Pomology
Tavakil Rasteh; Javad Erfani moghadam; Seyyed Samih Marashi
Abstract
IntroductionThe date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) belongs to the family Arecaceae is a dioecious trees. Due to the problems of non-overlapping flowering of some male and female palm trees, commercial date production requires artificial pollination. Temperature is an important environmental factor influencing ...
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IntroductionThe date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) belongs to the family Arecaceae is a dioecious trees. Due to the problems of non-overlapping flowering of some male and female palm trees, commercial date production requires artificial pollination. Temperature is an important environmental factor influencing the pollination, fertilization and fruit set of the date palm. Availability of efficient male pollinators are of great importance in date palm production chain and for regular yearly bearing as the quantity and quality of pollen is a yield determining factor. The flowering and pollination period of date palm varies upon cultivar, geographic location and climatic conditions. However, frequent asynchronous flowering of date palm male and female trees occur due to climatic changes and abiotic stress. In such cases, farmers may pollinate their trees with pollen of a known male conserved at ambient conditions from the previous season; however, this is mostly result in a low fruit set and yield.Materials and MethodsIn this study, a factorial test was performed based on a completely random design with three replications at the laboratory of the Horticulture department at Ilam University to determine the rate of germination in five male date palm cultivars. The first factor consisted of nine temperature levels of 15, 18, 21, 24, 27, 30, 33, 36 and 39 and the second factor referred to the cultivar of the pollinator which had five levels of ‘Ghanami Sorkh’, ‘Ghanami Sabz’, ‘Sabz Parak’, ‘Nare Pakutah’ and ‘Khareji’. The pollen of the above-mentioned cultivars was obtained from the date palm Germplasm collection at the Date Palm and Iranian Tropical Fruits Institute in the city of Ahwaz. In the early days of the flowering season (March), the cultivars under study were identified and labeled. They were then checked on a daily basis and whenever the sheaths were ripe enough, they were picked and preserved in a sterile environment in room temperature. After the sheaths opened, the flower clusters were dried in the same environment and at the same temperature. Then, the cluster strings were separated and kept in a freezer at -18 °C until it was time for the test. Viability and vitality of the pollen was specified through the dying method using Acetocarmine solution.Results and DiscussionThe results showed that there was a significant difference among cultivars, temperature and interactions of them at the level of 1%. Among the studied temperatures, the highest germination of pollen grains in all cultivars occurred at 30 °C, followed by 33 °C and 27 °C, respectively, and the lowest germination percentage were obtained at 15 °C. Among cultivars, the percentage of pollen germination in ‘Ghanami Sorkh’ was quite high (92.45%), and ‘Nare Pakutah’ (87.33%), also, simultaneously ‘Sabz Parak’ (84.82%) and in the ‘Khareji’ cultivar was the lowest. However, the percentage of pollen germination in ‘Ghanami Sorkh’ cultivar was higher than 59% under a wide range of temperature from 21 to 39 °C. Furthermore, the percentage of Pollen germination was reduced rapidly at temperatures less than 21 Cº and reach 15.85% in 15 °C. The germination percentage of pollen grains in ‘Nare Pakutah’ cultivar in the temperature range of 21 to 39 degrees Celsius was higher than 57%. The germination percentage of pollen grains in ‘Sabz Parak’ cultivar decreased with less acceleration than ‘Ghanami Sorkh’ at lower and upper temperatures of 30 °C, so that at 36 and 39 °C had the highest amount of germination compared to the other cultivars. Also, the germination rate of pollens in ‘Ghanami Sorkh’ cultivar were investigated above 57% in the wide temperature range from 21 to 39 °C.ConclusionAccording to the findings of this study, the timing of pollination plays a crucial role in the fertility of male date palm cultivars, with the optimal temperature being around 30°C. It is essential to select cultivars that exhibit a high rate of pollen germination and contribute positively to fruit properties. Male cultivars such as 'Ghanami Sorkh', 'Sabz Parak', and 'Nare Pakutah' demonstrated a broader range of optimum temperatures for pollen germination. Therefore, these cultivars are recommended for climates characterized by significant temperature fluctuations during the flowering period of female date palms.
Pomology
Mohammadreza Safari Motlagh; Behzad Kaviani; Jaleh Ashegh
Abstract
Introduction: In recent years, applying humic acid has been common in enhancing the quantitative and qualitative characteristics of crops. The use of biofertilizers instead of chemical fertilizers has an effective role in increasing the health of plants, animals, and humans, and reducing environmental ...
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Introduction: In recent years, applying humic acid has been common in enhancing the quantitative and qualitative characteristics of crops. The use of biofertilizers instead of chemical fertilizers has an effective role in increasing the health of plants, animals, and humans, and reducing environmental pollution. Chemical fertilizers are gradually being replaced by biofertilizers. Strawberry is a fruit with high nutritional value. Choosing the right nutritional conditions such as fertilizers and suitable cultivation beds to achieve high quantitative and qualitative yield in this plant is inevitable. In recent years, the use of humic acid has been common in enhancing the vegetative and generative characteristics of crops. Humic acid is a rich source of potassium, phosphorus and nitrogen. The method of application of humic acid has an effective role in improving the quantitative and qualitative characteristics of plants. Combining some cultivation beds such as perlite, composts, and fertilizers including agricultural waste (such as rice bran and tea wastes) into soil cultivation beds have had an effective role for improving the quantity and quality of plants. Materials and Methods: A pot experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of foliar application of humic acid and different cultivation beds on morphology, flowering and fruiting of two strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa) cultivars ‘Local’ and ‘Selva’ in Islamic Azad University, Rasht Unit, on 2016. Different concentrations of humic acid (0, 300, 600, and 1000 mg l−1) were applied as foliar application in two steps (late March containing three leaves and late April containing five leaves) on strawberries cultivated in different beds (usual soil and usual soil with rice bran, or perlite, or tea wastes). The experiment was carried out as factorial based on a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with four replications. Some traits including plant height, root number, root length, leaf length, shoot number, shoot length, shoot diameter, leaf number, node number, flowering time, flower diameter, flower number, fruit number and fruit weight were measured. Results and Discussion: Analysis of variance showed that the interaction effect of humic acid × cultivation bed ×cultivar on plant height, shoot length, shoot number, leaf number, root length, root number, flower diameter (p≤0.01), fruit weight, and fruit number (p≤0.05) was significant. The interaction effect of these three factors on shoot or stolon diameter, leaf length, flowering time and flower number was not significant. Results of mean comparison showed that the highest shoot or stolon number (14.82) were obtained in ‘Selva’ cultivar treated with 1000 mg l−1 humic acidcultivatedin usual soil with tea wastes. The highest fruit weight (35.45 g) and fruit number (15.41 per plant) were obtained in ‘Selva’ cultivar treated with 1000 mg l−1 humic acidcultivatedin usual soil with perlite. The maximum leaf number (16.03 per plant) was obtained in the treatment of 300 mg l−1 humic acid and the cultivation bed of usual soil and rice bran in ‘Local’ cultivar. Minimum fruit number (3.58) and fruit weight (8.23 g) were obtained in ‘Local’ cultivar cultivated in usual soil bed without humic acid. The highest number of root (19.56) was obtained in the treatment of 600 mg l−1 humic acid and the cultivation bed of usual soil with perlite in ‘Local’ cultivar. The highest amount of flower diameter (7.85 mm) was calculated in the treatment of 1000 mg l−1 humic acid and the cultivation bed of usual soil with tea wastes on ‘Selva’ cultivar. These results suggest that humic acid foliar application might be benefit to enhance fruit characteristics of strawberry. Totally, humic acid application increased growth and yield of strawberry. Since the most important parameters for increasing the quality of strawberry fruit is fruit characteristics, it is recommended to use 1000 mg l−1 of humic acid cultivated in the usual soil mixture with tea wastes. Strawberries are widely cultivated worldwide due to their high nutritional value. Chemical fertilizers have been used as a way to increase crop yields, but have led to problems such as nitrate accumulation, pot life, and poor quality and environmental pollution. Therefore, organic fertilizers have been used. Humic acid can improve quantitative and qualitative production by having properties such as providing more available essential elements and increasing plant resistance to various biological and non-biological stresses. A positive association has been reported between the use of humic acid and the increases in growth, yield and product quality in strawberries and other plants. Proper cultivation bed plays an important role in the optimal growth and development of plants. Salinity increases osmotic stress, ion toxicity, oxidative stress and food imbalance. The use of compost fertilizer and foliar application of humic acid increased the growth, yield and quality of strawberry fruit.
Khosro Parvizi; Mohammadreza Hassandokht; Bita Azad
Abstract
Introduction: The advantages of plastic mulches have been known in production of agricultural crops. Their capability have been demonstrated to help nutrition uptake, precocity and yield of fruit trees, and decreasing of aphid population as viruses pest vectors. It is also demonstrated some advantages ...
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Introduction: The advantages of plastic mulches have been known in production of agricultural crops. Their capability have been demonstrated to help nutrition uptake, precocity and yield of fruit trees, and decreasing of aphid population as viruses pest vectors. It is also demonstrated some advantages of plastic mulch on some traits in potato such as increasing growth rate, yield and number of medium tuber size. Also, the effects of combined use of straw, chopped and polyethylene as well as different levels of irrigation (60, 80, 100, 120% water requirement) on yield and water use efficiency in potato have been investigated. In previous studies, it is concentrated on the effect of the special type of plastic on growing aspect of potato and there is no comparative assessment between different types of the mulches. So that in this research we evaluated the responses between types of plastic mulches.
Material and Methods: this research was conducted under field conditions. A factorial experiment was designed based on randomized complete block design with three replications. The experimental treatments consisted of mulch in five levels (clear, white, black, double layer and control (without mulch)) and two cultivars (Agria and Sante). Each plot was designed in 4 m2. For every plot, ridges were divided into complicated double rows with 50 × 150 centimeters wide. Irrigation tapes were placed between every duplicated row. Water requirement was calculated through corrected evapotranspiration (ETo) by Penman-Monteith equation with considering 90% water use efficiency. During the growing season some characteristics such as requirement time to 80% emergence, tuberization time, plant height in flowering time, number of stems and leaf area have been measured. Harvesting time was recorded along with measurement of tuber weights. Total yield was measured by random selection of one m2 in each plot. Harvested tubers were separated based on three sizes; edible tuber (large tuber), average tuber and small tuber size. Tow-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) of data was carried out using SAS software and means were compared byDuncan’s Multiple Range Test at probability level of 5%
Results and Discussions: The results of the experiment showed that application of plastic mulch and cultivar had significant effect (P≤ 0.01) on most of growing traits. Effect of cultivar and plastic mulch had no significant different on tuber dry matter. Mean comparison of 80% emergence date, number of main stem, growth duration, ranking of tubers size and total yield showed significant effect between cultivars and plastic mulches. Sante cultivar with clear mulch reach in shortest time to 80% emergence (11.3 days) and tuberization time (46.46 days). Significant difference between polyethylene mulches in emergence date is due to the effect of mulch characteristics on soil temperature and moisture. Consequently, soil microclimate would be changed and growth habits of potato plant inclined to suitable responses. Clear plastic mulch had highest plant height and number of main stem compared to other mulches and control treatment. Leaf area also affected by mulches; so that four types of plastic mulches had more leaf area comparison to control. Significant effect of mulch treatments on leaf area can be related to conservation of moisture and reduction of water stress. Meanwhile, increasing of uptake and transferring of mineral nutrient can be promoted growth rate. All this reaction can increase leaf area in plastic mulch treatments. Totally, application of plastic mulches could improve growth rate, growth duration and total yield of potato.
Conclusions: The result of this research showed that polyethylene mulch can obviously increase growth rate as well reduce growth duration. Also, plastic mulch can significantly increase total yield and positive reaction effect on tuber size. Different types of plastic mulches showed different responses on growth traits and total yield. It seems clear mulch be more capable in the most traits and total yield compared with other plastic.
E. Mirabi; S.H. Nemati; M.M. Mehrbakhsh; H. Ebrahimi
Abstract
Melon produced by transplanting cause seed saving, reduce the risk of cold, pest and disease stress. In order to investigate the effects of growing medium and cultivars on characteristic of melon's transplants, an experiment was conducted based on randomized completely design with 10 replications at ...
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Melon produced by transplanting cause seed saving, reduce the risk of cold, pest and disease stress. In order to investigate the effects of growing medium and cultivars on characteristic of melon's transplants, an experiment was conducted based on randomized completely design with 10 replications at the Ferdowsi University of Mashhad during 2010. Treatments included 6 levels of growing medium (a1= 50% peat+25 % coco peat+ 25 % sand, a2= 50% peat+25 % coco peat+ 25 %+ 25% vermin compost, a3= 50% peat+25 % coco peat+ 25 % perlit, a4= 50% coco peat+ 25% peat+25% sand, a5= 50% coco peat+ 25% peat+25%vercompost, a6= 50% coco peat+ 25% peat+25% perlit) and 2 types of cultivars: Eyvanakey and Khatooni. The results indicated that the effects of substrate were significant in all of treats (leaf area, stem diameter, height of transplant, root dry weight, shoot dry weight, root wet weight, and shoot wet weight). 2 (50% peat+25 % coco peat+ 25 %+ 25% vermin compost) and a5 (50% coco peat+ 25% peat+25%vercompost) have better performance than others in all of treats. There is not any significant effect between cultivars and interaction between substrate and cultivars wasn’t significant.
F. Paimard; Mokhtar Heidari; Mohammad Hosein Daneshvar; noorolah moalemi
Abstract
Pomegranate (Punica granatum) is an important fruit crop cultivated for fruit and processing in the Iran. Delaying fruit harvest of pomegranate may increase fruit losses due to fruit cracking; however, early harvest may influence physical and biochemical indices of fruit. An experiment was carried out ...
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Pomegranate (Punica granatum) is an important fruit crop cultivated for fruit and processing in the Iran. Delaying fruit harvest of pomegranate may increase fruit losses due to fruit cracking; however, early harvest may influence physical and biochemical indices of fruit. An experiment was carried out in 2011 at ‘Baghmalek’ (North West of Ahwaz, Khuzestan province, Iran) to determine the effects of three stages of fruit harvest (fruit maturity) on quality of fruit in three local cultivars of pomegranate. Fruit weight, density, percentage of juice, peel and seed, vitamin C, total soluble solid (TSS), acidity (TA), anthocyanin and maturity index (TSS/TA) were used for fruit quality assessment. A close relationship was observed between fruit quality and time of fruit harvest (fruit maturity). The fruit quality in respect of TSS, maturity index (TSS/TA), fruit juice color intensity and quality, anthocyanin was superior in fruit harvested from fruits harvested at the 2th and 3th harvest time. Results revealed that the aril weight, TSS, fruit juice color quality was high in ‘Poost Sabz’. Also, lowest fruit L/D, fruit juice, anthocyanin/browning substances ratio and fruit juice color intensity was recorded by ‘Poost Sabz’. Percentage of fruit juice, fruit L/D and vitamin C was high for the fruits of ‘Poost Zard’. Overall, pomegranate fruits harvested at the end of summer had significantly lower quality than fruits harvested at the later stages.
Hassan Hajnajari; M. Eshghi
Abstract
The investigations were carried out in 2007 on the fruit of 7 native early-ripening apple cultivars grown in Karaj climatic conditions, harvested in two phenological stages of maturity and ripenning. The harvested samples were stored at (0 ± 0.5) C and (85 ± 5) % of humidity. The measured sensorial ...
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The investigations were carried out in 2007 on the fruit of 7 native early-ripening apple cultivars grown in Karaj climatic conditions, harvested in two phenological stages of maturity and ripenning. The harvested samples were stored at (0 ± 0.5) C and (85 ± 5) % of humidity. The measured sensorial traits consisted in: aroma, flavor, sweetness, flesh quality and general acceptability achieved by an experienced group of panelists in the predefined temporal intervals during cold storage. Biochemical tests were computed for determination of pH, TA and TSS. The factorial experiment was defined within completely randomized design. The results showed significant differences at 1% probability for most of the evaluated sensorial traits between two picking phases, among cultivars and also in temporal intervals of cold storage. The highest level of storage potential meaning as quality conservation was found in 'Mashad', 'Gol Bahar' and 'Golab-e-Kohanz' descentely for the first picking or maturity phase, while it was shown that the fruit picked at ripening better sensorial qualities were determined in the decreaing order as: 'Golab-e-Isfahan', 'Golab-e-Kohanz', 'Gol Bahar', 'Ghermez-e-Rezaieh', 'Mashad' and 'Assali'. More oscillations of sensorial traits were assessed in the first harvest samles of the early cultivars related to the ripening time. Considering, genetic variability of the plant material and observed qualitative oscillations during different temporal stages of storage it was concluded that highest climacteric point was always occurred at the middle intervals of storage. Higher flavor index was registered in the first intervals of storage for the samples picked at second phase. Ulterior comparative results of panel tests in different temporal intervals for maturity and ripening phases demonstrated that superior levels of sensorial quality registered at riprning was gradually decreased, meaning that no significant difference were observed in the long storage periods of the sensorial values for both of the picking phases.
J. Dejampour
Abstract
In fruit trees damage of frost and freezing is depended to time of chillhng and tree phonological stage. Almond (Prunus amygdalus B. (and apricot (P. armeniaca L.) cultivars are usually the first fruit trees to bloom and susceptible to damaging frosts in the early spring. A study was conducted on different ...
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In fruit trees damage of frost and freezing is depended to time of chillhng and tree phonological stage. Almond (Prunus amygdalus B. (and apricot (P. armeniaca L.) cultivars are usually the first fruit trees to bloom and susceptible to damaging frosts in the early spring. A study was conducted on different types of almond and apricot cultivars in order to investigation the main factors related to frosting, irregular of productivity and low crop load of trees for 10 years. Six almond cultivars; Sahand, A200, Shkoofeh (very late bloom), Touno, Super nova (late bloom and self- compatibility), Managa (early bloom) and 6 apricot cultivars; Canino, Royal, Telton (self- compatibility), Ordbad, Nasiri and Asgarabad (self- Incompatibility) were evaluated for aspects of some biological and physiological characteristics that related to frost tolerance and fruit set. The results of 10 years evaluation showed that some cultivars despite were resistant to spring frost and usually their crop load was optimum. In addition of freezing damage, other factors like; undesirable climatic conditions in flowering time, direct or indirect influence on bearing and fruit set. Touno and Super nova as self compatibility and late blooming almond cultivars, Canino, Royal and Tilton as self- compatibility apricot cultivars were tolerant to cool and unfavorable climatic conditions in early spring. Therefore, they usually had higher and regular productivity. This differences were related to some phonological and physiological characteristics like; time of flowering, interior components of flower buds, time of niter and period of dormancy, temperature reaction of flower buds, effective pollination period, self – compatibility, frost resistance of pistils and flowers.
Sh. Attar; Gholam Hossein Davarynejad; S.H. Nemati
Abstract
Recognition and identification of many native and foreign apples cultivars are not clear for researchers, students, and gardeners. Additionally, since there is not any descriptor available on this case, they have different local names and sometimes similar in Khorasan-e-Razavi province. This study aimed ...
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Recognition and identification of many native and foreign apples cultivars are not clear for researchers, students, and gardeners. Additionally, since there is not any descriptor available on this case, they have different local names and sometimes similar in Khorasan-e-Razavi province. This study aimed to evaluate physico-chemical and morphological traits to offer descriptor for identification some native and foreign apple varieties. Native varieties including Bijandi Akhlamad, Abdolmajidi, Golshahi Pish Ras, Compooti, Alimoori and foreign cultivars including Prime Rose, Red Spur, Fuji, Braebern, and Ingrid grafted on MM.106 rootstock during two years (2010-2011) at Golestan garden in Chenaran, Mashhad. About 62 different qualitative and quantitative traits related to the tree properties, leaves, flowers and physico-chemical attributes of fruit were carried out in a completely randomized design with 10 replications. Results showed that the fruit shape of Prime Rose cultivar was flat, Red Spur was conical to globular, Bijandi Akhlamadi was globular and the other was flat globular. The shape of carpel in Alimoori and Prime Rose were completely open and in the others were closed. Data showed that the greatest variation between cultivars was at the traits such as blossom end depth, fruit firmness, skin thickness, fruit length, fruit diameter, seed length, leaf width, fruit acidity and pH. Correlation analysis showed that petiole length significantly correlated with leaf length to leaf width ratio (r=0.74±0.07) and fruit weight with fruit length (r=0.96±0.03) positively at 1% probability level.