Medicinal Plants
Faezeh Soleimani; Davood Samsampour; Abdolnabi Bagheri
Abstract
Introduction
Medicinal plants have reservoirs rich in the active ingredients of many medicines. Medicinal plants have rich reservoirs of essential active ingredients of many drugs. Considering the importance of medicinal plants, especially in the pharmaceutical industry and their scarcity in nature, ...
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Introduction
Medicinal plants have reservoirs rich in the active ingredients of many medicines. Medicinal plants have rich reservoirs of essential active ingredients of many drugs. Considering the importance of medicinal plants, especially in the pharmaceutical industry and their scarcity in nature, it is very important to study the various agricultural aspects of these plants, considering the increasing spread of saline soils, to find a solution. It seems necessary to prevent living and non-living environmental stresses or at least reduce them. One of these methods is the use of symbiotic relationships between mycorrhizal fungi and host plants, which reduces the stress caused by salinity. Due to the increasing expansion of saline soils, it seems necessary to find solutions that can prevent or at least reduce the living and non-living environmental stresses. There are different ways to overcome these tensions in different situations. Water salinization is one of the most important environmental limiting factors for crop production, especially in arid and semi-arid regions of the world, since Iran is located in the arid region of the world, given that salinity is one of the environmental factors. Are that have a strong effect on the growth and activity of lemongrass; There are also vast resources of saline and semi-saline groundwater, although not currently used and likely to be used in the future. Solutions to address abiotic stresses include the use of biofertilizers. One of these methods is to use the symbiosis of fungi with host plants, which leads to a reduction in salinity stress. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. On vegetative and biochemical traits of lemongrass under salinity stress. Salinity is one of the most important factors limiting the growth and production of crops. Fungi as a biological fertilizer can be useful in meeting the nutritional needs of plants and reducing the effects of environmental stresses on plants.
Materials and Methods
The experiment was a factorial experiment in a completely randomized design with two factors of four salinity levels (0, 5, 10 and 15 ds.m-1 NaCl) and fungi (no inoculation and fungal inoculation). For inoculation of Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi with mixed potting soil was applied to the lemongrass. Plant height, root length, fresh and dry weight of leaves, relative water content, catalase, peroxidase and polyphenol oxidase were measured.
Results and Discussion
The results indicate that all studied traits were significantly affected by the interaction of mycorrhiza and salinity stress. The application of mycorrhizal fungi in the presence of salinity stress due to the absorption of nutrients and water led to improved growth of lemongrass. The results showed that under salinity stress of 150 mM plant height, root length, fresh and dry weight of leaves, relative water content, catalase, peroxidase and polyphenol oxidase enzymes in lemongrass inoculated with arbuscular fungus at 23.05, 32.69, 25.31, 48.14, 31.83, 30.33, 52.72 and 33.41% respectively, increased compared to the control (no inoculation). In general, based on the results of this study, it can be concluded that the use of mycorrhizal fungi can increase the salinity tolerance of lemongrass and cultivate it in saline soil.
Conclusion
In summary, the results of the present study showed that inoculation of the fungi can protect the lemongrass plant against salinity stress. In addition, the effect of mycorrhizal fungi on lemongrass under salinity stress has been investigated for the first time. According to the results obtained in this study, salinity reduced morphological parameters and lemongrass as a reaction to salinity to maintain its status to increase the amount of enzyme activity through the mechanism of osmotic regulation to stress conditions. Compromise and to some extent deal with salinity. In the study, it was observed that inoculation with Arbuscular had a positive effect on all measured traits. The application of mycorrhizal fungi in the presence of salinity stress due to the absorption of nutrients and water led to improved growth of lemongrass. By examining all the measured traits, it can be concluded that by using mycorrhizal fungi, the salinity resistance of lemongrass can be increased and cultivated in saline soil. Arbuscular species seems to be more suitable for improving the growth of lemongrass in all conditions.
Medicinal Plants
Asma Najarzadeh; Hassan Farahbakhsh; Mehdi Naser Alavi; Rohollah Moradi; Mehdi Naghizadeh
Abstract
Introduction
Borage (Borago officinalis L.) is a valuable annual medicinal herb suitable for cultivation in many countries, including Iran. Borage is considered as a native of both Europe and Asia. Several species around the world fall under the denomination of “borage”. The presence of ...
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Introduction
Borage (Borago officinalis L.) is a valuable annual medicinal herb suitable for cultivation in many countries, including Iran. Borage is considered as a native of both Europe and Asia. Several species around the world fall under the denomination of “borage”. The presence of the γ-linolenic acid in the seeds of borage makes borage distinctively important mainly for the nutraceutical and pharmaceutical research. γ-Linolenic acid is an omega -6 polyunsaturated fatty acid which cannot be synthesized in the body and hence falls into the category of essential fatty acids (Evesh et al., 2019).
Chemical fertilizer is an indispensable abiotic factor in agricultural production, especially nitrogen fertilizer. However, in order to improve the yield, people fertilize a lot, which not only wastes resources, but also brings a series of serious problems to the environment, such as greenhouse gas emissions, soil fertility degradation and water resources pollution. Therefore, developing new fertilizers, improving crop nutrient utilization efficiency, replacing chemical fertilizers and reducing environmental pollution is an important direction of agricultural sustainable developme (Zhang et al ., 2020).
Biochar is a carbon rich product formed by pyrolysis of agricultural and forestry wastes under limited air availability. It is generally alkaline in nature, with the characteristics of rich carbon content, large specific surface area and strong adsorption. Biochar addition can reduce soil bulk density and increase porosity, pH, water holding capacity and nutrient content. Additionally, the unique physical properties of biochar can also promote the colonization and growth of some specific microorganisms, which may participate in the mineralization of biochar and promote nutrient cycling. Therefore, biochar has been widely used on improving soil quality and increasing crop productivity. Biochar has a positive effect on root structure and nutrient absorption of plant. Several studies have shown biochar can significantly increase the root length, root biomass, root surface area and specific root length. The study also found that biochar significantly increased the number of plant root tips, the most active part of root, and then increased the ability of plants to absorb nutrients from soil (Zhang et al, 2020).
Materials and Methods
In order to evaluate the effect of damask rose waste (DRW), walnut green skin waste (WGW) and cow manure biochars on biochemical, physiological and yield characteristics of European borage, an experiment was carried out based on a completely randomized design at the greenhouse conditions in Faculty of Agriculture, Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman. The experimental treatments contain: without of biochar (control), biochars of cow manure (0.75%, 1.25%, 2.5% and 5% w/w), walnut green skin biochar (WGW) (0.75%, 1.25%, 2.5% and 5% w/w) and damask rose waste biochar (DRW) (0.75, 1.25, 2.5 and 5% w/w). The physicochemical properties of the biochars and soil were analyzed. Five seeds were planted in three-kilogram pots at a depth of 1.5 to 2 cm. The greenhouse was maintained at an average temperature of 25 °C during the day and 20 °C at night, with a relative humidity level of 60%. Upon concluding the experiment, various biochemical, physiological, and functional characteristics of European borage were assessed and measured.
Results and Discussion
The results showed that DRW (60%) and WGW (13%) biochars had the highest and lowest amount of stable organic carbon, respectively. The investigated treatments significantly (p≤ 0.01) affected the biochemical, physiological and performance traits of European borage. Application of DRW and manure biochars caused a significant (p ≤ 0.01) increase in yield and photosynthetic pigments of European borage compared to the control. Applying WGW biochar at the level of 2.5% increased the shoot dry weight of the plant by 119% compared to the control treatment. Application of 1.25% of cow manure biochar also increased the shoot dry weight by 29.7%. WGW biochar applying not only had no positive effect on the growth and yield of the European borage, but also lead the decreasing growth and prevent flower production of borage. The highest CAT activity related to applying 2.5% of DRW biochar and 1.25% of manure biochar. Application of WGW in concentration of 0.75% significantly increased the proline contents. Using biochar improves soil fertility.
Conclusion
In general, applying DRW biochar in concentration of 2.5% and cow manure biochar in concentration of 1.25% were the most suitable treatments.
Iman Baninaeim; Davood Samsampoor
Abstract
Introduction: Narcissus is a genus of hardy, spring-blooming, bulbous plants in the family Amaryllidaceae. Numerous studies have demonstrated positive effects of various chemical additives (e.g. biocides, surfactants, ethylene inhibitors, wound healing enzyme inhibitors) on the postharvest, water relations ...
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Introduction: Narcissus is a genus of hardy, spring-blooming, bulbous plants in the family Amaryllidaceae. Numerous studies have demonstrated positive effects of various chemical additives (e.g. biocides, surfactants, ethylene inhibitors, wound healing enzyme inhibitors) on the postharvest, water relations and longevity of cut flowers. Cut flowers can have limited commercial value because of their dehydrating during vase life that decreased water uptake. Petal senescence is part of a developmental continuum in cut flowers and proceeded by tissue differentiation, growth and development of seeds and coordinated by plant hormones. Senescence can be studied at cellular, tissue, organ or organization level as a genetically programmed event. The vase life of cut narcissus flowers is often very short. The development of senescence symptoms is caused by vascular occlusion, which inhibits water supply to the flowers. Petal senescence was marked by the loss of turgor in petal tissue followed by complete wilting. The development of occlusions is thought to be caused by various factors, such as bacteria, air emboli and physiological responses of stems to cutting. However, despite anecdotal evidence of positive effects, improving postharvest water relations of cut flowers by various physical stem-end treatments is little researched.
Materials and Methods: The Narcissus flowers harvested from Khafr city of Fars province, in February 2015. The Thyme plants harvested in September 2014 and Savory plants harvested in December 2014 and then submitted to hydrodistillation in a Clevenger-type apparatus for 3 hours. This study was carried out in a completely randomized design with 3 replications. The treatments included control (distilled water), two levels of Savory essential oil (50 and 100 ppm) and two levels of Thyme essential oil (100 and 200 ppm). 2% sucrose were added to control and other of treatments . The cut flowers were also kept at temperature of 20±2 ºC with air humidity (RH) of 70±5%. Different parameters including flower weight, uptake of preservative solution, and wilting of flowers were measured every 2 days (0, 2, 4, 6 and 8) and antioxidant enzyme activity (APX) were measured in days of 0, 4 and 8 during storage period, and at the end of experiment, the vase life were measured. The results analyzed by SAS software and drawing tables and diagrams done by Excel software.
Results and Discussion: The results showed that Savory essential oil 50 ppm treatment was effective in improving the flower weight of cut narcissus by increasing uptake of preservative solution and also reducing wilting of flowers and antioxidant enzyme activities. At 200 ppm of thyme essential oil observed reductionin flower weight and uptake of preservative solution, but increasing in wilting of flowers and antioxidant enzyme activities. At 50 ppm of savory essential oil with average days 12.26, the vase life of cut flowers increased significantly as compared to control (10.36) and at 200 ppm of thyme essential oil treatment with average days 8.53, observed decrease invase life of cut flowers compared to control. Impaired water uptake is typically caused by cut stem occlusions due to microbial, physiological and physical plugging of xylem vessels. Essential oils constituents and derivatives have a long history of application as antimicrobial agents in areas of food preservation and medicinal antimicrobial production. physical treatments damage xylem vessels, allow increase of microbes and increase nutrient supply for microbes, which occlude stems. Recently many works carried out about application essential oils as antimicrobial agents under in vitro and in vivo condition and indicated that essential oils could increase postharvest quality of many horticultural crops such as tomato, table grape and kiwifruit (1, 15 and 24). In addition to improving water uptake, other approaches to maintaining a positive postharvest water balance for cut flowers and foliage include minimizing water loss though reduction in leaf area, keeping them in an environment conducive to less water loss (viz. low temperature and high RH) and providing compatible osmotica (e.g. sucrose) in vase and/or pulsing solutions. The loss of membrane integrity has been shown to cause an increase in the permeability and leakage during senescence in various flowers.
Conclusions: Results of this study showed that savory essential oil treatments increased quality and vase life of narssisus cut flowers compared to control At higher concentrations of thyme (200 ppm) the flowers remained closed, wilted quickly and senesced before controls.
Maryam Karimi Alavijeh; Ali Ebadi; Amir Mousavi; Alireza Salami
Abstract
Chilling is an important environmental stress that influences the yield and quality of many agricultural crops. Different plants use different systems to endure this stress and minimize its effects. One of these systems is enzymatic reaction. To find out more about responses of different grapevine species ...
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Chilling is an important environmental stress that influences the yield and quality of many agricultural crops. Different plants use different systems to endure this stress and minimize its effects. One of these systems is enzymatic reaction. To find out more about responses of different grapevine species and cultivars to the low temperature conditions, their enzymatic changes were evaluated in a factorial experiment based on randomized complete design with 3 replication during different periods after chilling stress. Leaf samples of plants under cold stress had been taken and maintained in -80 °C until enzyme extraction. Low temperature around 4 °C is sufficient to induce genes that produce chilling acclimatization proteins. In the present study, leaf samples were collected from the plants that were kept at 4 °C during different time intervals, and then total proteins as well as two main antioxidant enzymes (catalase and guaiacolperoxidase) activities were measured. Results showed that as temperature decreased, enzymatic activities were increased in six Iranian grapevine cultivars (‘Atabaki’, ‘Khalili-Danedar’, ‘Shahroodi’, ‘Rajabi-Siah’, ‘Askari’ and ‘Bidane-Sefid’) as well as ‘Riparia’, an American species. The highest enzymatic activities of catalase and ceroxidase were recorded in ‘Khalili-Danedar’ and ‘Riparia’. However,the lowest activities were recorded in ‘Rajabi-Siah’, ‘Bidane-Sefid’ and ‘Shahroodi’. For all studied cultivars, peroxidase showed its highest activity at 12 h after chilling stress, then remained constant, while, the highest activity of catalase were recorded at 8 h. In addition, cold stress increased the total protein content for all studied cultivars, in which ‘Khalili-Danedar’ had the highest protein content amongstudied cultivars. Also, the highest proteins content were recorded at 12 h after exposing plants to cold.
Ziba Bearanvand; Naser Alemzadeh Ansari; Musa Mosavi; Abbas Golpaigani
Abstract
In order to study, non-enzymatic antioxidants level of carotenoid and ascorbic acid in parsley leaves of twenty-one masses were compared between the first and second harvest. Also for evaluation of enzymatic-antioxidant activity, catalase and peroxidase activity in leaves of two twenty-one masses were ...
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In order to study, non-enzymatic antioxidants level of carotenoid and ascorbic acid in parsley leaves of twenty-one masses were compared between the first and second harvest. Also for evaluation of enzymatic-antioxidant activity, catalase and peroxidase activity in leaves of two twenty-one masses were measured at the end of vegetative growth. In each replication, one gram of fresh mixed leaf tissue of all samples was selected to measure the above mentioned parameters based on standard methods. , The data were analyzed in a randomized complete block design by SAS software. Results showed that the highest and lowest levels of carotenoids in the first harvest were7.54 and 2.00 mg/100 g in Bushehr 149 and Lorestan 69 masses, respectively. The maximum and minimum levels of vitamin C in the first harvest were 0.733 and 0.039 mg/100g in Lorestan 153 and western Azarbaijan 51 masses, respectively. The highest and lowest peroxidase activity were found 3.25 and 0.11 micromole of hydrogen peroxide per minute in central mass 46 and control region (native Ahwazi) respectively. The highest and lowest catalase activity were related 0.645 and 0.006 micromole of hydrogen peroxide per minute to Eastern Azerbaijan 62 and Central 45. According to results of this study, Lorestan 153, Lorestan 69, and Hamadan 49 masses could be introduced as the best masses of antioxidant activity.
