Pomology
afsaneh Salehi; Fatemeh Nekounam; Farhang Razavi
Abstract
Introduction
Apple (Malus domestica) belongs to the Rosacea family and is one of the most important fruit trees in temperate regions. Apple fruit is a rich source of vitamins, sugars, organic acids, minerals, fibers, and bioactive compounds and is widely cultivated due to its pleasant taste, aroma, and ...
Read More
Introduction
Apple (Malus domestica) belongs to the Rosacea family and is one of the most important fruit trees in temperate regions. Apple fruit is a rich source of vitamins, sugars, organic acids, minerals, fibers, and bioactive compounds and is widely cultivated due to its pleasant taste, aroma, and texture. Due to the rising need for food and fiber per unit of land area, chemical fertilizers are becoming increasingly popular to increase yields from small plots of land. Chemical fertilizers pose major health risks and harm the environment when they are used in excess. Because of this, research in this area is heavily focused on finding and evaluating the efficiency of new products. One such approach is using biostimulants that can enhance the effectiveness of conventional mineral fertilizers. Plant biostimulants contain some nutrients (marine plant extracts, humic acids, amino acids and other natural products such as saponins and compost teas) that stimulate plant growth, even when administered in small amounts. Foliar application of seaweed extracts at 0.2% recorded maximum no. of fruits/tree, fruit weight, and yield/tree in valencia orange.
Materials and methods
In order to investigate the effect of biofertilizers on growth, yield and leaf nutrient contents of apple under climatic conditions of Zanjan, the experiment was carried out in a completely randomized block design with three replicates in 2023. Different concentration of seaweed (Alg; 0.075 and 0.15%), amino acid (GF Amino; 0.1 and 0.2%), humic acid (HA; 0.3%), commercial fertilizer Homarang, (Homa fert; 0.5%), combined chemical fertilizer (nitrogen, zinc and boron (Combinate fert; 1% urea, 0.3% zinc chelate and 0.1% boric acid)) and distilled water as a control were sprayed on the trees at 40 days after full bloom stage until runoff using a mechanical mist sprayer, and repeated three times with an 30 days interval until the physiological ripening of fruits. The experiment was carried out on 10-year-old Red Delicious apple trees grafted on M9 rootstocks. Shoot length, chlorophyll index, fruit drop percentage, yield efficiency, leaf area, leaf dry matter, leaf macro and micro nutrient were measured. The analysis of variance (ANOVA) and least significant difference test (P≤ 0.05) used to compare means within each sampling date. The Statistical analysis and standard error calculation were carried out using SAS software (V. 9.3).
Results and Discussion
The results showed that the foliar application of bio and chemical fertilizers significantly increased growth and fruit yield. So that, the highest increase in shoot length (39%) and leaf area (74.30%) compared to the control was obtained with application of seaweed 0.075%. Also, seaweed 0.15%, amino acid 0.2%, humic acid and amino acid 0.1% caused a significant increase in leaf area (42.02, 35.57, 22.27 and 16.20%, respectively) compared to the control. Foliar spray of seaweed, amino acid and chemical fertilizer increased chlorophyll index. The highest increase in chlorophyll index (50%) compared to the control was obtained with application of combined chemical fertilizer at 130 days after full bloom. These results are in agreement with the outcomes of other experiments conducted with seaweed on apple and on other crops such as grapevine. Therefore, this represents a further evidence of a possible role of seaweed extracts in the reduction of chlorophyll degradation and in delaying leaf senescence. The highest amount of nitrogen (1.66%), potassium (1.03%) zinc (150 mg g-1DW) and boron (82.5 mg g-1DW) and the lowest amount of phosphorus (0.44%) were obtained with application of combined chemical fertilizer. The highest value of iron was observed in leaf of trees treated with seaweed 0.15%, humic acid and commercial biofertilizer. Based on the results, it was observed that the amino acid, seaweed and combined chemical fertilizer have the greatest effect in reducing fruit drop (36.97, 33.37, 29.07%, respectively) compared to control) and increasing yield efficiency (respectively 2.75, 2.73 and 2.8 compared to control with 0.22 fruits No. cm-2 SCSA). These results partially are in agreement with another research performed on apple, where the use of a similar seaweed extract (Ascophyllum nodosum) was found able to induce a higher final yield. The hormonal components found in the extracts, particularly cytokinins, are assumed to be responsible for the increased yield in plants treated with seaweed. Previous studies mentioned that the application of biological fertilizers alone or in combination with the mineral fertilizers had positive influences on the leaf plate area, mean fruit weight and fruit chemical composition.
Conclusions
According to the results of this research, the use of biofertilizers, especially seaweed (0.15%) and amino acid (0.1%), are suitable and nature-friendly substitutes for chemical fertilizers and can play a significant role in increasing growth indices and yield of apples.
Growing vegetables
A. Mirhosseyni; M. Hassanpour Asil; J. A. Olfati; M. B. Farhangi
Abstract
Introduction
Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) is an annual plant in the Cucurbitaceae family, which has 90 genera and 750 species. Iran, with an under-cultivation area of 89,632 hectares and a production rate of 1,804,184 tons of cucumbers, yield of 201,289 tons per hectare, and it is the third largest ...
Read More
Introduction
Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) is an annual plant in the Cucurbitaceae family, which has 90 genera and 750 species. Iran, with an under-cultivation area of 89,632 hectares and a production rate of 1,804,184 tons of cucumbers, yield of 201,289 tons per hectare, and it is the third largest cucumber producing country in the world in terms of production. Use of fruits of these vegetable is different depending on the country and the consumer's taste and demand, and it is cultivated for fresh consumption as well as processing (pickled vegetables or cucumbers). The utilization of local genotypes or unmodified native reserves for production has led to very low yield of cucumbers in some countries of the world. The general objectives of cucumber breeding are resistance to diseases and pests, fruit quality and yield increase. Considering the history of cultivation of this product in Iran and due to the large under-cultivation areas of cucumber in the country, little breeding research has been done on this product and the country's required seeds are supplied annually through imports. Therefore, practical and applied research on the breeding of cucumber plant seems necessary. The present study was conducted to evaluate 27 cucumber plant lines using factor analysis and cluster analysis as a tool to identify superior genotypes and more effective traits.
Materials and Methods
This study was carried out in the research greenhouse of Department of Horticultural Sciences, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, University of Guilan, with a longitude of 49 degrees and 36 minutes east and latitude 37 degrees and 16 minutes north with a height of 7 meters from the level of the open sea in February 2021. Overall, 35 cucumber inbred lines, available in the Germplasm Bank, University of Guilan, were selected and on completely randomized design, in three separate rows, and with three replications. A code was assigned to each of the lines in order to facilitate the naming of lines and easier evaluation. In the winter of 2019, the desired genotypes were first planted in the seedling tray and kept there until the second true leaves were observed. Then they were transferred to the greenhouse in the form of a completely randomized design with 27 lines of inbred cucumbers, in three separate rows with 3 replications and 3 observations. The length of the plant breeding period continued until the economic fruiting of the plant. During the growing season, various traits were checked and recorded according to the national guidelines for tests of differentiation, uniformity and stability in cucumber prepared by the Research Institute of Registration and Certification of Seeds and Seedlings. These traits are the Fruit diameter (mm), Fruit length (mm), Fruit number, Weight of single fruit (g), Total fruit weight (g), Number of female flowers in 15 nodes, Number of female flowers per node, Width of the end of the terminal leaf(cm), Length of the end of the terminal leaf(cm), Number of lateral branches in 15 nodes, Length of 15 internodes (cm).
Results and Discussion
Genetic diversity in plant genotypes is essential for a successful breeding program. Understanding the degree of variability in plant species is of importance because it provides the basis for selection. The results of variance analysis show that there is a highly significant variation between the studied lines at the level of 1%. The significant difference observed between genotypes for all traits indicates the existence of inherent genetic variation among genotypes.
The evaluation results show that the average fruit weight trait varied from 1371.7 grams (L57) to 157.71 grams (L35) among the examined lines. Furthermore, genotype L57 (117.56 grams) had the highest statistical position in terms of single fruit weight. The results of the mean comparison table showed that L34 line had the highest fruit length values (161.84 mm) and L49 line had the highest fruit diameter values (39.83 mm). Moreover, L55 and L34 lines had the lowest values of fruit length (92.46 mm) and diameter (24.61 mm), respectively. The leaf area variable varied from 426.52 cm2 (L57) to 204.24 cm2 (L31) among the studied lines. The results of chlorophyll index traits investigation and total soluble solids showed that L51 line had the highest values in both traits.
The results of statistical analyses pertaining to genotypic and phenotypic variance, as well as general heritability, revealed that the trait with the highest heritability, at 99.44%, was fruit weight. With the exception of five traits-length of 15 primary internodes, leaf surface, length and width of the terminal leaf, and single fruit weight-whose heritability values were 87.35%, 73.83%, 63.59%, 61.27%, and 26.23%, respectively, the heritability exceeded 90% for the remaining traits. These findings indicate that most of the traits examined exhibited high heritability, suggesting they were less influenced by environmental factors. Factor analysis, an essential multivariate technique, was employed to explore trait relationships and assess the genetic diversity among genotypes. The results of factor analysis for 27 evaluated cucumber genotypes show that eight factors were identified. They were 23.52, 12.63, 11.81, 9.95, 8.6, 7.34, 6.27, 4.21 percent. in total explained 88% of the total diversity of traits in the studied population. In total, they justified 88% diversity of total traits in the studied population. The results of the cluster analysis placed the studied genotypes in four different groups based on the mean of traits. To ensure the cut-point in the dendrogram and to determine the actual number of groups, the discrimination function analysis method was used. The results of discrimination function analysis showed that the success of cluster analysis in grouping genotypes was 100%. Since the genotypes in each of the clusters have a greater genetic affinity with the genotypes in the same cluster and, conversely, a greater genetic distance with the genotypes in different clusters, hybridization can be done among the genotypes in different clusters according to the value of traits average for each cluster for more productivity of phenomena such as heterosis and transgressive segregation. On this basis, it seems that it is possible to produce hybrids that are superior to their parents in terms of various traits by hybridization between the genotypes in the first and second clusters with the genotypes in the third and fourth clusters.
Conclusion
According to the results obtained from this study, L57 and L54 genotypes had higher values than the rest of the genotypes in terms of fruit number and total fruit weight. Also, according to the results of cluster analysis, L57 line had higher total mean values in traits of total fruit weight, single fruit weight, diameter of the tail of the fruit, fruit, kernel diameter, fresh and dry weight of leaves and leaf area. In this study, the genotypes of the second and third groups in the fruit number trait, and the genotypes of the first and third groups in the fruit weight trait, due to having the maximum difference, were found suitable for use in crosses in order to create more diversity. In general, the results of this research showed that there was a suitable diversity among the studied lines in terms of all measured traits. In addition to the fact that the results obtained from this research can be used in future breeding programs, the results of multivariate statistical methods also show solutions for the scientific crossing of genotypes in future research. So that the genotypes placed in different groups in cluster analysis (Group 1: L57, Group 2: L54, L52, L47, L32, L49, and L27, Group 3: L43 and L35, Group 4: L59, L53, L51, L34, L26, L55, L25, L39, L31, L30, L33, L28, L29, L36, L24, L44, L22, and L20) and had superior characteristics in terms of different components, can be crossed together to create recombinant genotypes.
Pomology
A. Ghahremani; E. Ganji Moghadam; A. Marjani
Abstract
Introduction
Nectarine (Prunus persica L. Bath) belongs to Rosaceae family, Prunoidae subfamily, and Prunus genus. This fruit is generated by a vegetative mutation in one of the peach genes. Therefore, it is a kind of peach that has been developed due to the mutation of the fruit with special ...
Read More
Introduction
Nectarine (Prunus persica L. Bath) belongs to Rosaceae family, Prunoidae subfamily, and Prunus genus. This fruit is generated by a vegetative mutation in one of the peach genes. Therefore, it is a kind of peach that has been developed due to the mutation of the fruit with special aroma, color, and taste. Nectarine had about 10.1% of the total distribution of stone fruits in Iran. In Khorasan Razavi province, the production and yield of nectarine were 5412.7 tons and 6243 kg/ha in 2018, respectively. Due to the lack of sufficient research on different nectarine cultivars in Khorasan Razavi province and farmers' lack of access to new and high yielding cultivars, and the use of unknown low-quality cultivars with low marketability and yield, the present study aims to investigate morphological, pomological, and qualitative responses of 10 nectarine cultivars and genotypes in Khorasan Razavi province climatic conditions were performed to select promising cultivars and genotypes.
Materials and Methods
This study was conducted to select the best genotypes in terms of growth, morphological, and pomological traits from among ten nectarine genotypes and cultivars (‘Flamino’, ‘Nectared’, ‘Henri’, ‘Shaniaria’, ‘Royziana’, ‘Taj No.-1 and -2’, ‘Shalil No.-1’, ‘Andrros’, and ‘Sungold’ as a control) as a randomized complete block experiment with three replications during 2018-2019 in Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center of Khorasan Razavi. The traits measured in the present study are flowering start time, flowering period, harvest time, tree height, and diameter, yield, length, width, and weight of fruit and length, width, and weight of the stone, acidity, titratable acidity, soluble solids, fruit tissue firmness, and flavor index.
Results and Discussion
Results indicated that the cultivars and genotypes showed significant differences in terms of phenological traits (first bloom, full bloom, flowering time, flowering period, and harvest time), morphological (tree height, trunk diameter), pomological (yield, length, width, and weight of fruit and length, width, and weight of stone) and quality (acidity, titratable acidity, soluble solids, fruit tissue firmness, and flavor index). The earliest flowering genotypes were ‘Nectared’, ‘Flamino’, and ‘Sungold’, while ‘Henri’ and ‘Taj No.-1’ were the latest flowering. ‘Henri’, which had the most extended flowering period, showed a later harvest time. The panel test results showed that ‘Flamino’, ‘Henri’, and ‘Shaniaria’ had the highest rank in terms of color, texture, smell, and taste. While ‘Royziana’ had the lowest average. ‘Flamino’ had the highest chlorophyll index (36.91), which was not significantly different from the ‘Nectared’, ‘Henri’, ‘Shaniaria’, ‘Taj No. -1 and -2’. ‘Henri’ genotype with 44.6 kg yield, 3.55 kg/cm2 fruit tissue firmness, and 16.39% soluble solids showed statistical superiority in quality traits. ‘Flamino’ and ‘Shahlil-1’, with 138.76 and 129.51 g, respectively, had the highest fruit weight, increasing 32.97 and 28.19% compared to the control. In the second year, due to more growth and increasing the age of the tree naturally, increased tree height (22.41%), trunk diameter (79.8%), crown of the tree (73.3%), chlorophyll index (5.16%), fruit weight (35.06%), and fruit flavor index (28.46%) were observed compared to the first year. Tree yield was positively and significantly correlated with tree height and fruit tissue firmness and negatively and significantly correlated with fruit length, fruit width, and stone length. Tree height, crown of the tree, fruit width, stone weight, and fruit weight entered the regression model, finally explaining 55.91% of the tree yield changes.
Conclusion
In general, ‘Flamino’, ‘Nectared’, and ‘Henri’ are recommended for cultivation in Khorasan Razavi province's climatic conditions due to their high pomological and phonological traits as superior nectarine genotypes.
Mansour Fazeli Rostampour
Abstract
Introduction: Yaghooti grape (Vitis vinifera L.) is an important variety in Iran and also it is the most important horticultural product of Sistan region. This variety is of interest for economical aspect. Because continuous drought in Sistan region has been a serious threat to the grape production, ...
Read More
Introduction: Yaghooti grape (Vitis vinifera L.) is an important variety in Iran and also it is the most important horticultural product of Sistan region. This variety is of interest for economical aspect. Because continuous drought in Sistan region has been a serious threat to the grape production, local farmers have to manage the problem by reducing the volume and irrigation intervals. The canopy plays a key role in radiation energy capture via photosynthesis apparatus, water use as regulated by transpiration, and microclimate of ripening grapes and also grape yield, quality, vigor, and the prevention of grape diseases. Since vines has high vegetative growth makes them compete with the reproductive growth, therefore vines be pruned every year.
Materials and Methods: In order to evaluate the effects of irrigation regime and green pruning on some physiological traits and fruit yield of Yaghooti grape, the present research was conducted in the research and extensional garden of Zahak city during 2017-2018. An experiment was carried out in the form of a split plot based on randomized complete block design with three replications. Three irrigation regimes of 100, 75 and 50 percent of the grape water requirement based on the potential evapotranspiration of grape and green pruning with three levels including the control plot or the local practice of not green pruning (P1), pruning the green branches starting from the sixth leaf above the last grape bunch (P2) and pruning the green branches starting from the sixth leaf above the last grape bunch along with green pruning of the green branches without fruit and pruning the unproductive brunches (P3) were allocated to main and sub-plots, respectively. ‘Yaghooti vines were 8 years old and trained as a traditional system. The vines were spaced 3 × 3 m. Water requirement of grape was determined according to the FAO method using data from a Class A evaporation pan. The analysis of variance for each variable was performed with the PROC GLM procedure in SAS 9.4. Multiple linear regression was used to determine the relationships of leaf relative water content, proline, soluble sugars, relative membrane permeability, chlorophyll index, and leaf area to fruit yield.
Results and Discussion: By reducing water consumption from 100 to 75% of grape water requirement, leaf relative water content, fruit juice acidity, chlorophyll index, leaf area and fruit yield decreased 10.1, 6.5, 8.6, 11 and 18.8%, respectively and also proline, soluble sugars and relative membrane permeability increased 67.3, 8.75 and 44.84%, respectively. The P3 treatment compared to control induced an increase in relative leaf water content, chlorophyll index, and fruit yield by 14.7, 12.2 and 25%, respectively as well as a reduction in proline, soluble sugars, relative membrane permeability, fruit juice acidity and leaf area index by 18.34%, 12.1%, 6.8%, 8.3% and 21.3%, respectively. Also the results indicated that providing the 100% of the water requirement combined with pruning the green branches starting from the sixth leaf above the last grape bunch in combination with green pruning of the green branches without fruit and pruning the unproductive brunches (P3) caused the highest grape fruit yield (7797 kg ha-1). Also the interaction effect of meeting 75% of the water requirement and the green pruning had the same result as that of meeting 100%of water requirement under no green pruning conditions. In other words, the green pruning could result in saving 25% of water used by the grape cv. Yaghooti without reducing fruit yield. The multiple linear regression analysis indicated that proline and leaf area were the most important traits impacting fruit yield in Yaghooti cultivar.
Conclusion: Reducing the water potential of vine causes different responses. The most important are a decrease in number cells of fruit, vegetative growth, leaf area, relative leaf water content, chlorophyll content, fruit yield, and increase in the compatible osmolytes. The growing shoots are a strong sink for the consumption of photosynthetic materials. The above mentioned effect causes an increase in the branch overgrowth and its overshadowing. All this factors compete with vine fruit production. So, green pruning and removal of apical dominance eliminates a strong place of nutrient absorption. In other words, green pruning results in a greater accumulation being used by flowers and fruits, causing sufficient light penetration into the crown and reducing evapotranspiration, leading to an increased water consumption and fruit yield.
Mohammadsadegh Sadeghi; Seyyed Jalal Tabatabaie; Hassan Bayat
Abstract
Introduction: Spinach is a leafy vegetable which is rich source of vitamins, antioxidant compounds (e.g. flavonoids, acid ascorbic) and essential elements (e.g. Fe, and Se). Spinach is capable of accumulating large amounts of nitrogen in the form of nitrate in shoot tissues which is undesirablein the ...
Read More
Introduction: Spinach is a leafy vegetable which is rich source of vitamins, antioxidant compounds (e.g. flavonoids, acid ascorbic) and essential elements (e.g. Fe, and Se). Spinach is capable of accumulating large amounts of nitrogen in the form of nitrate in shoot tissues which is undesirablein the human diet. The concentration of nitrate in plants is affected by species, fertilizer use, and growing conditions. Green leafy vegetables such as spinach, generally contain higher levels of nitrate than other foods. Nitrate ofplant tissueslevels are clearly related to both form and concentration of N fertilizers applied. Nitrogen fertilizers have been known as the major factors that influence nitrate content in vegetables. Ideally, the N fertility level must be managed to produce optimum crop yield without leading to excessive accumulation of nitrate in the harvested tissues.Usinghigh amounts ofN fertilizer produced higher yield with higher nitrate inleaves but the highest amount of nitrate was accumulated in the petioles.There are several plant species that may accumulate nitrate, including the Brassica plants, green cereal grains (barley, wheat, rye and maize), sorghum and Sudan grasses, corn, beets, rape, docks, sweet clover and nightshades. The presence of nitrate in vegetables, as in water and generally in other foods, is a serious threat to man’s health. Nitrate is relatively non-toxic, but approximately 5% of all ingested nitrate is converted in saliva and the gastrointestinal tract to the more toxic nitrite. This study was aimed to investigate theeffects of nitrogen and nutrient removal on nitrate accumulation and growth characteristics of spinach (Spinacia oleraceae L.).
Materials and Methods: A pot hydroponic experiment was carried out to evaluate the effect of different levels of nitrogen and nutrient removal (one week before harvest) on nitrate accumulation and growth characters. A factorial experiment based on completely randomized design was conducted with twolevels of removal (removal of nutrient one week before harvest) or not to remove and fourlevels of nitrogen (25, 50, 100 and 200 mg/l) with sixreplications. During the growing season in the greenhouse, temperature was fixed between 24-27 °C and photoperiod of 16 hours of light and 8 hours of darkness. The measured traits were root fresh and dry weight, shoot fresh and dry weight, Fv/Fm ratio, and chlorophyll index, number of leaf per plant, leaf area, nitrate and total nitrogen.
Results and Discussion: The results of this experiment showed that increasingnitrogen concentration from 25 to 200 mg/l increased shoot dry weight, number of leaves and leaf area, by 22.00, 7.26, 4.79 and 14.00 fold, respectively. Nitrogen also increased Fv/Fm and chlorophyll index. Nutrient removal in a week before harvest had no significant effect on fresh and dry weight of shoots and roots, number of leaves,leaf area, chlorophyll index and Fv/Fm. Increasing concentrations of nitrogen increased nitrate and total nitrogen in petiole while removing the nutrient solution in a week before harvest significantly decreased amounts of the above-mentioned traits. Nutrient solution removal is an appropriate strategy to reduce nitrate accumulation in spinach that has no effect on yield loss.
Conclusions: The results showed that increasing the concentration of nitrogen increased plant growth indicators such as shoot fresh and dry weight, root fresh and dry weight, leaf area and number of leaf per plants, so that the greatest increase was obtained from concentration of 200 mg/lit. Increasing the concentration of nitrogen enhanced nitrate and total nitrogen of petiole so that the highest concentration of nitrate and total nitrogen was observed in200 mg/lit nitrogen. Nutrient solution removal in a week before the harvest had a significant effect in reducing all traits but it decreased nitrate accumulation and total nitrogen of petiole significantly. At the end of the experiment, it was found that increasing the concentration of nitrogen increased nitrate concentrations and total nitrogen in the petioles while nutrient removal in a week before harvest reducedthe amount of leaf nitrate. Thereforethe removal ofnutrient solution is one of the strategies to reduce nitrate accumulation that had no effect on yield loss of crop. Based on the results from this research, nitrogen at a concentration of 200 mg/lit, with the removal of nutrient solution a week before harvest is recommended for growing in hydroponic culture of spinach.
Morteza Goldani; Hossein Zare; Maryam Kamali
Abstract
Introduction: Purple coneflower with scientific name Echinacea purpurea (L.) is an herbaceous perennial plant native to North America and is the one of the most important medicinal plants in the world. Root of Echinacea purpurea is commonly used around the world for stimulation of immune system. It is ...
Read More
Introduction: Purple coneflower with scientific name Echinacea purpurea (L.) is an herbaceous perennial plant native to North America and is the one of the most important medicinal plants in the world. Root of Echinacea purpurea is commonly used around the world for stimulation of immune system. It is used as herbal medicine in respiratory infections, against malignant tumors and several inflammatory conditions However, nitrogen and phosphorus are the main elements that make up the proteins in plants and herbs for natural growth, especially is necessary in their productive organs. The results showed that nitrogen and phosphorus are important in continuation of flowering, the flowers fresh and dry weight and in essential oil. Fertilization of E. purpurea plants indicated that in absence or at low levels of nitrogen fertilization (0 and 100 kg acre-1), the addition of 50 and 100 kg acre-1 of potassium increased aerial parts, flower heads and root yield. Another report indicated that highest aerial biomass and root yield in E. purpurea was obtained with 100 kg ha-1 of nitrogen at constant rates of phosphorus and potassium. Polyphenol content was not influenced by nitrogen fertilization and values fluctuated between 2.4 and 5.4 % in the aerial part at flowering and between 1.6 and 3.5 % in the roots. Fertilization with nitrogen caused a decrease in the concentrations of echinoside. Echinoside content was 1.16 % without nitrogen fertilization, and 0.94 % with nitrogen fertilization.
Materials and Methods: To evaluate the effect of different levels of nitrogen and phosphorus on growth and yield of coneflower, a factorial experiment in a completely randomized design with three replications was conducted in Ferdowsi University of Mashhad. Treatments were included three levels of nitrogen (0, 1 and 2 gr urea per kilogram of soil) and three levels of phosphate fertilizer (0, 0.75 and 1.5 gr of phosphate (P2O5) per kg of soil). Nitrogen fertilizer was applied to the soil before planting and one month after transplanting seedlings and phosphorus fertilizer was added to the soil after transplanting.
Results and Discussion: A difference in plant height at different levels of nitrogen was significant. By increasing the amount of nitrogen to 1 gr, plant height from 69.44 increased to 81.11 cm. Number of lateral shoots wasn’t significant in any levels of nitrogen and phosphorus. Increasing of nitrogen from 0 to 2 grams per kg of soil increased leaf weight from 2.4 to 7.5 g. However, with increasing levels of phosphorus, weight and leaf area increased. So that the treatment without phosphorus, dry weight was 4.37 grams and in 1.5 grams of phosphorus was the highest leaf dry weight with 5.77 gr. With increasing levels of nitrogen from 0 to 1 gram, shoot dry weight increased and with increasing nitrogen from 1 to 2 grams of weight shoot dry weight was low. Treatment with 1 gr of nitrogen per kilogram of soil had the highest stem dry weight per plant with 8.7 grams and showed significant differences with other treatment. Based on the results, the effect of nitrogen fertilizer treatments in the number of flowers and flower dry weight was significant at 1%, the effect of phosphorus on flower dry weight was significant. But the interaction of nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizer treatments in any levels was not significant. The highest SPAD index in1.5 gr of phosphorus and lowest (53.74) in the treatment without phosphorus was observed. Different levels of nitrogen fertilizer had not significant effect on the length and diameter of the root but a significant effect of phosphorus on root length was showed. It seems nitrogen in 1 gr per kg is related to increase photosynthesis and the growth of organs. Nitrogen with increasing in meristem cell division can increase vegetative growth and plant size. Zeinali et al (1387) reported that phosphorus can increase carbohydrates and mineral combinations in the shoots, flowers and roots. As a result increase in shoots, roots and flowers dry weight is related to nitrogen and phosphorus.
Conclusion: In general the results showed that with increasing nitrogen fertilizer height, flower number and shoot dry weight was significantly increased. Also, increasing the amount of phosphorus up to 1.5 gr per kilogram leads to an increase in plant roots. Due to the interactions of nitrogen and phosphorus in leaf dry weight and root dry weight, nitrogen and phosphorus in 2 and 5.1 gr per kg of soil had the best results.
Hamed Doulati Baneh; Efatozaman Montazeri
Abstract
Introduction: Iron chlorosis is considered to be one of the most important nutritional disorders in grapevines, particularly in calcareous soils that under these conditions fruit yield and quality is depressed in the current year and fruit buds poorly develop for following year. Symptoms of iron chlorosis ...
Read More
Introduction: Iron chlorosis is considered to be one of the most important nutritional disorders in grapevines, particularly in calcareous soils that under these conditions fruit yield and quality is depressed in the current year and fruit buds poorly develop for following year. Symptoms of iron chlorosis in orchards and vineyards are usually more frequent in spring when shoot growth is rapid and bicarbonate concentration in the soil solution buffers soil pH in the rhizosphere and root apoplast. Several native grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.) genotypes, highly appreciated for their organoleptic characteristics and commercial potential, are widely cultivated in Iran. Cultivated plants differ as to their susceptibility to Fe deficiency in calcareous soils, some being poorly affected while others showing severe leaf chlorotic symptoms. Selection and the use of Fe-efficient genotypes is one of the important approaches to prevent this nutritional problem. In this research the response of three local grapevine cultivars was evaluated to iron chelate consumption in a calcareous soil (26% T.N.V).
Materials and Methods: Well rooted woody cuttings of three autochthonous varieties (Rasha, Qezel uzum, Keshmeshi Qermez) were cultivated in pots filled with a calcareous soil with iron chelate consumption at three rates (0, 7.5 and 15 mg Fe/ Kg soil). The study was conducted with two factors (cultivar and iron chelate) and 3 replicates in a factorial arrangement based on randomized complete block design. Plant parameters including vegetative growth, chlorophyll index and leaf area were monitored during the growth period. At the end of the treatment, fresh and dry weight of shoots and roots were determined. The concentrations of macro and micro elements in the leaves were assayed using an atomic absorption and spectrophotometer. One-way-ANOVA was applied comparing the behavior of the cultivars growing.
Results and Discussion: Analysis of variance showed that chlorophyll index and leaf area differs significantly among tested cultivars. The highest and the lowest chlorophyll index were observed in Rasha and Keshmeshi Qermez cultivars, respectively. Fe chelate consumption up to 7.5 mg/kg significantly increased chlorophyll, leaf area, shoots growth and fresh weight of shoot and root compared to the control. The highest leaf area was related to Rasha cultivar in 7.5 mg/kg treatment. In all tested cultivars by increasing Fe concentration to 15 mg/kg, leaf area was decreased. According to the laboratory results, there was a significant difference in the concentrations of some macro and micro nutrient of leaves among tested cultivars. The highest amount of K, Fe, Mn and Zn was recorded in leaves of Rasha cultivar. Qezel uzum has also the highest P, N, Ca, Mg and Cu in its leaves. Application of 7.5 Fe mg /Kg soil increased calcium, magnesium and copper concentrations in leaves of Rasha cultivar and nitrogen concentration in Qezel uzum cultivar. In Keshmeshi Qermez cultivar, the sensitive cultivar to iron chlorosis, iron chelate consumption up to 7.5 Fe mg /Kg soil increased nitrogen, zinc and copper concentrations. Increase in iron consumption up to 15 mg/Kg soil caused significant increase in copper concentration. Among the study cultivars, Rasha significantly absorbed the highest iron, zinc, manganese and potassium from the soil and did not show iron chlorosis, so it can be as a suitable rootstock with respect to iron chlorosis.
Conclusion: In this study we have studied the influence Fe-chelate on some features of three Iranian grapevine cultivars (Vitis vinifera L) grown in calcareous soils. Our findings confirm the variable response of native grapevines to bicarbonate-induced iron deficiency. The most susceptible cultivar, Keshmeshi Qermez, have been very impaired by the calcareous soil; it produced less shoot growth and dry matter since these factors of the tolerant cultivars was decreased very little. The different behavior of potted cultivars with respect to iron chlorosis is related to modifications of some physiological parameters at the root level. A parameter which emphasizes the differential response of the genotypes to stress conditions was the capability of the genotypes to take up elements from the soil. Rasha cultivar showed a high degree of tolerance by taking up more iron when growing on calcareous soil, while keshmeshi cultivar took less iron. It will be recommended use of Rasha cultivar in calcareous soil as on rooted vine or rootstock. These findings suggest that biochemical parameters may constitute reliable criteria for the selection of tolerant grapevine genotypes to iron chlorosis.
Sakineh Hasanzadeh; Fariborz Habibi; Mohammad Esmaeil Amiri
Abstract
Introduction: Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) belongs to the Punicaceae family and grows in subtropical and Mediterranean climates. Nowadays the widespread usage of inorganic fertilizers has increased and so people concern about their health. The use of organic fertilizer instead of inorganic fertilizers ...
Read More
Introduction: Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) belongs to the Punicaceae family and grows in subtropical and Mediterranean climates. Nowadays the widespread usage of inorganic fertilizers has increased and so people concern about their health. The use of organic fertilizer instead of inorganic fertilizers is one of the methods of preserving health. Pomegranate is one of the most important products of Iran. This fruit plant is cultivated in some regions in arid and semi-arid areas. Due to the long growing season of pomegranate, droughtstress is one of the main limiting factors in the development of pomegranate orchards in Iran. Utilization of amino acids can help to increase efficiency and improve the quality of the fruit under environmental stress. Thus, this study aims to findany possibility to increase the production and quality of the fruit during the drought. The goalof this study was to study the effect of organic Aminol-Forte fertilizer on physiological and biochemical responses of pomegranate cv. Naderi under drought stress conditions.
Materials and Methods: This research was carried out in AbShirin field located on the old road 40 km from Qom-Kashan during 2011. Asplit plot experiment based on randomized complete block design was conducted with two factors, irrigation treatment in three levels (100% required water, 75% required water and 50% required water) and Aminol-Forte fertilizer treatment in four levels (0, 2, 3 and 4 ml/l). Spraying was conducted in four stages (pre-anthesis, after fruit set, fruit growth andtwo weeks per-harvest). In the end of the experiment, chlorophyll index, soluble sugars, insoluble sugars, proline, canopy degree and stomatal conductance were measured. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 17 program. Means were separated according to the Duncan’s multiple range test (DMRT) at 0.01 level of probability.
Results and Discussion: Analysis of variance of Aminol-forte fertilizer spraying on physiological and biochemical responses of pomegranate cv. Naderi under drought stress conditions showed that between irrigation treatment for chlorophyll index, proline and stomatal conductance were significant at 1% level of probability, and at 5% level of probability soluble sugarand insoluble sugar and canopy degree were significant. Fertilizer treatment at 1% level of probability was significant for proline and at 5% level of probability was significant for soluble sugars. Interaction was significant for soluble sugars, proline and canopy degree. Means showed that by increasing fertilizer level, soluble sugars content, proline and stomatal conductance significantly increased insoluble sugars and chlorophyll index decreased insignificantly. By decreasing irrigation levels, chlorophyll index, soluble sugars and proline significantly increased, meanwhile insoluble sugars and stomatal conductance significantly decreased. The highest chlorophyll index (65.44 SPAD) and the lowest chlorophyll index (56.48 SPAD) were obtained in 75% required water with 2 ml/l of fertilizer level and 100% required water with 3 ml/l of fertilizer level, respectively. The highest soluble sugars (14.94 mg/g) and the lowest soluble sugars (11.64 mg/l) were obtained in 50% required water with 0 ml/l of fertilizer level and 100% required water 2 ml/l of fertilizer level, respectively. The highest insoluble sugars (9.99 mg/g) and the lowest insoluble sugars (6.82 mg/l) were measured in 100% required water with 3 ml/l of fertilizer level and 50% required water with 2 ml/l of fertilizer level, respectively. The highest proline content (2.51μmol/l) and the lowest proline content (1.05μmol/l) were obtained in 50% required water with 4 ml/l of fertilizer level and 100% required water with 0 ml/l of fertilizer level, respectively. The highest canopy degree (-7.31˚c) and the lowest canopy degree (-9.38˚c) were measured in 50% required water with 4 ml/l of fertilizer level and 100% required water with 4 ml/l of fertilizer level, respectively. The highest stomatal conductance (38.23 mmol/m2/s) and the lowest stomatal conductance (9.7 mmol/m2/s) were obtained in 50% required water with 2 ml/l of fertilizer level and 100% required water with 3 ml/l of fertilizer level, respectively.
Conclusion: By increasing the level of Aminol-Forte fertilizer from 0 to 4 ml/l, soluble sugars content, proline and stomatal conductance significantly increased meanwhile insoluble sugars and the chlorophyll index decreased. Drought stress increased soluble sugars content, chlorophyll index, canopy degree and proline but, insoluble sugars and stomatal conductance decreased. According obtained results, it can be said, spraying of Aminol-Forte fertilizer containing amino acid could significantly reduce the negative effects of drought stress. In this study, the best results in terms of stress and no stress were obtained in 3 and 4 ml/l of Aminol-Forte fertilizer.
