can be useful for increasing the qualitative characteristics of fruit in most products, especially in arid and semi-arid regions. Nevertheless, little information is available regarding the foliar application of this element on jujube plant. Hence, the current research was aimed to investigate the effects of foliar application of calcium chloride and potassium sulfate on physicochemical properties and quality of fresh jujube fruit. Materials and MethodsIn order to investigate the effect of foliar application of calcium chloride and potassium sulfate on the physical and biochemical properties of the fruit of the jujube plant, two separate factorial experiment was conducted in the form of a randomized complete block design in three replications in two areas of Siojan and Mazhan, Khosef city in 2022. Experimental treatments included calcium chloride (0, 0.5 and 1%) and potassium sulfate (0, 0.1 and 0.3%). Fresh fruit was harvested at a crisp mature (white-red) stage mid in August. Data were analysed using SAS software (ver. 9.4) and comparison of means was made with LSD test at 1 and 5% probability. Results and DiscussionThe results of analysis of variance showed that calcium chloride foliar application in Siojan garden had significant effect on the physical and biochemical characteristics of jujube fruit. So that the highest fresh weight (4.07 gr), dry weight (1.89 gr), length (29.11 mm), diameter (21.52 mm) and texture firmness (18.81 N/cm2) of fruit were obtained from the level of 0.5% calcium chloride. Also, the foliar spraying treatment with 0.5% calcium chloride had the highest amount of carotenoid and total phenol in the fruit. The highest amount of calcium and potassium in the fruit was obtained from the level of 1% calcium chloride. The effect of foliar application of calcium chloride on physical and biochemical properties of jujube fruit in Mazhan garden was significant. In Mazhan garden, the highest fresh weight (3.9 gr), dry weight (1.37 gr), length (28.41 mm), diameter (20.91 mm) and texture firmness (18.61 N/cm2) of fruit were obtained from foliar application of 0.5% calcium chloride. The highest amount of carotenoids (0.443 mg/100 g of fresh weight) and phenol (9.53 mg of gallic acid per 100 g of fresh weight) in Mazhan garden was obtained from the level of 0.5% calcium chloride. The content of calcium and potassium of jujube fruit in Mazhan region was maximized with the application of 1% calcium chloride. The results showed that the application of potassium sulfate in Siojan garden had an significant effect on the physical and biochemical characteristics of the fruit. The highest fresh weight (3.63 gr) and dry fruit weight (1.89 gr), length and diameter and texture firmness of fruit was obtained from the level of 0.3% potassium sulfate. Also, the highest amount of biochemical indices of jujube fruit in Siojan garden was obtained from the level of 0.3% potassium sulfate. The interaction effect of foliar application of calcium chloride and potassium sulfate on fresh and dry fruit weight, fruit length and carotenoids of fruit in Siojan garden was significant. In Mazhan garden, the fresh and dry weight of fruit, amount of carotenoids and total phenol of fruit were affected by the interaction effect of experimental treatments, and the highest level of these characteristics was obtained from the level of 0.5% calcium chloride and 0.3% potassium sulfate. ConclusionThe results of foliar spraying of calcium chloride and potassium sulfate in both studied orchards showed that these treatments, both solely and in combination, had a positive and significant effect on various characteristics of jujube fruit. So the highest physical and biochemical characteristics of the fruit were obtained from the simultaneous application of 0.5% calcium chloride and 0.3% potassium sulfate. Therefore, Based on the results of this research, foliar spraying 0.5% calcium chloride and 0.3% potassium sulfate can have an effective role in increasing the quantity and quality of jujube fruit.
Naser Nasrolahzadehasl; Mojtaba Delshad; Abdolkarim Kashi
Abstract
Introduction: Cucumis sativus L. is one of the most eminent and consuming vegetables which is widely cultivated in the Middle East. Using the controlled and greenhouse cultivation is one of the most appropriate methods to increase production per unit area. In this method, controlling the effective factors ...
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Introduction: Cucumis sativus L. is one of the most eminent and consuming vegetables which is widely cultivated in the Middle East. Using the controlled and greenhouse cultivation is one of the most appropriate methods to increase production per unit area. In this method, controlling the effective factors of production such as plant nutrition is the important factor to achieve high performance. Besides the accuracy applied in nutritional regulation of plant roots (both in soil and hypothermic environments), in many cases, foliar nutrition is considered by breeder of greenhouse productions. Foliar nutrition is more effective on young leaves, and deficiency of macro and micro nutrients can be removed by this factor. Khassib is one of the most important cultivar of greenhouse cucumber which is widely cultivated in Iran. The present study was conducted to evaluate the effect of foliar application on greenhouse cucumber.
Materials and Methods: The experiment was performed on greenhouse cucumber (cv. Khassib) for five months (from March 2007 to July 2008) in Ziba Dasht Technical Instruction Center which is located near Karaj, Iran. For this reason the experiment was conducted based on split-split-plot design with three replications. Eight experimental treatments were applied for foliar application including U1C1B1: urea + calcium nitrate +boric acid, U1C1B0: urea + calcium nitrate, U1C0B1: urea + boric acid, U1C0B0: urea, U0C1B1: calcium nitrate + boric acid, U0C1B0: calcium nitrate, U0C0B1: boric acid, U0C0B0: control. The effects of urea, calcium nitrate and boric acid in concentrations 3, 10 and 0.5 (gL-1) respectively on qualitative and quantitative characteristics of greenhouse cucumber, including fruit yield, yield of first class fruit, number of fruits, percentage of first class fruit, fruits T.S.S, plant length, percentage of leaf dry matter, and leaf weight ratio were studied.
Results and Discussion: The results showed that calcium nitrate had a significant effect on fruit yield at 5% probability level. Foliar application of calcium nitrate with concentration of 10 gL-1resulted in an increase of yield so that the average of fruit yield for sprayed plants was 3917.9 g per plant, while this value in control plants was 3576.5 g. Boric acid with concentration of 0.5 gL-1 had a remarkable effect on fruit yield at 5% probability level that enhanced the average of yield from 3591.6 to 3902.8 g per plant. The interaction of U×C×B treatment on fruit yield at 1% probability level was significant, while this value was not found among other treatments. Foliar application with calcium nitrate results in an increase of yield and production in young and growing fruits. The augmentation of yield in treatment U1C0B0 due to the facts that pure urea and calcium nitrate have 46% and 16% nitrogen, respectively, i.e., extra nitrogen causes toxicity and branching instead of fruiting. Among three-way interactions, U×C×B statistically had a remarkable impact on the yield of first class fruit at 1% probability level and also the maximum and minimum of this value belonged to U1C0B0 and control, respectively. Only U×C×B had a remarkable impact on plant length among all interactions. Generally, the growth of cucumber depends on genetic features, temperature and soil productivity. The highest level of leaf area index was for calcium nitrate that indicated the significant effect at 5 % probability level with the mean of 15.89. When we compare the foliar application treatments with fosamko, it can be found that the spraying treatments affected leaf dry matter significantly at 1% and 5% probability levels, while this value was not found for control treatments. However, there was no significant difference between using and not using nutrition compared to fosamko on yield.
Conclusion: According to the findings of the present study the following factors can be concluded: a) Among the main effects, calcium nitrate played the eminent role on most traits, after that boric acid and finally urea carried this role; b) Among two-way interaction, only U1B1, as foliar application, significantly affected the yield of grade 1 fruit; c) Among three-way interactions, only U1C0B0, as foliar application, significantly affected the yield of grade 1 fruit, total fruit and the number of fruit; d) There was no a significant change on qualitative features of cucumber using nutrition compared to fosamko. Therefore, cucumber production can be performed by cheaper methods with no change in qualitative characteristics. Finally, due to the fact that cucumber is one of the most important vegetables in Iran, it is suggested that various studies with different fertilizers will be conducted on cucumber.
