Pomology
M. Nezami; M.R. Fatahi Moghadam; A. Ebadi; Z. Zamani
Abstract
IntroductionStrawberry is known as one of the most important temperate small fruits which is cultivated in the field, greenhouse and high tunnels in the most regions of the world. The role of gibberellin and auxin in increasing fruit size of strawberries have been reported. One of the major problems ...
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IntroductionStrawberry is known as one of the most important temperate small fruits which is cultivated in the field, greenhouse and high tunnels in the most regions of the world. The role of gibberellin and auxin in increasing fruit size of strawberries have been reported. One of the major problems of strawberry production in greenhouse is the fruits malformation which has reduced the market value of the fruit. Gibberellin and auxin have been different effects in vegetative and reproductive of growth stages. The purpose of this research was to improve the vegetative and reproductive indices of the fruit and to control the malformation problem by stimulating the development of seeds on the fruit and stimulating the growth of the fruit receptacle by gibberellin GA3. Materials and MethodsExperiments were conducted in a commercial greenhouse in Karaj, Hashtgerd New City, Phase 7 during 2017-2019. Two separate experiments (spraying hormones on whole plant or immersing individual fruitlets on hormone solution) were designed and implemented in a commercial greenhouse unit. In the first experiment: GA3 was at concentrations of 50, 100 and 150 ppm and IBA at concentrations of 20, 40 and 60 ppm in growth stages of 60 and 65 according to BBCH worldwide model. In the second experiment, fruits were immersed in NAA with concentrations of 20, 40 and 60 ppm and GA3 with concentrations of 25, 50 and 100 ppm at fruit growth stages 70 and 73 according to BBCH procedure. After reaching the red stage, the fruits were manually harvested and transferred to the laboratories for additional tests. Vegetative and reproductive traits were evaluated including leaf area, number of leaves, crown circumference, plant height, number of flowers and fruit dimensions. Fruit biochemical characteristics include: total soluble solids, titratable acid content of fruit, anthocyanin and antioxidant capacity, total phenolics, catalase and superoxide dismutase enzymes activities and content of vitamin C were evaluated. The experiments were designed and implemented in the frame of a randomized complete block design. The data were analyzed by SAS ver.9.4 and SPSS ver. 22 software, the mean data were compared based on Duncan's multi-range test, and the graphs were drawn by Excel 2013 software. Results and DiscussionFoliar spraying with gibberellin had a significant effect on several characteristics, including leaf area, crown circumference, number of flowers, and plant height at the 1% level of significance. However, it did not yield a significant impact on the attribute of leaf number. The increase in vegetative growth could be due to the synthesis of more amino acids in the stimulation of gibberellin treatment. Gibberellin treatments increased the vegetative growth of the plant and increased the number of flowers, but their growth was stopped after fruit formation and no fruits were formed in gibberellin spraying. This can be due to the existence of an antagonistic relationship between vegetative parts and fruit developments. Auxin hormone treatments had a significant effect on increasing fruit size and reducing the percentage of malformed fruits. GA3 at concentration of 50 ppm improved plant vegetative characteristics such as: plant leaf area, plant crown circumference, plant height and number of flowers, while IBA reduced fruit deformity by 40% and also increased the amount of total soluble solids, the titratable acid content of the fruit and the antioxidant content of the fruit. In general, gibberellin at a concentration of 50 ppm in order to increase plant vegetative indices and auxin at a concentration of 60 ppm were statistically effective. In second experiment, it seems that three levels of gibberellin treatment have increased all traits related to fruit compared to auxin and control. GA3 at a concentration of 100 ppm, causing an increase in fruit size, fruit weight and the biochemical properties of the fruit and the deformity decreased by 37/5% while NAA at a concentration of 60 ppm increased the amount of fruit anthocyanin as well as total fruit phenolics and vitamin C content. ConclusionIn the first experiment, gibberellin foliar application at a concentration of 50 ppm had the greatest effect on vegetative growth indicators. Also, in the same experiment, it was found that the use of GA3 in high concentrations has the negative effects on flowering and fruit growth., while it increases the amount of runner production. Also, IBA at a concentration of 60 ppm was the most effective treatment in fruit indices. In the second experiment, gibberellin at a concentration of 100 ppm was the most effective treatment in fruit and its biochemical traits, while NAA auxin in the second experiment showed a lower response to fruit than IBA auxin in the first experiment.
Medicinal Plants
H. Gholami; M.J. Saharkhiz; M. Shirdel; K. Sartavi; H. Mazareie
Abstract
Introduction
Lavandula stricta, Cassia obovata, Cocculus pendulus, and Solanum xanthocarpum are among the species that can be grown in Bushehr province, and so far, there is no report describing the ecophysiological, herbicidal and biochemical characteristics of these species in Iran. In recent ...
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Introduction
Lavandula stricta, Cassia obovata, Cocculus pendulus, and Solanum xanthocarpum are among the species that can be grown in Bushehr province, and so far, there is no report describing the ecophysiological, herbicidal and biochemical characteristics of these species in Iran. In recent decades, many chemical herbicides have been used to control weeds in agricultural ecosystems. Despite the many benefits of these herbicides, their improper use has caused devastating effects on the environment and agricultural production and ultimately has harmed human health. At present, the approach of developed countries is to use non-chemical methods and natural materials (biocides) to control weeds. Bushehr province with an area of about 252,653 Km2 in southern Iran and the Persian Gulf and at an altitude of 0 to195 meters above sea level. The average rainfall in Bushehr province is 250 mm. Bushehr province has a great variety in terms of having medicinal plants that allopathic substances and secondary metabolites of these plants have received less attention. Therefore, the identification of secondary metabolites and plants with allopathic properties is very important for the production of biological herbicides.
Materials and Methods
This study was conducted to evaluate the eco-physiological, biochemical and herbicidal characteristics of Lavandula stricta, Cassia obovata, Cocculus pendulus and Solanum xanthocarpum. The plants were collected in April and May 2019. The location was situated in Kangan and Dashti, Bushehr Province, Iran. The ecological characteristics of the four areas such as latitude and longitude (UTM) and altitude were also recorded. Also, in order to determine the physicochemical properties of the soil in the collection areas of the studied plants, samples were taken from 15 different points of plant growth, from a depth of 0-30 cm and their properties were reported. In order to investigate the phytotoxic activity of the studied plants on germination and growth characteristics of Malva sylvestris and Chenopodium album in laboratory conditions, the seeds were first disinfected in 5% sodium hypochlorite for 5 minutes. Then the seeds were washed for 15 minutes and then dried at room temperature. In this study, Solanum xanthocarpum juice and alcoholic extracts of Lavandula stricta, Cassia obovata and Cocculus pendulus were used to investigate the phytotoxic properties and biochemical traits. From the extracts, concentrations of 0 (distilled water), 200, 400, 600, 800 and 1000 µl.L-1 were prepared and added to Petri dishes containing 25 seeds. In order to germinate the seeds, Petri dishes containing the extracts related to the extract were placed in suitable light conditions at a temperature of 25°C. Two weeks after treatment, germination percentage (%), germination rate index (number of day), radicle and plumule length (cm) and allopathic index were measured. Determination of free radical scavenging was performed by using the DPPH test. The samples’ absorptions were read at a wavelength of 517 nm with Epoch Microplate Spectrophotometer, BioTek Instruments, Inc., USA. Measuring the total phenols was performed according to Folin’s reagent method and the use of gallic acid as standard by using a spectrophotometer at the wavelength of 765 nm. Total flavonoid content was measured using a spectrophotometer at a wavelength of 510 nm through a standard curve of quercetin from Sigma-Aldrich. Flavones and flavonols were measured using 2% aluminum chloride and methanol at 425 nm. To isolate and measure the amount of polyphenols, an HPLC Agilent HPLC 1200 series model was used. Data were analyzed by using Duncan’s multiple range test (P< 0.05) by SAS, version 9.4 for Windows.
Results and Discussion
Among the studied plants, the highest and lowest amount of total phenol was found in Cocculus pendulus and Cassia obovata, respectively. The results showed, the highest amount of the total flavonoid in the extract, was achieved in Lavandula stricta plants collected in Kangan. The lowest (0.37 mg QUE. 100 g-1 DW) and highest (2.79 mg QUE. 100 g-1 DW) amount of flavon and flavonol was found in Cassia obovata and Cocculus pendulus, respectively. Also, antioxidant activity (I%) for Cocculus pendulus, Lavandula stricta and Solanum xanthocarpum were 77, 57 and 35%, respectively. Although, the lowest amount of antioxidant activity was found in Cassia obovata plants collected in Dashti. The results showed, the Lavandula stricta plants collected in Kangan had p-coumaric acid (PC) and ellagic acid (EA) by 0.565 and 1.28 mg g-1 DW. Among the phenolic acids evaluated, only catechin (0.262 mg g-1 DW) and p-coumaric acid (0.163 mg g-1 DW) were observed in the Cocculus pendulus plants collected in Kangan. The Cassia obovata plants collected in Dashti, had ellagic acid by 0.915 mg g-1 DW. The results of this study showed that the phenolic compounds identified in Solanum xanthocarpum juice were caffeic acid, chlorogenic acid, pi-coumaric acid, vanillin and hesperidin. Chlorogenic acid was the predominant phenolic compound by 457 mg g-1 DW. Laboratory results showed Cocculus pendulus and Solanum xanthocarpum extracts had the most inhibition effect on the germination and growth of Malva sylvestris at the concentration of 1000 µl L-1.
Conclusion
In this study, as the concentration of the extracts increased, the germination percentage, germination rate index (GRI), radicle and plumule lengths of Chenopodium album decreased significantly. Moreover, Solanum xanthocarpum juice showed the highest inhibition effect on Chenopodium album growth and germination at 1000 µl L-1. Due to the high potential allelopathy of the Cocculus pendulus and Solanum xanthocarpum, they can be used for Malva sylvestris and Chenopodium album control. Also, Cocculus pendulus extract can be used as a natural antioxidant source in related industries.
Pomology
F. Javan; Y. Selahvarzi; M. Kamali
Abstract
Introduction
Today, in the commercial production of strawberries, short day cultivars are used due to having large fruits of desirable quality. Among the short day cultivars available in Iranare Camarosa, Atabaki, Gaviota, Queen Aliza, Paros and McDonance, which can be cultivated ...
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Introduction
Today, in the commercial production of strawberries, short day cultivars are used due to having large fruits of desirable quality. Among the short day cultivars available in Iranare Camarosa, Atabaki, Gaviota, Queen Aliza, Paros and McDonance, which can be cultivated at greenhouse. Titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles are one of the metal oxides that exist in three forms of rutile, brookite and anatase, which affect growth, enzymatic activity and photosynthesis. Reported titanium nano dioxide in the highest concentration used (11.5 mg/l) increases fruit formation percentage, leaf chlorophyll content, vitamin C content, fruit ripening index, fresh and dry weight of roots and shoots and yield of strawberries. In another study, it was shown that titanium dioxide treatment under drought stress can increase photosynthetic pigments, total soluble solids, vitamin C, phenol, flavonoid, anthocyanin, and antioxidant activity, and it also improved plant performance. increase the strawberry cultivar Ventana compared to the control treatment. In a research found that spraying titanium increases the biomass, fertility and quality of peach fruit. It has alsow been showed that the pomegranate size of flowers and fruits increased with using titanium nano dioxide, and this can increase the quantity and quality of Alberta peach cultivar. Foliar application of titanium nano dioxide in cucumber has been reported to increase photosynthesis and phenolic content and reduce lipid peroxidation. In a research, it was shown that titanium dioxide nanoparticles increased photosynthesis rate, water conductivity and transpiration rate in tomato leaves. Despite the effect of titanium dioxide nanoparticles on the quantitative and qualitative improvement of some agricultural products, the researches conducted on strawberry plants were not complete or were only conducted on a specific variety. Therefore, with the aim of investigating and comparing the morphological and biochemical traits of some commercial strawberry cultivars under the effect of foliar spraying with titaniumdioxide, the above research was conducted.
Materials and Methods
This research was conducted to investigate the effect of nano titanium dioxide foliar spraying on four strawberry cultivars in the hydroponic greenhouse of the Department of Horticultural Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad in 2020-2021. Experimental treatments included 4 levels of titanium nano dioxide (0, 5, 10 and 20 mg/l) and 4 strawberry cultivars (Sabrina, Paros, Gaviota and Camarosa) with 4 replications. The research was done in a factorial manner based on a completely random design. JMP 8 software was used to perform variance analysis and compare the averages of the measured traits. Means were compared using Tukey test at 5% probability level and graphs were drawn using Excel 2010 software.
Results and Discussion
According to the tables of mutual effects of titanium dioxide nano treatments and varieties, it can be found that the application of titanium dioxide nanoparticles had a positive effect on the desired characteristics in all four studied strawberry varieties. So that the application of different levels of titanium dioxide nano particles causes a significant increase in quantitative traits (number of leaves, leaf area, root length, fresh and dry weight of aerial and root parts, photosynthetic pigments) The yield-dependent traits compared to the control plants were found in strawberry-strawberry cultivars. Nano titanium dioxide had an effect in increasing the number of fruits and vegetative traits of all investigated cultivars, in such a way that, on the one hand, with a balanced increase in vegetative growth, and on the other hand, improving the efficiency of photosynthesis and absorption through the roots and increasing the percentage of fruit formation. , increased the yield per plant. Also, sprinkling of titanium nanoparticles on all levels caused a significant increase in juice pH, TSS, TA, vitamin C, anthocyanin, total phenol, flavonoid and in general qualitative traits compared to the control. In the treatment of nano titanium dioxide, especially at the level of 10 mg/liter, better results were observed.
Conclusion
According to the results, the use of Paros and Gaviota cultivars is recommended to farmers and agricultural researchers due to its high yield and good quality.
