Medicinal Plants
Hoda Sajedimehr; Mahya Sajedimehr; Majid Azizi
Abstract
IntroductionMedicinal plants with a high level of antioxidant activity are of great importance due to their effect on a wide range of diseases such as diabetes, inflammatory diseases, Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, cardiovascular diseases, blood pressure and other diseases caused by oxidative stress. Therefore, ...
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IntroductionMedicinal plants with a high level of antioxidant activity are of great importance due to their effect on a wide range of diseases such as diabetes, inflammatory diseases, Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, cardiovascular diseases, blood pressure and other diseases caused by oxidative stress. Therefore, studying medicinal plants and extracting and identifying chemical properties and effective compounds in medicinal plants emphasizes the necessity of learning and using medicinal plants. Iranian shallot plant with the scientific name Allium hirtifolium is a species of the onion family (Alliaceae) and is one of the largest genera of the monocot group. Shallot plant is an important horticultural product that has been known and used as a vegetable, spice and medicinal plant since ancient times due to its useful properties. In this genus, there are economically important species such as: onions, garlic, shallots, chives and leeks. Germination and sprouting are one of the most important phenological stages (life cycle) of the plant. Having enough information about the phenological cycle of the plant leads to better management of the different stages of this cycle, which determines the degree of success of agricultural systems. Seedling germination and growth in the early stages are strongly influenced and controlled by environmental factors, especially temperature, soil moisture and seed quality (germination and seedling strength) and internal factors (growth regulators) such as Gibberellin and Abscisic acid hormones.In order to speed up the germination of seeds and eliminate seed dormancy so that germination can happen faster, there are different methods. One of these methods is mechanical or chemical scratching. The aim of this research is to present a precise and scientific description for the failure of Iranian shallot medicinal plant seed dormancy (Allium hirtifolium) and improvement in the acceleration of germination, considering the different characteristics in three populations of Iranian shallot seeds. Also, to increase the quality and accuracy in this research, a scanning electron microscope was also used to accurately determine the surface changes of the seeds before the acid-washing treatment with sulfuric acid and after the acid-washing treatment with sulfuric acid. In the previous research that has been carried out on Iranian shallot seeds, the simultaneous examination of different temperatures and different times of acid washing by sulfuric acid in a precise manner and with several populations that have different genotypes, as well as the use of Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) has not been done.Materials and methodsThe study was done to investigate the effect of different degrees of temperature, and different times of sulfuric acid for acid washing on the improvement of germination of three populations of Iranian shallot seeds (Allium hirtifolium). The effect of four different temperatures (5, 10, 15 and 20 degrees Celsius) inside the Germinator device and four different times of acid washing with sulfuric acid (0, 5, 10, 15 minutes) on germination and micromorphological characteristics of three populations of shallot plant (Feridon Shahr, Tiran and Khansar) was investigated. On the other hand, a scanning electron microscope (SEM) with different degrees of magnification was used for the effect of sulfuric acid treatment on the surface of the seed coat. The experiment was conducted as a factorial, in the form of a completely randomized design with four replications. At the end of the experiment, traits such as germination percentage, average germination time, germination speed, root length and shoot length were evaluated. Also, traits such as diameter, length, volume and weight of seeds in three populations of shallot were also analyzed statistically.Conclusion and discussionThe results of electron microscopy showed that in all three populations of Iranian shallot seeds, the seed coat, after using the acid washing treatment with sulfuric acid for 15 minutes, underwent noticeable and significant changes compared to the control seeds. The surface of the seed is destroyed by sulfuric acid and the surface of the seed does not have its natural ornamentation and protrusions compared to the control. Also, the effect of temperature, duration of acid washing and seed population on germination percentage, germination speed, average germination duration, seedling root length and seedling length was significant at the 1% probability level (p≤0.01). The population of Fereydoun Shahr has the highest germination percentage (69.16 percent), germination speed 3.7 (number of seeds per day) and average duration of germination 9.64 (number of seeds per day) at a temperature of 5 degrees Celsius and acid washing time of 15 minutes. The maximum shoot length and root length were 19.7 and 8.81 (mm) in the Tiran population with a temperature of 20 degrees Celsius and a 15-minute acid washing time, and in the Khansar population with a temperature of 20 degrees Celsius and time of 5 minutes acid washing respectively. The results show that, according to the dormancy of the seeds and their need for cold, the best temperature for shallot seed germination is 5 degrees Celsius with 15 minutes of acid washing by sulfuric acid. Diversity in shallot plant populations has a significant effect on the performance of this plant in improving seed germination.AcknowledgeWe thank Ferdowsi University of Mashhad and the Isfahan University of Technology.Keywords: shallot diversity (seed morphology), stratification, seed scarification, germination, scanning electron microscope (SEM)
Medicinal Plants
Soroush Tafakhori; Vahid Akbarpour; Mohammad Kazem Souri
Abstract
Introduction
Basil (Ocimum basilicum L.), a warm-season herbaceous plant from the Lamiaceae family, is a valuable medicinal and culinary herb widely used in pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and food industries. Its aromatic leaves and mucilaginous seeds, beneficial for soothing sore throats, make it a significant ...
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Introduction
Basil (Ocimum basilicum L.), a warm-season herbaceous plant from the Lamiaceae family, is a valuable medicinal and culinary herb widely used in pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and food industries. Its aromatic leaves and mucilaginous seeds, beneficial for soothing sore throats, make it a significant crop in West Asia and the Middle East. As global populations grow, greenhouse and urban farming, such as vertical farming systems, have gained prominence to ensure year-round production (Massa, 2006). However, basil’s growth and productivity are often limited during low-light conditions, particularly in colder seasons. To address this, artificial lighting, particularly light-emitting diodes (LEDs), has emerged as a powerful tool due to their ability to deliver specific wavelengths, high photoelectric conversion efficiency, and optimal photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) efficiency (80–100%) (Darko et al., 2014). LEDs allow precise control over light quality and intensity, enhancing plant biomass and secondary metabolite production. Additionally, ascorbic acid, a potent antioxidant, plays a critical role in detoxifying reactive oxygen species (ROS) and improving plant growth under stress conditions (Shigeoka et al., 2002). Previous studies have shown that specific light spectra, particularly red and blue combinations, enhance terpenoid and phenolic content in basil (Rihan et al., 2020; Rafiei et al., 2023). Similarly, foliar application of ascorbic acid has been reported to improve growth and mitigate environmental stresses in various plants (Yadollahi et al., 2016; Esmailpour et al., 2023). This study investigates the combined effects of LED light spectra and ascorbic acid foliar application on the morphophysiological and phytochemical traits of basil under controlled conditions, aiming to optimize its production in low-light environments.
Materials and Methods
The experiment was conducted in the summer of 2024 at the Horticulture Laboratory of the University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Sari, Iran. A split-plot design based on a randomized complete block with three replications was employed. The main factor consisted of four LED light treatments: three blue-to-red ratios (75:25 [BBBR], 50:50 [BBRR], 25:75 [BRRR]) and full-spectrum white light (FFFF). Red light was set at 660 nm, and blue light at 440 nm, with a photoperiod of 16 hours light and 8 hours darkness daily. The sub-factor included two levels of ascorbic acid foliar application (0.5 g/L weekly and no application). Basil seeds were sown in plastic pots filled with a 1:1 mixture of perlite and cocopeat and fertilized using Hoagland’s solution via fertigation. Morphophysiological traits, including stem diameter, number of lateral branches, leaf count, fresh and dry shoot weight, root fresh and dry weight, and root volume, were measured. Phytochemical traits, such as antioxidant activity (DPPH method, measured at 517 nm), total phenolic content (Folin-Ciocalteu method, measured at 765 nm), and flavonoid content (aluminum chloride method, measured at 415 nm), were assessed using a spectrophotometer (UV-1800PC, Shimadzu, Japan). Data were analyzed using analysis of variance (ANOVA), and means were compared using appropriate statistical tests.
Results and Discussion
The results demonstrated that the red-blue (75:25) light treatment significantly enhanced several morphophysiological traits compared to full-spectrum light, increasing stem diameter by 8%, lateral branches by 26%, leaf count by 15%, fresh leaf weight by 39%, and dry shoot weight by 25%. Foliar application of ascorbic acid further amplified these traits, with increases of 23%, 21%, 20%, 44%, and 31%, respectively. The combination of red-blue (75:25) light and ascorbic acid resulted in the highest stem height, root dry weight, and root volume, indicating a synergistic effect. These findings align with previous research showing that red light promotes stem elongation and biomass accumulation through gibberellin synthesis, while blue light regulates cellular expansion via cryptochromes (Hosseini et al., 2019; Kaiser et al., 2019). Ascorbic acid likely enhanced growth by acting as a coenzyme in photosynthesis and hormone biosynthesis, increasing carbohydrate production and nutrient uptake (Barkosky & Einhellig, 2003). For phytochemical traits, the red-blue (50:50) light without ascorbic acid yielded the highest antioxidant activity, suggesting that balanced light spectra stimulate defense mechanisms. The red-blue (75:25) light increased phenolic content by 12% and flavonoid content by 28% compared to full-spectrum light, consistent with studies showing that blue light enhances phenylpropanoid biosynthesis via phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) activation (Rafiei et al., 2023). However, ascorbic acid did not significantly increase flavonoid content, possibly due to metabolic saturation or suppression of defense responses at high antioxidant levels (Azoz et al., 2016). These results highlight the importance of tailored light spectra and nutritional interventions for optimizing basil’s growth and secondary metabolite production.
Conclusion
This study confirms that LED light spectra, particularly the red-blue (75:25) combination, significantly improve basil’s morphophysiological traits, including stem diameter, leaf count, and biomass, under low-light conditions. Foliar application of ascorbic acid enhances these effects, promoting root development and overall plant growth. While specific light spectra alone can boost antioxidant activity and phenolic content, ascorbic acid’s influence is more pronounced on growth than on flavonoid accumulation. These findings provide a practical framework for optimizing basil production in controlled environments, such as greenhouses and vertical farms, by integrating light quality management with ascorbic acid supplementation. This approach offers a cost-effective strategy to enhance both the quantity and quality of basil, supporting sustainable agricultural practices.
Medicinal Plants
Reza Azadi Gonbad; Nasrin Farhadi
Abstract
Introduction
Hydroponic systems have emerged as an advanced method for cultivating medicinal plants, offering precise control over environmental and nutritional factors to enhance the production of secondary metabolites. Chemical elicitors, such as salicylic acid (SA) and methyl jasmonate (MeJA), play ...
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Introduction
Hydroponic systems have emerged as an advanced method for cultivating medicinal plants, offering precise control over environmental and nutritional factors to enhance the production of secondary metabolites. Chemical elicitors, such as salicylic acid (SA) and methyl jasmonate (MeJA), play a key role in stimulating plant defense responses and increasing the synthesis of valuable phytochemical compounds. These compounds alleviate biotic and abiotic stress signals, triggering plant defense mechanisms and stimulating the biosynthesis of valuable secondary metabolites, including phenolics, flavonoids, and essential oils (Mehdizadeh and Moghaddam, 2023). Salvia officinalis L. (sage), a perennial aromatic plant from the Lamiaceae family, is known for its medicinal properties and rich content of bioactive compounds, including essential oils and phenolic derivatives. Recent studies have demonstrated that exogenous application of SA and MeJA can significantly influence plant growth and secondary metabolism. However, their effects are highly concentration-dependent and species-specific, necessitating further research to determine optimal dosages for different medicinal plants (Mohi-Ud-Din et al., 2025). While some studies have explored the individual effects of these elicitors, their synergistic interactions in hydroponically grown sage remain understudied (Jeyasri et al., 2023). This study investigates the synergistic effects of SA and MeJA foliar application on the growth, phytochemical composition, and antioxidant activity of sage in a hydroponic system.
Materials and Methods
This experiment was conducted as a factorial design based on a completely randomized design with three replications. Treatments included the foliar application of SA (0, 0.5, and 1 mM) and MeJA (0, 0.25, and 0.5 mM). Sage seeds were germinated under controlled conditions, and seedlings were transferred to a hydroponic system with a perlite-cocopeat (3:1, v/v) substrate. Plants were grown under natural light, with temperatures maintained at 20–30°C and relative humidity at 70–80%. Nutrient solutions were provided using Hoagland’s formula (EC 1.6 dS/m). Foliar treatments were applied at three growth stages: initial three-leaf, six-leaf, and flowering onset. Ten days after the final treatment, biomass, photosynthetic pigments, antioxidant enzyme activities (POX, APX, SOD), phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) activity, phenolic and flavonoid content, essential oil percentage, and antioxidant capacity (DPPH assay) were evaluated.
Results and Discussion
The experimental results demonstrated that the foliar application of salicylic acid and methyl jasmonate significantly influenced the growth, physiological traits, and phytochemical composition of hydroponically cultivated sage. The combined treatment of 0.5 mM SA and 0.25 mM MeJA produced the highest fresh (49.00 g) and dry (21.48 g) biomass, indicating a synergistic effect on plant growth. This enhancement can be attributed to the role of SA in promoting cell division and elongation, while MeJA at low concentrations stimulates metabolic activity without inducing excessive stress. However, higher MeJA concentrations (0.5 mM) exhibited inhibitory effects, likely due to the overactivation of defense mechanisms that divert energy away from growth-related processes. Photosynthetic pigments, including chlorophyll and carotenoids, were significantly influenced by the elicitor treatments. The combination of 1 mM SA and 0.25 mM MeJA resulted in the highest carotenoid content (2.34 mg g⁻¹ FW), suggesting that moderate elicitation enhances photosynthetic efficiency. Conversely, excessive MeJA (0.5 mM) led to a reduction in chlorophyll content, possibly due to accelerated senescence or oxidative stress. The application of SA and MeJA also induced a marked increase in antioxidant enzyme activities, including POX, SOD, and APX. Among the highest activities, POX was maximized in the combined treatment of 0.5 mM SA and 0.25 mM MeJA (20.49 U mg⁻¹ protein), while the highest APX (6.96 U mg⁻¹ protein) and SOD (1.95 U mg⁻¹ protein) activities were recorded in plants treated with 0.25 mM MeJA alone. These enzymes are critical for scavenging reactive oxygen species (ROS), which accumulate under elicitor-induced stress. The upregulation of these defense mechanisms not only protects cellular integrity but also stimulates the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites. A key finding was the significant increase in phenylalanine ammonia-lyase activity, a rate-limiting enzyme in the phenylpropanoid pathway. The highest PAL activity was observed in plants treated with 1 mM SA alone or in combination with 0.25 mM MeJA, correlating with elevated levels of total phenolics and flavonoids. Phenolic compounds, such as rosmarinic acid, are major bioactive constituents in sage, contributing to its antioxidant and antimicrobial properties. The increase in flavonoid content, particularly under the combination of 0.5–1 mM SA and 0.25 mM MeJA, further supports the role of these elicitors in activating secondary metabolic pathways. One of the most notable outcomes was the 39% increase in essential oil content under the 0.5 mM SA + 0.25 mM MeJA treatment. Essential oils in sage are synthesized via the terpenoid pathway, which appears to be strongly induced by these elicitors. The enhanced essential oil yield was accompanied by a significant improvement in antioxidant capacity, as evidenced by the DPPH radical scavenging assay. This suggests that the elicited plants not only produced higher quantities of bioactive compounds but also exhibited stronger free-radical quenching activity, which is valuable for medicinal and nutraceutical applications. These findings align with previous studies indicating that SA and MeJA act synergistically at optimal concentrations to enhance secondary metabolite production while maintaining plant growth. However, the negative effects of high MeJA levels (0.5 mM) underscore the importance of dosage optimization, as excessive elicitation can lead to phytotoxicity and metabolic imbalance.
Conclusion
This study demonstrated that the combined application of salicylic acid and methyl jasmonate in a hydroponic growth medium serves as a powerful tool for regulating growth and enhancing the production of secondary metabolites in sage plants (Salvia officinalis). A key finding was the identification of an optimal treatment combination (0.5-1 mM salicylic acid coupled with 0.25 mM methyl jasmonate), which synergistically increased biomass, essential oil content, and antioxidant activity. In contrast, higher concentrations of methyl jasmonate alone were found to inhibit growth. The implications of this research are significant, as it shows that by precisely modulating elicitor concentrations, the metabolic balance between growth and defense compound synthesis can be strategically managed to meet agricultural and pharmaceutical objectives.
Medicinal Plants
zahra mahdavi; behrouz esmaielpour; rasoul azarmi
Abstract
Evaluation of morphophysiological and biochemical characteristics of Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni treated with proline nanoparticles and liquid fish waste fertilizer in salinity stress
Introduction
Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni is plant perennial medicinal of the Asteraceae (Compositae) family. Stevia plants ...
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Evaluation of morphophysiological and biochemical characteristics of Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni treated with proline nanoparticles and liquid fish waste fertilizer in salinity stress
Introduction
Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni is plant perennial medicinal of the Asteraceae (Compositae) family. Stevia plants contain many compounds with medicinal properties, importantly steviol glycosides (e.g., stevioside, steviolbioside, rebaudiosides A.E and dulcoside), in the leaves and shoots that are used as natural and useful sweeteners in the food industry. These sweeteners are 300 to 400 times sweeter than glucose and sucrose and calorie-free. Salinity stress is causes major constraints factor affects crop production in world . The adverse effects of salinity stress on plant growth can be related to factors e.g. induced osmotic stress and ionic imbalance. Ionic imbalance is due to high presence of sodiumand chloride. There is several strategies for reduce salt effects in plants that including have been used biofertilizers, organic fertilizers and nanoparticles. Nanoparticles (NPs) as one of the most important effective methods, to reduce salinity stress condition. Nano-materials are at a scale of 100 nm or less. Proline can be mentioned among nano-materials. Proline (Pro) is one of compatible solutes and cellular protector accumulated in response to abiotic stress. Accumulation of proline happens in plant during exposure to stress. The amount of this biosynthesis is insufficient, so it is applied externally to tolerance with the stress of this substance. Organic fertilizers reduce the harmful effects of chemical fertilizer and improve the chemical, biological structure of soils, leading to increased crop yield. waste reduction and especially fish waste (as one of the concerns of the world today) is one of the important strategies for environmental sustainability. Fish processing waste is rich in essential proteins, macro and micronutrients that casuses reduced salinity stress.
Method
Stevia seedlings were purchased from a medicinal plant greenhouse (zargiah) in Shiraz city and planted in 12 L pots. This study was conducted in a factorial experiment and based on a completely randomized design with four replications in the spring-summer of 2022. Planting bed includes containing a mixture of cocopeat and perlite .The plants were first irrigated with half-strength Hoagland’s solution and then irrigated with full-strength nutrient solution. The first factor was salinity stress at four levels (0, 30, 60, 90 mM NaCl) and the second factor salinity reducer at five levels (control, 15 and 30 mgL-1 glycine betaine without liquid fish waste fertilizer, 15 and 30 mgL-1 glycine betaine with 15% (v/v) liquid fish waste fertilizer). Then growth parameters, relative water content, a* and b* color and total phenol, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), malondialdehyde (MDA), proline, and total carbohydrates were measured. Data were analyzed using SAS 9.1 software by analyzing the means using Duncan’s multiple range test, with a significant difference level at p < 0.05.
Results
Salinity stress significantly decreased plant growth traits. Salinity, increased proline and total phenols, MDA, H2O2, EL compared with the control. Fish waste fertilizer with proline nanoparticles increased morphological parameters, RWC, proline, phenols, sugar, and reduced EL, MDA, and H2O2. Salinity stress caused a 39% reduction in plant height, 50.24% in root fresh weight, 70.93% in root dry weight, 46.15% in relative water content, 55.93% in a*color, 51.16% in b*color, 39.44% in proline, 71.68% total carbohydrate, 42.7% by phenol and 73.33% by hydrogen peroxide by compared to the control. The application of 20 mg/L proline nanoparticles simultaneous with liquid fish waste fertilizer resulted in reduction a 31.7% by membrane electrolyte leakage, 56.66% by root sodium, and an increase of 78.23% proline, 72.98% by total carbohydrate, 71.42% root potassium, and 62.45% by root calcium under 90 mM salinity stress compared to the control treatment.
Conclusions
Results showed that salinity due to accumulation in Na+ and disruption to the absorption of essential nutrients especially N and K, negatively affected plant growth and yield and overall. Proline and fish waste bio- fertilizer with increase in potassium causes open of the stomata increase of photosynthesis and plant growth. Application of proline especially when used at a concentration of 20 (mg/l) and fish waste bio-fertilizer could be considered as a sustainable, for the mitigating of salinity stress effects in stevia plants and potentially other crops. Hence, proline nanoparticles with fish waste bio-fertilizer could be considered an effective method to apply on plants under different stress conditions to mitigate stress effects through a safe and environmentally friendly method.
Medicinal Plants
B. Kaviani; R. Mohammadipour; D. Hashemabadi; M.H. Ansari; R. Onsinejad; A.R. Berimavandi
Abstract
IntroductionDamask rose (Rosa damascena Mill.) is used as a multi-purpose species. The flower essential oil of this plant has many applications in various industries. There is a wide variety of morphological, phonological, flower shape, yield and yield of essential oils among genotypes and different ...
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IntroductionDamask rose (Rosa damascena Mill.) is used as a multi-purpose species. The flower essential oil of this plant has many applications in various industries. There is a wide variety of morphological, phonological, flower shape, yield and yield of essential oils among genotypes and different populations of Damask rose in various ecological conditions in Iran. Evaluation of genetic diversity among Damask rose of Iran is important in order for breeding purposes. Some studies on phenotype, essential oil and genetic diversity were also carried out among different cultivars of rose flowers in other parts of the world. Significant diversity has been reported among the populations and genotypes of rose in different ecological conditions for many traits. Identifying superior species, cultivars and populations is important for commercial cultivation and more essential oil production. It is difficult to understand genetic diversity in roses because natural hybridization and spontaneous mutations with high abundance occurs in this plant. Morphological differences can be due to the geographical coordinates, natural hybridization and mutations. The purpose of this study was to investigate and compare the genetic variety of Damask rose in Guilan, Ilam, Golestan, Tehran and Kashan in order to introduce superior genotype based on essence content and some other morphological and physiological traits. Materials and MethodsFive genotypes of Damask rose including Kashan, Ilam, Golestan, Tehran and Guilan genotypes were evaluated as plant materials. Plant materials were collected from mentioned-above regions as root-sucker and transferred to the farm of Research Institute of Forests and Rangelands of the country. The experimental design used was a completely randomized block, which was performed with 3 replications and was considered for each 5-suckers’ repetition (total: 75 suckers). In each replication, three specimens of each genotype were planted in pits with diameter and depth of 50-60 cm. The distance between scions per rows was 2.5 meters and row spacing from each other was 2 meters. During the experimental period, the bushes were irrigated using drip (trickle) irrigation method. The sampling was performed to measure morphological and physiological parameters after the blooms were opened in early May. Evaluated parameters were plant height, leaf length, leaf width, leaf area, petal number, stamen number, carpel number, fresh weight of petals, petal anthocyanin levels, petals essential oil levels, chlorophyll content and leaf carotenoids. Data were analyzed by ANOVA and, if significant, Tukey analysis was used. SPSS software was employed for statistical analysis. Results and DiscussionThe results showed that the highest amount of essential oil (0.042 and 0.038%) was extracted from the petals of Ilam and Kashan genotypes, respectively. The highest petal weight (2.70 and 2.30 g) was related to the petals of Ilam and Kashan genotypes, respectively. The highest petal length and width were obtained in these two genotypes. The largest number of petals (71.80 per each plant) was related to Guilan samples. The highest amount of chlorophyll a was related to Ilam genotype and the highest amount of chlorophyll b, carotenoids and anthocyanin was related to Kashan genotype. In the present study, rose flower genotypes collected from different parts of Iran showed significant diversity in relation to morphological and physiological properties, especially essence. The results of the present study showed that there was a significant correlation between the amount of essence in the petals and the weight and dimensions of the petals. Similar findings related to the correlation between flower yield and its components in roses flowers were presented in some studies. Some studies have shown that the weight of the flower has a very strong, positive and significant correlation with the flower yield. Despite the geographical distance between some genotypes, the high similarity coefficient between them may indicate the common origin or continuous and purposeful genotypes. On the other hand, the low similarity coefficient between genotypes proposes relatively low geographical connection and different primary origin. In the present study, there was a low correlation between the amount of essence in the petals and the weight and dimensions of the petals in the Ilam and Kashan genotypes with the Golestan and Guilan genotypes. Generative traits, including flower characteristics, are more suitable for genetic and evolutionary evaluations than vegetative traits. The results of some researchers in Iran and elsewhere in the world showed that flower yield per plant is associated with some other traits, including flower number, dimensions and weight of flowers, and the number of branches in the plant. The genetic analysis of rose flower genotypes showed that some genotypes collected from different areas are genetically relevant and some are separate. This subject shows effective role of ecological conditions in changing and variability of different species and varieties. The results indicated that the difference in the amount of essential oil compounds is mostly influenced by environmental and physiological factors. ConclusionThe morphological differences observed among the flower genotypes indicate the presence of valuable germplasm and a strong potential for trait improvement. These differences also demonstrate the feasibility of selecting superior genotypes using morphological markers to enhance flower yield within the country. Overall, the Ilam and Kashan genotypes are recommended as promising candidates for use in breeding programs. AcknowledgementWe thank Islamic Azad University, Rasht Branch for its assistance.
Medicinal Plants
M.B. Amiri; Vahid Mohammadzadeh Kakhki; Mohammad Hosein Aminifard
Abstract
IntroductionSoil amendment materials exhibit a wide range of properties and influence soil physicochemical characteristics in various ways. Among these, biochar has attracted significant attention for its potential to improve acid soils, remediate pollutants, enhance soil fertility, sequester carbon, ...
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IntroductionSoil amendment materials exhibit a wide range of properties and influence soil physicochemical characteristics in various ways. Among these, biochar has attracted significant attention for its potential to improve acid soils, remediate pollutants, enhance soil fertility, sequester carbon, and contribute to climate change mitigation. Biochar is a porous carbon-rich material comprised chiefly of aromatic carbons and/or heteroatoms. Biochar is a product obtained from biological waste, particularly agricultural biomass waste which is thermally degraded using a process called pyrolysis, in the absence of oxygen. Biochar is useful as 1) a fuel source (charcoal) for renewable energy and 2) for carbon sequestering to the soil preventing the release of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere, 3) as a waste recycling method, 4) as a soil amendment to improve the soil structure, texture, water holding capacity and other physicochemical properties thus improving the soil fertility, 5) plant growth promotion due to the nutrients supplied by biochar when used as manure and 6) plant disease management by either directly (antagonism) or indirectly (induced systemic resistance) in plants. Sulfur (S) is an important component of many amino acids such as methionine and cysteine in plants. The balance update of sulfur decreases the speed of oxidative processes with an improvement reduction mechanism. It also plays a critical role in the improvement of wheat productivity through better grain production. Sulfur is very important for the efficacious use of nitrogen especially in the formation of protein contents. Without sulfur, the optimum activity of nitrogen regarding protein content biosynthesis cannot be achieved in terms of yield. Application of nano fertilizers and reduction of the size of the material to the nanoscale leads to an increase in the surface mass ratio of the particles, and as a result, an abundant amount of nutrient ions is absorbed slowly and steadily for a long period. Satureja hortensis L. which is a medicinal plant of the Lamiaceae (Labiatae) family is widely grown in France, Hungary, Spain and Iran. The essential oil of Satureja hortensis L. finds application in food products due to its antimicrobial and antioxidant properties. Traditionally, it was utilized as a stomachic, stimulant, expectorant, aphrodisiac and carminative treatment of various kinds of infectious illnesses. Material and MethodsIn order to investigate the effects of different levels of biochar and common sulfur and nona-fertilizer of sulfur on some morphological and physiological characteristics of Satureja hortensis L., an experiment was done at the Research Field of University of Gonabad during the years 2020-2021 and 2021-2022. A split plot experiment based on a randomized complete block design with three replications was conducted. Biochar at three levels (5, 10 and 20 t.ha-1 and control) and two sulfur nutritional treatments (common sulfur, nano-fertilizer of sulfur and control) were used as main and subplots, respectively. Plant height, lateral branch number, leaf area, stem diameter, dry shoot weight, dry matter yield, carbohydrate content, chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b and total chlorophyll were recorded. Results and DiscussionThe results showed that in both of two cropping years, the highest plant height (with 41 and 39 cmin the first and second cropping year, respectively) and lateral branch number (with 28 and 30 in the first and second cropping year, respectively) obtained in combined application treatment of 20 t.ha-1 biochar and spraying of nano-fertilizer of sulfur and in both two cropping years, use of common sulfur and spraying nano-fertilizer of sulfur at higher levels of biochar (10 and 20 t.ha-1) resulted in the production of more leaf area and stem diameter than the application of these sulfur nutritional inputs at lower levels of biochar. The results of the interaction effects of biochar application and nutritional treatment in the 2018-2019 crop year showed that with increasing biochar amounts to 10 t.ha-1, the positive effects of common sulfur and nanosulfur on improving essential oil content were more noticeable, so the highest amount of essential oil (2.40%) was obtained in the treatment of simultaneous application of 10 t.ha-1 of biochar and soil application of common sulfur. In both years, the highest amount of essential oil (2.10 and 2.13% in the first and second year, respectively) was obtained in 10 t.ha-1 biochar. The highest influence of sulfur nutritional treatments on chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b and total chlorophyll appeared when they were used simultaneously with biochar, for example, chlorophyll a content in conditions of spraying of nano-fertilizer of sulfur with the application of 5, 10 and 20 t.ha-1 biochar was 42, 54 and 72% in the first cropping year, respectively and 43, 54 and 73% in the second cropping year, respectively, more than amount of these traits in conditions of separate spraying of nano-fertilizer of sulfur. ConclusionIn general, based on the results of this research, it seems that the combined consumption of biochar with common sulfur and nano-fertilizer of sulfur, while improving the quantitative characteristics of Satureja hortensis L. can lead to the improvement of its physiological characteristics and the production of free of chemical substances in this valuable medicinal plant. AcknowledgementsThis study was financially supported by the University of Birjand and University of Gonabad, Iran.
Medicinal Plants
M. Azizi; S. Beigi; Z. Safaei; M. Mansoori
Abstract
IntroductionMedicinal plants are economical important plants that are used in traditional medicine and industry as raw or processed materials. Valerian (Valeriana officinalis L.) is one of the important medicinal plants which belong to Valerianaceae family. The valerian rhizome and roots have been considered ...
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IntroductionMedicinal plants are economical important plants that are used in traditional medicine and industry as raw or processed materials. Valerian (Valeriana officinalis L.) is one of the important medicinal plants which belong to Valerianaceae family. The valerian rhizome and roots have been considered as a valuable medicinal plant that essential oil content (between 0.1 to 2 percent) varied according to climatic conditions of production location. Valerian needs a lot of water during the growth period and enough moisture around the roots and rhizome increase root yield. Iran is situated in an arid and semi-arid region. When a plant's minimum water requirement is not met, it experiences drought stress, which can cause severe and often irreversible damage to the crop. One effective method for improving irrigation efficiency under such conditions is the use of superabsorbent polymers. These hydrocarbon-based materials can retain large amounts of water or aqueous solutions in the plant root zone, thereby mitigating the negative effects of drought stress. Their application can enhance plant growth, extend irrigation intervals, reduce water loss, and lower irrigation costs. Generally, water efficiency, dry matter production and root development, are positive reactions to the use of superabsorbent. In this regard, Stockosorb® copolymer is potassium-based nutrients that have a high ability to absorb water and nutrients and high strength polymer maintained the water has been proven. The aims of this investigation were to study the effects of Stockosorb® hydrophilic polymers, on some morphological (root dry weight and yield, leaf area), biochemical (chlorophyll a, b), physiological (electrolyte leakage, leaf relative water content) characteristics and essential oil content and yield of valerian under drought stress. Materials and MethodsThis research was conducted in field (1×1 m2) at Department of Horticultural Science‚ College of Agriculture‚ Ferdowsi University of Mashhad. The research was set out in a factorial experiment based on completely randomized block design. The Stockosorb® hydrophilic polymer at four concentrations (0, 100, 200, 300 gr/m2) and two irrigation period (6 and 10 day) with three replications were set as treatments and leaf area, root dry weight and yield, chlorophyll a, b, electrolyte leakage, leaf relative water content and essential oil content and yield were evaluated at the end of the growth period. The seeds of Valeriana officinalis were sown in protected open field for seedling production and the seedling were transplanted to the field at four-leaf stage (10 plant per plot). Stockosorb® mixed with soil, after weighing the polymers based on determined concentration. After seedling establishment, all plots were irrigated with a determined amount and equal of water. Results and DiscussionThe results showed, using Stockosorb® superabsorbent polymer be useful for water supply the plant in water stress condition. Application of this substance on some morphological, biochemical and physiological characteristics and valerian essential oil, was significant at 1% and superior to the control. According to the results obtained, Stockosorb® 300 g.m-2 with irrigation period 6 days interval, increased leaf area, root dry yield, leaf relative water content, chlorophyll a and essential oil yield. While, the highest valerian root dry weight and essential oil content were obtained with application of Stockosorb® 200 g.m-2 and irrigation period of 6 days interval. The highest electrolyte leakage was related to control and irrigation period 10 days interval and the maximum chlorophyll b was belonged to Stockosorb® 100 g.m-2 with irrigation period 10 days interval. ConclusionsSince the ultimate goal in cultivating valerian, as with other essential oil-bearing plants, is to optimize both yield and essential oil content, the findings of this study recommend the application of 300 g/m² Stockosorb polymer combined with a 6-day irrigation interval. This approach effectively mitigates drought stress and enhances all evaluated growth and yield characteristics in valerian.The highest root dry weight under drought stress was related to more accessible and preservatives water in characteristics the root zone and it found by using the middle concentrations (200 gr/m2) super absorbent polymer and irrigation period shorter (6 day). Using of mentioned treatments, according to the middle water stress, leads to increased valerian essential oil. The best root dry yield, essential oil yield, electrolyte leakage, chlorophyll a and %RWC with sufficient amounts of water and better growth conditions were achieved by application of 300 g.m-2 Stockosorb® and irrigation period 6 days interval. In general, superabsorbent polymer was able to increase irrigation period and this was evident in qualitative and quantitative results related to the valerian in the treatment of 300 gr/m2 with irrigation period 10 day and 100 g.m-2 of polymer 6 day irrigation period. The results showed that superabsorbent polymers can enhance plant performance by influencing plant metabolic processes and providing protection against environmental stresses. Their application reduces the adverse effects of stress, contributing to the preservation and improvement of the plant's economic yield.
Medicinal Plants
Mahdi moradi; Hossein Nastari Nasr-abadi; Mohammadnaser Modoodi; vahid shamsabadi
Abstract
Introduction
Moldavian balm (Dracocephalum moldavica L.) is an annual herbaceous plant that belongs to the Lamiaceae family. It is known for its production of essential oils and its medicinal-aromatic properties. Moldavian balm’s essential oil is used for food, cosmetics, flavorings, ...
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Introduction
Moldavian balm (Dracocephalum moldavica L.) is an annual herbaceous plant that belongs to the Lamiaceae family. It is known for its production of essential oils and its medicinal-aromatic properties. Moldavian balm’s essential oil is used for food, cosmetics, flavorings, and pharmaceutical purposes. Abiotic stresses include drought, soil salinity, flooding, extremes of temperature, and contamination with organic pollutants and heavy metals hamper plant growth and productivity. In recent decades, heavy metal (HM) pollution has spread across the natural and anthropic ecosystems posing inevitable, serious health risks. Soil microbiota plays an important role in the sustainable production of the different types of agrosystems. Mycorrhizae (a combination of mycelium of the fungus and the roots of the plant) form networks that capture water and nutrients from the soil, which facilitate the acquisition of the plant. Arbuscular Mycorrhizal (AM) fungi play a crucial role in mitigating the oxidative damage caused by heavy metal stress in different plant species. Thus, interaction between mycorrhizae, and plants can be an excellent strategy for sustainable agricultural production The aim of this study was to determine the effects of mycorrhizal arbuscular on improving heavy metal tolerance in moldavian balm, a medicinal and aromatic plant.
Materials and Methods
An experiment was conducted to study the effect of AM fungi on growth characteristics and quantitative and qualitative yield of Moldavian Balm, under heavy metals stress at Research Greenhouses of College of Agriculture, University of Torbat-e Jam. Treatments included mycorrhiza (inoculated and non-inoculated) and heavy metals including lead (0, 150 and 300 mg.kg-1) and cadmium (0, 40 and 80 mg.kg-1) which were arranged in factorial based on completely randomized design with 4 replication. Growth criteria, yield components, essential oil content and photosynthetic pigments were evaluated. In this study, different morphological traits (plant height, root length, root volume, stem diameter, leaf length, leaf width, leaf area, stem diameter, number of branches), vegetative parameters (fresh and dry weight biomass, root fresh and dry weight), photosynthetic pigment concentrations and essential oil content were measured. Data analysis of variance (ANOVA) was performed using IBM SAS software (Version 9.1) and the differences between the means were assessed using Duncan’s multiple range tests at p≤ 0.05.
Results and Discussion
Results showed that with increasing the concentration of heavy metals in the soil especially Cd, most of the growth characteristics and yield components of the study plant were significantly reduced as compared to those of controls. Mycorrhizal inoculation improved these traits where plants were grown under heavy metals stress. The highest biomass fresh and dry weight was observed in mycorrhizal plants grown in non-contaminated medium, which was significantly higher than those of the other treatments. The highest biomass fresh weight was recorded in non-stressed mycorrhizal plants. Biomass of fresh weight in non-mycorrhizal plants of Pb150 did not differ significantly from that of mycorrhizal plants of Pb150. Fresh weight biomass in mycorrhizal and non-mycorrhizal plants stressed by Cd40 or Cd80 was lower compared to mycorrhizal and non-mycorrhizal plants grown in non-contaminated media or contaminated media with Pb150 or Pb300. Furthermore, the lowest Fresh weight biomass was observed in non-mycorrhizal plants stressed by Cd80. Root fresh and dry weight of mycorrhizal plants was significantly higher than that of non-mycorrhizal plants. With increasing Cd or Pb concentration in soil, root fresh and dry weight decreased as compared to that of the controls. Inoculation with mycorrhizal improved the photosynthetic pigment concentrations under heavy metals stress. The highest percentage of essential oil content (1.3% v/w) was observed in mycorrhizal plants stressed by Pb150, while the lowest percentage (0.53% v/w) was evident in non-mycorrhizal plants polluted with Cd80. With increasing concentration of the heavy metals, essential oil of moldavian balm was significantly decreased, but the essential oil content in mycorrhizal plants was significantly higher than that measured in non-mycorrhizals.
Conclusions
AM fungi are widely believed to support plant establishment in soils contaminated with heavy metals, because of their potential to strengthen defense system of the AM mediated plants to promote growth and development. Mycorrhizal inoculation of moldavian balm promoted plant growth and, in addition, mycorrhization enhanced yield as well as active substances in this plant grown in the heavy metals stress condition. However, these approaches show promise in mitigating the adverse effects of heavy metals stress and improve the overall health and productivity of plants. Based on the enhanced physiological and biochemical responses, as well as increased essential oil content, it is recommended to use arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi fertilization under heavy metals stress.
Medicinal Plants
M. Kermani; Sh. Amirmoradi
Abstract
Introduction
Drought stress is one of the most important and most common limiting factors for plant growth in arid and semiarid regions. Asparagus (Asparagus afficinalis) is the most important species of asparagus and the fresh stem of this plant is harvested as its edible part and used as a vegetable ...
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Introduction
Drought stress is one of the most important and most common limiting factors for plant growth in arid and semiarid regions. Asparagus (Asparagus afficinalis) is the most important species of asparagus and the fresh stem of this plant is harvested as its edible part and used as a vegetable and medicine. Asparagus is very rich in vitamins, flavonoids, saponins, and glutathione, which have anti-cancer properties, protect nerve cells, and protect the heart. Asparagus is a herbaceous, perennial plant growing to 100–150 cm tall, with two types of stems. One of the stems called spear, which is edible and has no leaves. The second, called fern which has needle leaves and is non-edible. This plant has thick and fleshy roots called rhizome (crown), which is resistant to winter cold and can remain in the ground for up to 25 years and give economic crops for up to 10-15 years. According to some studies, commercial cultivars of asparagus are sensitive to abiotic stresses such as drought stress. Drought stress during the growth of fern can reduce the production of stored carbohydrates in the crown roots and lead to a decrease in yield in the next season. Also, drought stress increases the fiber and reduces the quality of asparagus. Mulch is any material that is spread or laid over the surface of the soil and used for reasons such as saving water consumption by reducing evaporation from the soil surface, controlling soil erosion, adjusting soil temperature, controlling the growth of weeds, and improving the absorption of soil nutrients. Several researches have reported that the use of mulch is effective in increasing the resistance of plants to drought stress and also reducing the negative effects of drought stress on yield and its components.
Materials and Methods
This research was conducted as a factorial experiment based on a randomized complete block design in three replications in the crop year of 2021-2022 in a two-year asparagus field near Mashhad city. The experimental factors were the types of mulch (barley straw, asparagus straw and plastic) and drought stress levels including irrigation after 50 mm (no stress), 70 mm (mild stress), 100 mm (moderate stress) and 150 mm (severe stress) evaporation from pan class A. Planting of transplants in the field was done manually on April 9 2021. Each experimental plot with dimensions of 4 x 10 meters included 4 rows with a distance of 100 cm and a distance of 50 cm between plants. Weeding was done manually. Fertilization was done according to the soil analysis and the recommendations of the soil science laboratory. The date of applying water stress was from April 4 to September 1 2022. The average of traits recorded in the first harvest (April 21) and the second harvest (September 6) were used for variance analysis. Data analysis was done using MSTAT-C software and mean comparisons were done using LSD method at 5% probability level. The graphs were drawn using Excel software.
Results and Discussion
The results showed that fresh stem yield, number of harvestable stems, stem length, stem diameter, stem fresh and dry weight, and total leaf chlorophyll content decreased and leaf proline content increased significantly at different levels of water stress. The content of leaf carotenoids also decreased significantly compared to the control only in severe water stress. The use of mulch in non-stressed conditions caused a significant increase in all studied traits except proline, so that asparagus straw with a 76% increase in stem yield was in the first place, and barley straw and plastic mulch were in the second and third places. Also, mulching reduced the negative effects of water stress on all traits, so that the non-use of mulch in mild, moderate and severe stress caused a 21%, 36% and 46% reduction in shoot yield, respectively, and the use of asparagus straw caused 10 %, 13% and 16% decrease in the yield of stems.
Conclusions
Water stress, as the most important factor of physiological limitation in plants, negatively affects growth, development and yield of plants. The use of plant residue mulches, especially asparagus straw, between the rows of asparagus cultivation can increase the yield in conditions without drought stress, and in drought stress conditions. the yield can be protected from the negative effects of stress to a large extent.
Medicinal Plants
M. Yadegari
Abstract
Introduction
Satureja bachtiarica is one of the important endemic species and is used in medicinal and food industries. This plant is rich in essential oil, flavonoids, monoterpene glycosides and trypanocidal terpenoids. The main compounds of the essential oil from S.bachtiarica L. collected from natural ...
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Introduction
Satureja bachtiarica is one of the important endemic species and is used in medicinal and food industries. This plant is rich in essential oil, flavonoids, monoterpene glycosides and trypanocidal terpenoids. The main compounds of the essential oil from S.bachtiarica L. collected from natural habitats are alpha-pinene, p-cymene, carvacrol and gamma-terpinene. The environmental factors cause changes in the growth, quantity, and quality of active substances (such as alkaloids, glycosides, steroids and volatile oils) in medicinal and aromatic plants. Among environmental stresses, water deficit plays an important role in the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites in medicinal and aromatic plants in arid and semi-arid regions like Iran. Drought stress has detrimental effects on growth and yield and can upset the balance between the antioxidant defense system and free radicals by stimulating a series of biochemical reactions, where free radicals cause cell damage. In sustainable production systems of medicinal and aromatic plants, stable quantitative and qualitative functions can be achieved under conditions of environmental stress and it is possible to improve the production of secondary metabolites in these plants under adverse environmental conditions. Therefore, this study was done to evaluate the amino acids on the physiological and phytochemical properties of S. bachtiarica to determine and introduce the best amino acids under water stress.
Materials and Methods
This investigation was done from spring (May) 2022 to fall (September) 2023 at the Research Farm of Islamic Azad University, Branch of Shahrekord (latitude. 32°20′ N, longitude. 50°51′ E, altitude. 2061 m). Based on the Köppen climate classification, the climate of the study area is classified as cold and semiarid. This study was conducted in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) as a split plot layout with three replications. Irrigation regimes (3-day, 6-day, and 9-day intervals) were assigned as the main plots, while the foliar application of amino acids (methionine, lysine, phenylalanine, and proline) was designated as the subplots. In each year, treatments were applied at 3 stages (3 months after sowing, end of vegetation, before flowering, beginning of flowering and early flowering) and harvesting was done in the complete flowering stage. Weed control was applied manually during the entire experiment. During the experiment, no fertilizer and no systemic pesticide and herbicide were used. The harvested shoots were transferred to the laboratory for extracting and analysis of the leaves and stems of treated plants. For assessment of the total chlorophyll content of S. bachtiarica, the leaves were extracted with 80% acetone. The absorbance of the extraction was read at 470, 648, and 664 nm, and the content of total chlorophyll was calculated as mg per g leaf dry weight. Total phenol content was measured by the Folin-Ciocalteu reagent as reported by Singleton and Rossi. The total phenol content was expressed as mg of gallic acid equivalent per g leaf dry weight according to standard curves of gallic acid. The essential oils were extracted by hydro-distillation and analyzed using GC/MS.
Results and Discussion
Applied amino acids significantly influenced the morpho-physiological and phytochemical characters of Satureja bachtiarica. In two years, the highest chlorophyll content (1.41-1.54 mg.g-1 FW) and total phenol content (2.45-2.72 mg.g-1 FW) were obtained in methionine (2.5 g.l-1) and phenylalanine (100 µM) treatments by irrigation regimes 3-day interval. The highest essential oil contents (1.09-1.61 %) were obtained from the plants treated by methionine (2.5 g.l-1) and phenylalanine (100 µM) treatments by irrigation regime 3 days interval. The main chemical compounds of essential oil were P-cymene (17.12-19.45 %), gamma-terpinene (18.14-16.87 %) and Carvacrol (45.12-51.24 %) belonging to cyclic monoterpenes. The treatments had significant effectiveness on cyclic monoterpens such as alpha-terpinene, gamma-terpinene, germacren-d, carvacrol, thymol and p-cymene. Increasing of essential oil content/composition by use of amino acids was seen. The main components of essential oil in plants treated by proline were lesser than other treated plants. In two years of this research amino acids of methionine and phenylalanine mad the most amounts of carvacrol and essential oil content. The monoterpene alcohols in volatile oils of the treated plants with amino acids elicitors considerably were higher than the sesquiterpenes. According to the ratio of monoterpenes alcohol to sesquiterpenes in volatile oils of the treated S. bachtiarica with different elicitors, the foliar application of amino acids can improve the odor quality of S. bachtiarica volatile oil.
Conclusions
Foliar application of methionine (2.5 g.l-1) and phenylalanine (100 µM) treatments better than other treatments increased the morpho-physiological and essential oil attributes. Environmental conditions such as drought play a key role in plant growth and biosynthesis of different metabolic compounds. The observed variation in shoot yield and phytochemical content of S. bachtiarica during the studied years may related to differences in photoperiod, temperature, solar radiation, precipitation and occurrence of biotic and abiotic stresses at different growing seasons. Also amino acids had very important effectiveness on content/composition of essential oil of S. bachtiarica. Generally, treats of methionine and phenylalanine can be a good strategy to improve morpho-physiological characteristics and essential oil quantity and quality of S. bachtiarica in the same climate.
Medicinal Plants
S. Tandisseh Bana; A.R. Astaraei; A. Lakzian
Abstract
IntroductionSaline soils due to lack of organic matter and poor physicochemical properties and subsequent lack of moisture, usually having poor vegetation. The use of organic fertilizers in saline soils, can improve the growth and tolerance of plants under salinity conditions by improving the physical ...
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IntroductionSaline soils due to lack of organic matter and poor physicochemical properties and subsequent lack of moisture, usually having poor vegetation. The use of organic fertilizers in saline soils, can improve the growth and tolerance of plants under salinity conditions by improving the physical and chemical properties of the soil. For this purpose, this research was carried out with two types of organic fertilizers to modify saline soil properties along with humic acid foliar application as a stimulant for the growth of the Stevia (Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni.) plant. The experimental factors included the first factor: 1) control (without organic fertilizer), 2) vermi compost (20 ton.ha-1), 3) vermi compost (40 ton.ha-1), 4) Spent Mushroom Compost (SMC) (20 ton.ha-1), 5) Spent Mushroom Compost (40 ton.ha-1), and the second factor was foliar spraying of humic acid at two levels of 0 and 0.1% in a Completely Randomized Design (factorial) with three replications. Photosynthesis rate, leaf area, plant dry weight, pH, salinity, bulk density and soil organic carbon were investigated in order to determine the most effective organic matter treatment under soil salinity stress conditions. Results showed that SMC significantly decreased soil pH, bulk density, but increased electrical conductivity and soil organic carbon. Leaf area was reduced but total phenol, chlorophyll a, b, total and carotenoid were increased resulting in significant increase in the dry weight of Stevia plants in saline soil. The highest dry weight of the plant was obtained with application of 40 tons.ha-1 of SMC fertilizer and humic acid foliar, which was 45.12% more than the control (without fertilizer). Therefore, SMC fertilizer can be a suitable remediator for saline soil, humic acid spray also had a significant positive effect if used along with SMC soil application. Materials and MethodsThis experiment was conducted as a completely randomized design (factorial) in boxes (dimensions 30x40x30 cm) containing natural saline soil (EC=10.15 dS.m-1) under natural agronomic conditions at The Ferdowsi University of Mashhad with three replications from July to January, 2018. Experimental factors were included the first factor: 1) control (without organic fertilizer), 2) vermicompost 20 tons/ha, 3) vermicompost 40 ton.ha-1, 4) Spent mushroom compost 20 ton.ha-1, 5) Spent mushroom compost 40 tons per hectare and the second factor: foliar spraying of humic acid at two levels of zero and 0.1%. A soil sample was collected from Kushk region of Neyshabur city with desired salinity (ECe=10.15 dS.m-1) and some physical and chemical properties of soil and organic fertilizers were measured before the experiment. Organic fertilizers after mixing with the experimental soil, were added to the plastic boxes according to the amount of each treatment. Two seedlings were planted in each plastic box, maintaining a spacing of 20 cm. Irrigation was carried out daily using tap water. One month after the stevia plants had adapted to the climatic conditions of Mashhad, foliar application of humic acid was performed in three stages at 20-day intervals. After plant physiological maturity stage some parameters including plant dry weight, leaf area, total plant phenol, amount of chlorophyll a, b, carotenoid, total plant chlorophyll, and soil organic carbon, bulk density, salinity, and soil pH, were determined after plant harvest. The dry weight of the stevia plant was obtained by weighing the plants after drying in an oven for 48 hours at 70°C. Statistical analysis of data was performed by JMP software version 0.8, drawing graphs using Excel software and comparing average data using LSD test at significance levels 1 and 5 percent. Results and DiscussionResults showed that the SMC fertilizeralone and in combination with HA foliar application significantly increased the dry weight of the stevia plant compared to the control through improving saline soil physical and chemical properties like pH, OC, soil bulk density. These improvements resulted in some improvement in photosynthetic pigments and total phenol. The highest dry weight of stevia plant was obtained with application of 40 ton/ha of SMC fertilizer and humic acid 0.1% leaf spraying. ConclusionsAccording to the results of this research, application of SMC fertilizer with and without foliar application of humic acid was able to significantly increase the dry weight of the stevia plant compared to the control (without fertilizer) through modifying the physical and chemical properties of saline soil (pH, OC, bulk density) and some phytochemical properties of the plant (Photosynthetic pigments and total phenol). Application of VC fertilizer was not successful. Even though humic acid foliar application increased the total plant phenol, it could not improve the growth of the plant in saline soil alone, but it could increase the dry weight of the plant only with application of SMC fertilizer. Thus, the highest dry weight of stevia plant was obtained with application of 40 ton/ha of SMC fertilizer and humic acid spraying.Therefore, it is suggested that in order to achieve proper performance (≥80%) and improvement in the physiological and morphological characteristics of the stevia plant in very saline soil (ECe≥10 dS.m-1), it is necessary to use 40 ton.ha-1 or more of mushroom compost waste. It should be used in saline soil three to six months before cultivation and 0.1% humic acid foliar spraying should be done three times with an interval of 20 days.
Medicinal Plants
F. Rezvani Nia; S. Zamani; M.T. Ebadi
Abstract
Introduction
The increasing use of medicinal, aromatic plants and spices has increased the economic production, value and trade of these plants. Ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe.) is a perennial rhizome plant which is considered as the most important spice in the global trade. Ginger rhizome has bioactive ...
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Introduction
The increasing use of medicinal, aromatic plants and spices has increased the economic production, value and trade of these plants. Ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe.) is a perennial rhizome plant which is considered as the most important spice in the global trade. Ginger rhizome has bioactive compounds such as phenolic compounds and essential oil. Essential oil (including zingiberene, α and β-pinene, camphene etc.) is responsible for the aroma of ginger. Important phenolic compounds of ginger include Gingerol, Shogaol, Paradol, and Zingerone, which are responsible for the spicy taste of ginger. Ginger has important effects such as anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antimicrobial, antilipemic, anti-obesity, anti-diabetes, anti-nausea, and liver protective activities, improving digestive problems, etc. In addition to medicine, ginger rhizome is widely used as a spice and flavoring in foods, drinks, etc., and is also defined as a dietary supplement by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). In this study, while examining and analyzing the world market of this valuable spice, Iran's production potentials were examined to supply internal needs and enter to the export section.
Materials and Methods
In this research, the data on the production and trade of ginger was evaluated using the codes determined in the Harmonized System (HS codes 091010, 091011 and 091012). The area harvest, production amount, yield and the top producing countries were extracted from the statistics section of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). The export and import trade data of ginger in Iran and the world, the top exporting and importing countries during 2010-2022 years were evaluated using the World Trade Center data.
Results and Discussion
According to the obtained assessments, the total production of ginger in the world has increased from 1.718.571 tons in 2010 with an increase of 183% to 4.874.216 tons in 2022, and India, Nigeria, China, Nepal, and Indonesia are among the main ginger producer countries in the world during these years. Also, the investigation of the global trade of ginger showed that the export of this product increased from about 655.9 million dollars in 2010 with a growth of 37% to 900.5 million dollars in 2022, and the import value also increased by 97%, from 568.7 million dollars in 2010 to 1.125 billion dollars, which indicates an increase in the global trade of this product. China, Netherlands, India, Peru, and Thailand were the top exporters while America, Japan, Netherlands, Germany, and Pakistan as the top importers of ginger. The analysis of Iran statistics showed that the total export value of ginger was 15.000 dollars in 2022, while the amount of import reached 36.6 million dollars from 1.35 million dollars in 2010, which shows an increase of 4.7 folds the import volume of this product. Iraq and Azerbaijan were the destinations of ginger exported from Iran, and the origins of ginger imported to Iran were China, United Arab Emirates, and India. In Iran, Tehran province was the only ginger-producer province in the country, which produced 23 tons of ginger with 0.3 ha of area in greenhouse conditions. Price fluctuations of ginger produced in countries such as the USA, China, Brazil and Peru and offered in the USA market in 2022 were investigated. The price of ginger varies throughout the year due to factors such as supply, demand, weather conditions and market dynamics. The highest ginger price ($9.19) was recorded for American ginger in the USA market from August 19 to September 14, and it still had a high price in the cold season. As mentioned, ginger is one of the most important spices in global trade and has a high value in global export and import. In Iran, production less than the internal demand has caused a significant increase in imports compared to exports. Therefore, according to the evaluation and success of the cultivation of similar products in the country, the existence of wide areas harvested and favorable weather conditions, especially in provinces such as Sistan & Baluchestan, and Hormozgan, it is suggested to pay attention to the cultivation of ginger to supply internal markets and achieve extensive exports. Also, according to the area under greenhouses cultivation, which is 24,000 hectares, taking into account the average production of 10 tons of ginger per hectare, if only 10% of the existing greenhouse cultivation is dedicated to ginger production, it is possible to produce 24,000 tons of fresh ginger, which will fully meet domestic needs and provide the export.
Conclusions
Global ginger production and trade grew significantly from 2010 to 2022, led by producers like India, Nigeria, and China, and top exporters like China, the Netherlands, and India. Iran’s ginger imports rose due to limited local production, and this underscored the potential for cultivation in regions such as Sistan & Baluchestan and Hormozgan. In addition, utilizing greenhouse capacity could meet domestic demand and boost exports, integrating Iran into the global ginger market.
Medicinal Plants
S. Mohtashami; H. Gholami; A. Ghani; M. Kamalizadeh
Abstract
IntroductionOptimum nutrition of plants and reducing the effect of lack of important nutrients is one of the most effective factors on the production of all plants; so, it is one of the main pillars in improving the quantitative and qualitative attributes of the product. In order to achieve optimal yield ...
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IntroductionOptimum nutrition of plants and reducing the effect of lack of important nutrients is one of the most effective factors on the production of all plants; so, it is one of the main pillars in improving the quantitative and qualitative attributes of the product. In order to achieve optimal yield with proper nutrition of the plant, each element must be provided to the plant sufficiently, and there must also be a balance between the absorbable amounts of elements in the soil. Securigera securidaca is one of the medicinal plants belonging to the Fabaceae family. There are many records about the traditional use of this plant and its seeds. Its seeds have antiparasitic, anticonvulsant, antihypertensive, antiulcer, analgesic, antioxidant, antiviral, antitumor and hypoglycemic effects have been reviewed. Considering the climatic conditions of Iran and its high potential in the production of medicinal plants and its economic justification; it is very necessary to pay attention to the nutrition of medicinal plants due to their different growth conditions with other crops and its effect on their growth and effective substances. Materials and MethodsIn this research, in order to evaluate the response of the Hatchet vetch plant (Securigera securidaca) to different levels of phosphorus and zinc foliar application, a factorial experiment was conducted in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with two factors and three replications. The treatments include four levels of phosphorus (0, 50, 100 and 150 kg.h-1) and three levels of zinc foliar application during the flowering period (no foliar application as a control, foliar application: each two weeks once and once a week). Zinc foliar spraying was done with a concentration of 4 g per liter during before flowering to the formation of the pods (about one month), which was done twice and four times for the two-weekly and once-a-week treatments, respectively. This research was carried out in Mohammad Abad area of Jahrom city located in Fars province. The most important indicators of growth and yield were measured including: shoot number, length of main stem, number of pods per plant, number of seeds per pod, pod length and seed yield. Also, the most important biochemical characteristics of seed extract (flavon and flavonol, total flavonoid, total phenolic compounds, tannin content and antioxidant activity), oil percentage and seed oil yield were also measured. Results and DiscussionBased on the results obtained from the variance analysis of the data, the effect of phosphorus and zinc on all measured traits was significant except for the number of seeds in pods and pod length. The results showed that the application of phosphorus alone was more effective than the combined application of phosphorus and zinc in increasing the number of stems, main stem length, seed yield, oil yield, the amount of flavonoids and antioxidant activity of Hatchet vetch plant seeds. The application of 50 kg of phosphorus increased the number of stems, the length of the main stem, the number of pods per plant, the yield of seeds, amount of phenolic compounds and oil yield of seed. While the use of 100 kg of phosphorus without the use of zinc was more effective in increasing the amount of flavonoid and antioxidant activity. However, the application of zinc was effective in increasing phenolic compounds, tannin content, oil percentage and seed yield. The interaction effect of the treatments showed that the highest seed yield (61.03 g.m-2) was related to 50 kg of phosphorus without zinc foliar spraying, while the lowest amount (32.01 g) was observed in 50 kg of phosphorus and zinc solution once a week treatment. The highest amount of total flavonoid (3.58 mg.g-1 dry weight) was found in the treatment of 100 kg of phosphorus without the application of zinc. While the lowest amount (1.11 and 1.24 mg) was observed in treatments without phosphorus (spraying zinc solution once every two weeks and once a week), respectively. In the treatments of 100 and 150 kg of phosphorus, increasing the frequency of zinc foliar spraying has reduced the amount of phenolic compounds in the seeds of this plant. Although this decrease is not significant statistically. Also, in the control, 50 and 150 kg of phosphorus treatments, increasing the frequency of zinc foliar spraying had no effect on the change of its antioxidant activity, while in the treatment of 100 kg of phosphorus fertilizer, increasing the frequency of zinc foliar spraying decreased the antioxidant activity of the seed extract of this plant. ConclusionsIn general, according to the conditions in this research, despite the differences that were seen in the measured traits in response to the amounts of phosphorus and zinc, the concentration of 50 kg of phosphorus and foliar spraying of zinc once every two weeks, in most of the traits were satisfactory compared to other treatments.
Medicinal Plants
S. Sadeqifard; M. Azizi; S. Karimi Zinkanlu
Abstract
IntroductionGrowth regulators play a vital role in developmental stages of plants and their use can be improved the yield of crops. One of the most important compounds that used as growth regulators in recent years is salicylic acid. The application of salicylic acid in the activation of systemic acquired ...
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IntroductionGrowth regulators play a vital role in developmental stages of plants and their use can be improved the yield of crops. One of the most important compounds that used as growth regulators in recent years is salicylic acid. The application of salicylic acid in the activation of systemic acquired resistance, and metabolite synthesis and antioxidant enzymes has been proved. Also, salicylic acid as a natural compound has potential to prevent ethylene production and its effect. In order to evaluate the effect of salicylic acid in different concentration on yield and oils content of Ziziphora, a split plot experiment with three replications during 2014-2015 in the field of Agricultural Faculty of Shirvan and Ferdowsi University of Mashhad laboratories was conducted. Materials and MethodsThis research was conducted during 2014-2015 under field conditions in a split plot design in time, at Shirvan Agricultural Research Station (latitude 40 º / 37, longitude 93 º / 57 and with a height of 1097 m above sea level) and in laboratory Department of Horticultural Sciences, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad. Each plot had an area of 4 square meters in furrow planting way which the distance between rows were 50 cm and on rows 15 cm and were carried out on 25 March 2014. Irrigation was carried out immediately after planting, and a second irrigation was done 20 days later, once the seeds had germinated. Irrigation and weed control are also done manually once a week. Salicylic acid (Sigma Aldrich, 99.5%) in the three phases of plant growth (The onset of vegetative growth, throughout vegetative growth, and at the flowering stage), at concentrations (0, 10-2, 10-4 and 10-6 M) in three repeats were sprayed. The first spraying (The onset of vegetative growth) was done on April 3, 2014, the second spraying (throughout vegetative growth) on May 4, and the third (at the flowering stage) in early June 2014. The plants were harvested on July 20. To measure the dry weight of the plants, the samples were dried in the shade for a week. Essential oil content was determined using a 30-gram dry sample in 500 ml of water through hydro-distillation with a Clevenger apparatus for 4 hours. For biochemical characteristics first samples extract were obtained. To prepare extracts, dry samples were milled then one gram of each sample was transferred to the 50 ml Erlen and 10 ml of 80% methanol was added and shaken for 24 hours. After 24 hours the extract was filtered using filter paper then used for measuring phenols, flavonoids and antioxidant activity. Phenol measurement: phenolic content was measured using the Folin reagent. In 5.0 mL of each extract (10 milligrams per ml) 5.2 ml Folin reagent was added. After five minutes, 300 ml of a molar sodium carbonate solution is added and maintained in a 40 °C bath for 30 minutes. The sample absorbance at 760 nm was measured by a spectrophotometer against the blank. Gallic acid was used as the standard for calibration curve. Flavonoids measurement: Flavonoid content of the samples were measured using aluminum chloride reagent. In 5.0 ml of methanol extract (10 milligrams per ml), 5.1 ml of methanol, 1.0 ml of 10% aluminum chloride, 1.0 ml of a molar potassium acetate and 8.2 ml of distilled water was added. The mixture kept in dark for 30 minutes and absorbance at a wavelength of 415 nm was read against the blank. Quercetin was used as the standard for calibration curve evaluation. JMP statistical software was used to analyze the data. Results and DiscussionBased on the results, the application of salicylic acid significantly affected fresh and dry weight, plant height, and phenol and flavonoid content (P < 0.01), but had no significant effect on essential oil percentage or yield. The highest fresh weight (264.763 grams per square meter) and dry weight (93.11 grams per square meter) were obtained with the application of 10⁻² molar salicylic acid during vegetative growth, while the lowest fresh and dry herb yields were observed in the control group. Maximum height of plants (29.01 cm) was related to 10-2 M salicylic acid during vegetative growth and the lowest of plant height (23/24 cm) was related to control treatment at the time of flowering. The highest amount of phenols (0.504 mg equivalents gallic acid per gram of dry weight) was detected in plants treated with 10-2 M salicylic acid during vegetative growth and the lowest phenols (0.248 mg equivalents gallic acid per gram of dry weight) was reported in 10-2M salicylic acid and during vegetative growth. The highest amount of flavonoids (0.31 mg equivalent Quercetin per gram of dry weight) was obtained in 10-4 M salicylic acid treatments during vegetative growth and the lowest of them (0.176 mg equivalent Quercetin per gram of dry weight) was in 10-6 M salicylic acid treatment at the beginning of vegetative growth. ConclusionsIn conclusion the results showed that the highest amount of fresh and dry weight and plant height was under the conditions of 10-2 M salicylic acid concentration and during vegetative growth and the best yield of essential oils, phenols and flavonoids in during vegetative growth and 10-4M salicylic acid concentration was obtained.
Medicinal Plants
B. Rahimkhani; M. Naseri; A. Ahmadian; M. Alipanah
Abstract
Introduction
Historically, medicinal plants have been one of the most important resources for therapeutic purposes, and even today, their use is expanding in many developed countries. Salinity stress is a major factor that limits plant growth by reducing metabolic and physiological activities. One of ...
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Introduction
Historically, medicinal plants have been one of the most important resources for therapeutic purposes, and even today, their use is expanding in many developed countries. Salinity stress is a major factor that limits plant growth by reducing metabolic and physiological activities. One of the effects of salinity stress is the increased production of abscisic acid in plants. In recent years, the use of seaweed and its extracts has been tested as a method to mitigate the effects of salinity stress on plants. According to the studies conducted in some plants, seaweed extract can cause the growth and expansion of the roots and help to increase the absorption of water and minerals through the roots. Also, based on the research conducted on some plants, the use of seaweed increases the amount of chlorophyll in the plant and accelerates the time of flowering and fruit formation in the plant. Echium amoenum is a perennial plant belonging to the family Borage is a valuable plant in terms of its medicinal properties is considered. In general environmental factors have a significant effect on flower production in these plants. Therefore, for the successful cultivation of medicinal plants, including in general environmental factors have a significant effect on flower production in these plants. Therefore, for the successful cultivation of medicinal plants, including Echium amoenum, providing optimal environmental conditions is a priority, providing optimal environmental conditions is a priority. Ascophyllum nodosum seaweed extract contains significant amounts of high-use mineral elements such as nitrogen, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and low-use mineral elements such as iron, copper, and manganese. Therefore, according to the current results, in this study, the effect of foliar spraying of algae extract was investigated. The morphological characteristics of Echium amoenum seedling under salt stress were investigated
Materials and Methods
In order to investigate the effects of foliar spraying of seaweed extract on borage flower seedlings under salinity stress conditions, a factorial experiment was conducted with two factors of seaweed and salinity stress with sodium chloride salt, in the form of a completely randomized design in the greenhouse. The seeds were purchased from Pakan Seed Company of Isfahan and soaked in normal water for 24 hours, and then they were transferred into small pots containing three parts of peat moss and one part of perlite. One week after transferring the seedlings to the main pots, foliar spraying with seaweed extract was done. Foliar-spraying was repeated once every two weeks and in total the seedlings were sprayed three times with seaweed extract. In this experiment, a concentration of 1500 ppm of seaweed extract and three levels of salinity (EC=1.6, 4, 8) were used. The seaweed extract used in this experiment belonged to Akadin Company. The type of seaweed from which the extract was prepared was Ascophyllum nodosum and it is a type of brown algae. One week after the first foliar application of seaweed extracts, the application of salinity stress began. In order to prevent shock in plants, salinity treatment was done gradually and in three stages. In order to prevent salt accumulation, washing with ordinary water was done once every two weeks.
Results and Discussion
The results showed that the use of seaweed extract can significantly protect plant growth under salinity stress. Seaweed extract increased the amount of proline and potassium in the leaves of the plant and thereby reduced the harmful effects of salinity stress on the borage plant. In addition, foliar spraying of borage plant with the use of seaweed extract increased the amount of chlorophyll in the plant, and in this way, by increasing the amount of photosynthesis in the plant; it helped the plant to grow better under salt stress conditions. The results of this research indicate that the use of seaweed extract helps plants maintain their health under salt stress by increasing proline levels and enhancing potassium absorption in plant tissues. Additionally, foliar spraying with seaweed extract preserves the chlorophyll structure in plants experiencing salinity stress, thereby increasing photosynthetic efficiency and promoting better growth under such conditions.
Conclusions
Based on the results obtained, it can be concluded that seaweed can mitigate the negative effects of salinity stress in Iranian borage seedlings. Furthermore, due to its low cost and availability, it can serve as a suitable bio-fertilizer to support plant growth in saline conditions.
Medicinal Plants
M. Kakaei
Abstract
Introduction and Objective
The garlic (Allium sativum) is a plant that is known all over the world as a food additive or flavoring and also because of its medicinal properties. Garlic is chemically diverse, and many compounds have been extracted and tested from it, including Allicin, diallyl sulfides, ...
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Introduction and Objective
The garlic (Allium sativum) is a plant that is known all over the world as a food additive or flavoring and also because of its medicinal properties. Garlic is chemically diverse, and many compounds have been extracted and tested from it, including Allicin, diallyl sulfides, and ajoene, which are probably the most studied compounds in garlic. Garlic has antibacterial activity, cardiovascular effect, stimulation of the immune system and also has an effect on cancer. Therefore, given the statistics on rainfall and the excessive extraction pressure on underground water sources, large-scale research on drought in agriculture is essential. Drought is a significant limiting factor in agricultural production, preventing maximum plant yield. Thus, comparing performance in various environmental conditions (stressed and non-stressed) and selecting cultivars under such conditions can help evaluate their resistance to stress. Drought and water limitation are among the most important problems affecting the agricultural sector to increase the efficiency and optimal production of crops in the world, including Iran. Successful crossing of land requires research and applied research in this sector. But few studies have been performed in connection with garlic medicinal plant. Therefore, the present study was designed and implemented with the aim of investigating yeild indicators in two environmental conditions (environment with supplemental irrigation and dry environment) in garlic plant with the help of drought tolerance indicators.
Materials and Methods
In this research, in order to investigate the genetic diversity of garlic ecotypes, sieve and to identify resistant ecotypes in dry land, 6 garlic ecotypes with the arrangement of randomized complete blocks design with three replications in the crop year 2023 in two stress environmental conditions drought and without drought stress was designed and implemented in the educational-research farm of Payame Noor University in Asadabad. The studied drought tolerance indices are: yield index (YI), stress tolerance index (STI), harmonic mean index (HAM), average productivity index (MP), yield stability index (YSI), sensitivity index to stress (SSI) and tolerance index (TOL) were based on the economic yield of garlic in two environmental conditions of drought stress and without drought stress. Correlation was calculated between tolerance indices and yield under drought stress conditions and supplementary irrigation conditions, and based on the analysis of these correlations, tolerance indices were selected and the most appropriate indices were selected in both environmental conditions, including drought stress conditions and supplementary irrigation that had a good correlation with yield were selected. Finally, after identifying the most favorable indicators, a three-dimensional statistical graph was used to determine drought-tolerant cultivars with high yield in both environmental conditions, in which the yield in supplementary irrigation conditions on the X-axis, the yield in stress conditions (rain) was shown on the Z-axis and one of the above-mentioned selected indicators on the Y-axis. To show the relationship between three variables and distinguish group A from other groups (B, C and D) as well as the usefulness of the mentioned index as a criterion for selecting cultivars with high yield and tolerance to drought, X-Z level by drawing cross lines to four groups A, B, C and D were divided and because in a three-dimensional diagram only the relationship between three variables can be evaluated, to study more than three variables at the same time, bi-plot diagrammatic display based on analyzes Multi-variables were drawn with the help of the digit-index data matrix to determine the relationships between digits and drought tolerance indices in a single image. Before performing data analysis, the presence of outliers was checked. Statistical analysis of the data was done using Minitab version 15 and SPSS version 26.
Results and Discussion
Based on the results of analysis of variance, the yield index in normal humidity conditions and the yield index in drought stress conditions were significant at the probability level of one percent (P≤1%). In this study, STI, SSI, MP, GMP, HAM, YI, YSI, DI and STS indicators were significant at the probability level of one percent (P≤1%), which indicates the diversity among ecotypes. garlic in terms of the studied indicators. Based on the decomposition into main components for drought tolerance indices, both the first and second components justify 94% of the changes. According to the correlation table, the correlation between yield in normal humidity conditions (Yp) with yield traits in drought stress conditions (Ys) and MP, GMP, HAM, YI, ATI, YSI and STS indicators has a positive and significant correlation. be in the bi-plot diagram, ecotypes Bahar2 and Soolan are located near STI, ATI, GMP and MP indicators, which are indicators of drought tolerance. These two ecotypes (Bahar2 and Soolan) are also located in they were placed in the first group, so it can be concluded that according to the biplot diagram, these ecotypes were desirable and indicative ecotypes. Based on cluster analysis, ecotypes are classified into two statistical groups, the first group includes ecotypes Maryanaj, Bahar1 and Emam zadeh koh (Toeejin), and the second group includes ecotypes Bahar2 and Soolan and Asadabad. Ecotypes with lower yield are placed in the first group and ecotypes with higher and more suitable yield are placed in the second group.
Conclusion
Based on all the statistical analyses used in the research, the Bahar2 and Soolan ecotypes had the highest biomass yield. The overall results of this research indicated the very important and useful role of drought tolerance indices in differentiating the studied ecotypes.
Medicinal Plants
F. Rezvaninia; M.T. Ebadi; N. Safaie
Abstract
Introduction
Ginger (Zingiber officinale) is a perennial and monocotyledonous medicinal and spice plant, whose rhizome, essential oil and extract are of interest, and this plant has wide uses in various industries. The origin of ginger is Southeast Asia and possibly India. This plant is mainly cultivated ...
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Introduction
Ginger (Zingiber officinale) is a perennial and monocotyledonous medicinal and spice plant, whose rhizome, essential oil and extract are of interest, and this plant has wide uses in various industries. The origin of ginger is Southeast Asia and possibly India. This plant is mainly cultivated as an annual and the rhizome or the underground stem is the used part. It should be noted that the use of biological fertilizers can improve the growth and yield of plants and is also the most natural and best way to keep soil systems healthy. In addition, benefiting from natural solutions instead of using chemicals reduces pollution and destruction of biological resources. The use of Arbuscular mycorrhizal and Trichoderma fungi can leads to a reduction in the consumption of fertilizers and fungicides and an increase in yield, and also reduces production costs and is compatible with environmental principles. Therefore, the main purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of Trichoderma harizanum, mycorrhiza (Glomus etunicatum and G. fasciculatum) and the combined treatment of fungi (G. etunicatum + T. harizanum, G. fasciculitum + T. harizanum) on the growth parameters, rhizome yield and active substances of ginger.
Materials and Methods
This research was conducted as a factorial experiment based on a completely random design in the research greenhouse of the Faculty of Agriculture, Tarbiat Modares University. The rhizomes were transferred to the greenhouse and cultivated in pots with amended soil. These plants were inoculated with Trichoderma (T. harizanum), Mycorrhiza (G. etunicatum and G. fasciculatum) and combined treatment of fungi (G. etunicatum + T. harizanum, G. fasciculatum + T. harizanum). During the growing season and harvesting, the morphological characteristics and rhizomes yield were evaluated, and then the essential oil content and composition, the amount of fiber and the color of the rhizomes and precisely. The effect of treatments on ginger stem traits contains: Stem Fresh Weight (g), Stem Dry Weight (g), Number of Stems and Stem Length (cm), Leaf Traits contains: Leaf Dry Weight (g), Leaf Fresh Weight (g), Number of Leafs, Greenness Index, Rhizome Traits contains: Rhizome Dry Weight (g), Rhizome Fresh Weight (g), Darkness/Lightnees Indicator, Yellow/Blue Indicator, Rhizome Crude Fiber (%), Essential oil Traits contains: Essential oil Percentage, Essential oil Yield were investigated. Abbreviation of treatments include contains: Control, M1 (G. fasciculatum), M2 (G. etunicatum), T1 (T. harizanum), M1T1 (G. fasciculitum + T. harizanum) and M2T1 (G. etunicatum + T. harizanum).
Results and Discussion
The results showed that the inoculation with G. etunicatum had the highest value of stem length (35.68 cm), fresh and dry weight of the stem (22 and 10.2 g), Spad index (18.17), fresh and dry weight of leaves (34.46 and 8.96 g), number of leaves (9.46) and fiber content of rhizome (4.28%). Also, the highest number of stems, darkness/brightness index and yellow/blue color index of rhizome were observed in the control treatment with values of 7.16, 73.29 and 98.6 respectively. The highest fresh and dry weight of rhizome (35.5 and 5.2 g) were observed in the inoculation with G. fasciculitum treatment and the highest percentage of essential oil (0.4) was observed under the combined treatment of the inoculation with G. etunicatum. Camphene, 1,8-cineole, neral and geranial were identified as the main compounds of essential oil and the amounts of these compounds in the inoculation treatment with fungi were more than the control. In general, this research showed that the inoculation of rhizomes with G. etunicatum resulted in achieving the desired growth characteristics, rhizome yield and active substances in ginger. Camphene, 1,8-cineole, neral and geranial were identified as the main compounds of essential oil and the amounts of these compounds in the inoculation treatment with fungi were more than the control.
Conclusion
In general, this research showed that the inoculation of rhizomes with G. etunicatum resulted in achieving the desired growth characteristics, rhizome yield and active substances in ginger.
Medicinal Plants
Z. Safaei; M. Azizi; Gh. Davarinejad; H. Arouiee
Abstract
IntroductionThe ever-increasing tendency to the use of medicinal plants in the world has grown concerns about their cultivation and production processes. As medicinal plants are more compatible with the nature, special interest and attention has recently been given to herb therapy, and use of medicinal ...
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IntroductionThe ever-increasing tendency to the use of medicinal plants in the world has grown concerns about their cultivation and production processes. As medicinal plants are more compatible with the nature, special interest and attention has recently been given to herb therapy, and use of medicinal plants, being limited by the rise of pharmaceutical drugs, has become again common and widespread due to a number of reasons. Nigella sativa L. is one of the herbs that has a variety of uses and has been being used in iran’s traditional medicine since old times. Today this plant is considered as one of the most important kinds of medicine. Therefore, it is of great importance to conduct some researches on the herbs around the country due to different ecological requirements. N. sativa belonging to buttercup family, with the scientific name of Ranunculaceae, is an annual, dicotyledonous, herbaceous plant. In several studies, N. sativa has been reported to have anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory, strengthening of immune system, and anti-histamine and oil extract properties. Furthermore, several effects such as lowering blood sugar, lipids, and hypertension, excretion of bile and uric acid, protection of liver, kidney and cardiovascular tissues as well as anti-seizure, anti-cancer, anti-microbial and anti-parasitic effects related to this plant have been reported. The aim of the present study is to improve the yield and yield components and oil of medicinal plant N. sativa by anti-transpiration compounds under drought stress conditions. Materials and MethodsAn experiment was conducted at Research Station,Faculty of Agriculture, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, in 2012-2013. The research was performed using a split plot experiment based on a randomized complete block design with three replications. The irrigation intervals (8 and 16 days) in main plots and anti-transpiration compounds of chitosan (0.25, 0.5 and 1%), Plantogopsyllium mucilage (0.5, 1 and 1.5%) and arabic gum (0.25, 0.5 and 0.75 %) were put in subplots with three replications. Also, the distance between the main plots in each block and distance between the two blocks were assigned as 100 cm and 200 cm, respectively; so that the moisture content of a plot had no effect on the adjacent plots. Planting date was April16 and planting was performed by hand in 0.5cm-deep furrows. Throughout the growing season, anti-transpiration compounds were applied concurrently with the imposition of drought stress, administered weekly at sunset until the flowering stage. Subsequently, yield, yield components, and oil content were measured. Results and Discussion Results showed that irrigation intervals had significant effects on all studied characteristics with the exception of 1000 seed weight. ncreasing irrigation intervals reduced percentage yield and yield components and oil of black cumin grains. Anti-transpirants compounds did have significant effects on percentage of oil and yield and yield components of black cumin grains. There were significant difference between different anti-transpirants compounds in terms of oil and yield components yield and of black cumin grains. The 8 days irrigation interval produced more grain yield compared with 16 days irrigation intervals (621.56 vs. 484.23 kg/ha). The highest oil (27.74%) and lowest (21.74%), respectively, at treatment anti-transpirants compound chitosan1 percent With 8 days irrigation interval and gam arabic 0.25 percent was obtained with 16 days irrigation interval and chitosan stimulating abscisic acid synthesis in the treated plant would result in stomatal closure, reduction of stomatal conductance, transpiration rate and water content. They also pointed out that the anti-transpiration effect of chitosan was because of its stimulatory effect in increasing abscisic acid concentration in the treated leaves of bean plant. As the above compounds are natural and biodegradable, as well as safer and less expensive than other chemical anti-transpiration compounds, they can serve as a good alternative to the chemical compounds. Cognition and expertise in water relations of plant and drought stress tolerance is considered as the main program in agriculture and the ability to withstand this stress is of great economic importance. Conclusion The anti-transpiration compounds led to significant changes in terms of all the studied traits compared to the control, indicating the effectiveness of theses natural compounds. Providing the appropriate conditions, 1% chitosan treatment can enhance the yield under drought stress. Spraying by arabic gum did not improve the growth conditions. According to this experiment, 1% chitosan treatment and 1.5% Plantago psyllium mucilage is considered the most appropriate strategy to enhance the yield of Nigella sativa under drought stress.
Medicinal Plants
S. A. Mousavi; F. Nekounam; T. Barzegar; Z. Ghahremani; J. Nikbakht
Abstract
Introduction
Physalis peruviana L. is a short perennial shrub that is a member of the Solanaceae family. These fruits have many benefits for human health because of their nutritional and bioactive compounds (vitamins (A, B, C and K), essential fats and etc.) and reduced the risk of diseases such as ...
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Introduction
Physalis peruviana L. is a short perennial shrub that is a member of the Solanaceae family. These fruits have many benefits for human health because of their nutritional and bioactive compounds (vitamins (A, B, C and K), essential fats and etc.) and reduced the risk of diseases such as cancer, malaria, asthma, hepatitis, dermatitis and rheumatism. Therefore, it has received special attention for cultivation all over the world. Increasing crop production and mitigating abiotic stresses are major challenges under extreme climatic environments and intense farming activities. Crop management strategies such as deficit irrigation can decrease soil evaporation, runoff, and plant transpiration, and increase water use efficiency (WUE) and water conservation. In addition to these practices, organic input, which includes the application of organic materials such as compost and humic substances, is an additional strategy that increases soil water retention and can potentially improve plant WUE. Water is crucial for agriculture and needs to be used effectively due to climate change and drought in Iran. For this reason, to adapt to water deficit scenarios, deficit irrigation applications are increasing in importance. Water availability is expected to be a growth limiting factor that would affect fruit yield in Physalis peruviana due to reduced flower set and elevated floral abscission rate.
Materials and Methods
In order to investigate the effect of humic acid on physiological characteristics, yield and fruit quality of Physalis peruviana under deficit irrigation conditions, a split plot experiment based on randomized complete block design with three replications was conducted during 2021. Treatments consisted arrangement of three levels of irrigation (starting irrigation at 100, 80 and 60% ETc (crop evapotranspiration)) and three levels of humic acid (0, 1.5 and 3 kg ha-1). The seeds of Physalis peruviana were sown in seedling trays contain peat moss. The seedlings were grown under normal conditions (25±2 °C/day and 20±2 °C at night with 60-65% RH). Plant height, total chlorophyll, fruit yield per plant, total soluble solid content, titratable acidity, vitamin C content and water use efficiency were measured. Statistical analyses were performed with SAS V9.3, and means comparison were separated by Duncan’s multiple range tests at p < 0.05.
Results and Discussion
The results showed that deficit irrigation significantly reduced growth, fruit yield, vitamin C and increased water use efficiency (WUE) and Total soluble solid content of Physalis peruviana. The soil application of humic acid significantly increased total chlorophyll, fruit quality and yield, and decreased leaf electrolyte leakage under normal and deficit irrigation, thus, the deficit irrigation 60 ETc% decreased the plant height by 18.6% and the fruit yield by 22.2% compared to irrigation 100 ETc%. The maximum plant length (200.3 cm), total chlorophyll content (2.42 mg g-1FW) and fruit yield (4793.3 kg ha-1) were observed in plants treated with 3 kg ha-1 humic acid under 100% ETc irrigation. The highest value of total soluble solid (12.6 B°), antioxidant activity (90.06 %) and WUE (1.23 kg m-3) were obtained with 3 kg ha-1 soil application of humic acid under deficit irrigation 60% ETc. The application of 3 kg ha-1 humic acid under 100 and 80 %ETc irrigation increased the fruit yield by 25% and 4%, respectively, compared to the control plants (non treated with humic acid) under irrigation100 ETc% and under deficit irrigation 60 ETc%, with decreasing 11% fruit yield, water consumption was saved by 40%. Soil and crop management practices that alter plant water and nutrient availability could affect the processes of crop evapotranspiration and WUE, which can influence the yield and fruit quality by changing the internal nutrient and water balance. Incorporating organic matter within a crop growth system either as leaf spray or soil mix is a complementary strategy to improve crop growth and WUE. By inducing antioxidant enzyme activities, HS could assist plants in stomata functioning, thereby closing stomata more efficiently under drought stress, which results in plant water conservation. The reason of the difference between WUE values probably appeared due to the differences on Physalis peruviana yield. WUE showed an upward trend with an increasing in irrigation.
Conclusion
Study results suggest that soil application of humic acid with increasing vitamin C, TSS and TA, improved fruit quality. According to the results, application of 3 kg ha-1 humic acid is suggested to improve fruit yield and quality of Physalis peruviana under normal and deficit irrigation conditions.
Medicinal Plants
S. Houshmand; S. Alizade; S. Bolandnazar; E. Aryakia
Abstract
IntroductionTaking into account Iran's unique meteorological and biological characteristics due to its geographic position. This has contributed to the variety and abundance of plant species cultivated there. The Artemisia species, which are among Iran's most valuable plants, are members of the Asteraceae ...
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IntroductionTaking into account Iran's unique meteorological and biological characteristics due to its geographic position. This has contributed to the variety and abundance of plant species cultivated there. The Artemisia species, which are among Iran's most valuable plants, are members of the Asteraceae family and are found across the country in reasonably large numbers. Antioxidants now play an indisputable role in the food, pharmaceutical, and healthcare industries. Given that the antioxidant capability is greatly influenced by the kind of solvent used, the technique used to extract the plants that were harvested from each location, as well as other factors like the weather, altitude, and light. The substantial antioxidant activity of phenolic and flavonoid compounds and their protective significance in cancer illnesses are caused by these compounds' regenerative properties. Materials and MethodsIn this work, Artemisia aucheri, a medicinal plant, was gathered from Semnan, Mazandaran, and Isfahan in Iran, and the antioxidant activity of these ecotypes was assessed. In this study, the quantity of total phenol and flavonoids in polar (ethanol) and non-polar (ethyl acetate) extracts, as well as the proportion and diversity of essential oil components, were assessed. Antioxidant content was also determined using the DPPH and FRAP techniques. Results and DiscussionThe most active antioxidant is found in the Semnan ecotype. The polar solvent of ethanol showed the strongest inhibition whereas the non-polar solvent of ethyl acetate shown stronger reducing activity, proving the importance of the extraction solvent on antioxidant activity in various processes. The non-polar extract (ethyl acetate) from the Mazandaran ecotype had the greatest flavonoid concentration, while the polar extract (ethanol) from the Isfahan ecotype had the highest phenolic content. The ethanolic extract performed the best when assessing total phenol. The most crucial elements of essential oils are oxidized monoterpenes. Oxygenated monoterpenes are present in 54.82% of the Semnan ecotype, 38.81% of the Mazandaran ecotype, and 24.41% of the Isfahan ecotype. In comparison to other ecotypes, the Semnan ecotype exhibited the most oxygenated monoterpene compounds and the greatest number of essential oil-containing compounds. ConclusionThese findings suggest that A. aucheri possesses abundant natural antioxidant sources and is useful in both the food and pharmaceutical industries. A key aspect is the act of extraction, which is focused on the extraction's goal. The solvent used during extraction significantly affects the outcomes. Regarding the chemical makeup of the compounds, the solvent's polarity directly affects the solutes that are extracted. Since phenolic chemicals are more attracted to polar solvents, they are found in plant samples. The kind of flavonoids found in plants and their degree of polarity determine the variation in the quantity of flavonoid content between polar and non-polar extracts. On the other hand, a variety of ecological, genetic, regional, and dietary variables may have contributed to the variation in phenolic contents, essential oils, and antioxidant chemicals found in the three analyzed ecotypes.
Medicinal Plants
Y. Pourbeyrami Hir; E. Chamani; M. Ahadzadeh; Sh. Shaker; R. Nabipour Sanjbod
Abstract
Introduction
The use of medicinal plants has surged in recent times, with a substantial portion of modern medicines derived from botanical sources. This surge in demand underscores the potential of cultivating and producing medicinal plants to not only bolster public health but also significantly contribute ...
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Introduction
The use of medicinal plants has surged in recent times, with a substantial portion of modern medicines derived from botanical sources. This surge in demand underscores the potential of cultivating and producing medicinal plants to not only bolster public health but also significantly contribute to a society's economic well-being.Salvia nemorosa is an herbaceous, perennial, and medicinal plant. This valuable plant belongs to the Labiatae family. The aerial parts of the plant, especially the leaves, contain essential oils. Furthermore, S. nemorosa contains chemical compositions such as saponin, organic acids, diterpenes, triterpenes, polyphenols, and a bitter substance called picrosalvin. In the plant tissue culture, the preparation of culture medium and formulation compatible with the tissue of the tested plant is vital for efficient regeneration and plant growth. Generally, no specific culture medium can be recommended for the growth of explants, and is necessary to make changes in the culture medium in order to better respond to different types of explants. Carbon nanotubes are nanomaterials that can be added to the culture medium and increase the growth rate of different parts of the plant such as roots, stems, and branches. Cytokines also commonly participate in cell divisions and proliferate shoots by removing terminal dominance. Considering the mentioned importance, this study was conducted to investigate the effect of carbon nanotubes, kinetin, and their interactions on some morphophysiological and phytochemical properties of S. nemorosa under in vitro conditions.
Materials and Methods
This experiment was carried out in the tissue culture and biotechnology laboratory of the Department of Horticultural Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili. This study was conducted based on factorial design (completely randomized design) with five replications. The treatments included five levels of carbon nanotubes (0, 10, 20, 40, and 80 mg/L CNT) and three levels of kinetin (0, 2, and 4 mg/L CK). The seeds of S. nemorosa were sterilized with 70% ethanol for 40 seconds and then 2.5% hypochlorite sodium for 15 minutes (then the seed were washed with deionized water three times 3, 5, and 15 minutes). The sterilized seeds were planted in MS medium containing 30 g/L sucrose and 8 g/L agar, and then transferred to a growth chamber. After 40 days, the obtained seedlings were cut into single nodes by removing leaves and transferred to the main treatment medium. After that, some traits such as fresh weight, number of branches, number of leaves, number of roots, leaf area, root length, seedlings height, viability rate, germination rate, chlorophylls a, b, carotenoid content, phenol content, and flavonoid content were examined. The obtained data related to the experiment were analyzed with SAS software, the comparison of data means was done with Duncan's test, and the graphs were plotted using Excel software.
Results and Discussion
The results indicated that the interaction effect of carbon nanotubes and kinetin on the indices of fresh weight, number of branches, number of leaves, number of roots, leaf area, root length, seedling height, survival percentage, germination percentage, pigment content photosynthesis was not significant. On the contrary, the interaction effect of two treatments on the content of total flavonoid and total phenol showed a significant difference. The highest phenol content was obtained in the treatment combination of 80 mg/L of carbon nanotubes and 4 mg/L of kinetin. On the other hand, increasing the concentration of carbon nanotubes up to 80 mg/L, the average shoot production, number of leaves, leaf area, plant height, root number, root length, chlorophyll a, b, carotenoid, phenol and flavonoid content. increased significantly. Also, by increasing the concentration of kinetin (4 mg/liter), the number of branches, the content of chlorophyll a and b increased significantly.
Conclusion
The characteristics of the S. nemorosa plant, except for fresh weight, significantly increased under the influence of carbon nanotube treatments. However, under the influence of kinetin treatment, only the number of branches, chlorophyll a, b, phenol content, and flavonoid content showed a significant increase. Based on the results of this study, carbon nanotubes can be used for proliferation and increasing the secondary metabolites of S. nemorosa. Despite the results of this study, it is still possible to use higher concentrations of carbon nanotubes in future research in order to increase the phytochemical properties and productivity of other medicinal plants.
Medicinal Plants
M. B. Razavinia; N. Pourghasemian; F. Najafi
Abstract
IntroductionHeavy metals, like cadmium, lead, and arsenic, harm air, soil, agriculture, and human health. Plants suffer from reduced growth, chlorophyll production, and enzyme activity due to heavy metal exposure. Reactive oxygen species are produced, damaging biological molecules. However, plants ...
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IntroductionHeavy metals, like cadmium, lead, and arsenic, harm air, soil, agriculture, and human health. Plants suffer from reduced growth, chlorophyll production, and enzyme activity due to heavy metal exposure. Reactive oxygen species are produced, damaging biological molecules. However, plants have developed resistance mechanisms, including antioxidant stimulation. Flavonoids, complex compounds in plants, enhance resistance to heavy metals. Medicinal plants, rich in secondary metabolites like flavonoids, phenolic compounds, and alkaloids, show resistance to heavy metals. Origanum majorana as a medicinal plant, contains compounds that contribute to its heavy metal resistance. Based on limited studies, medicinal plants, particularly marjoram, have shown greater resistance to environmental stresses due to their secondary metabolites and the ability to produce uncontaminated essential oils in response to heavy metals like cadmium and lead. This study aimed to investigate the biochemical responses and growth of marjoram plants when exposed simultaneously to cadmium and lead, as well as the mutual effects of these two elements on marjoram behavior. Materials and Methods A factorial randomized complete block design experiment with four replications was used to study the effect of Cd in four concentrations (0, 6, 12 and 24 mg.kg-1 soil) as well as Pb in four concentrations (0, 150 300 and 450 mg. Kg-1 soil). The concentrations were determined based on previous reports and a preliminary experiment. Soil was prepared with appropriate amounts of cadmium chloride and lead chloride were added according to the desired concentrations. The contaminated soil was then incubated at field capacity moisture for two months. Seeds have been sown in germination trays. Seedlings at the three to four leaf stage were transferred to pots containing the contaminated soil. Plant harvest took place 42 to 52 days after the transfer to pots, specifically when the plants had just entered the flowering stage. The aboveground parts of the plants were harvested separately, and the roots were carefully removed from the soil. Half of the plants were dried at 105 °C for 24 h to determine the dry weight, Pb and Cd concentrations. The other half of the plants were used to measure biochemical traits including flavonoids, anthocyanins, malondialdehyde, protein, proline and some enzymatic antioxidants. The data was analyzed using a two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), and the means were compared using the LSD test. A significance level of 95% was applied using SAS 9.2. Results and DiscussionIn this study, various parameters were measured including the dry weight of aerial parts and roots, concentrations of lead and cadmium in the aerial parts and roots, lipid peroxidation (MDA), flavonoids, anthocyanins, total phenols, proline, protein, and antioxidant enzymes including guaiacol peroxidase (GPX), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), and catalase (CAT). The results of the analysis of variance showed that all the mentioned traits were influenced by the individual effects of lead and cadmium. However, there was no significant interaction between cadmium and lead on proline, protein, GPX, polyphenols, flavonoids, and anthocyanins. The dry weight of aerial parts and roots decreased in the presence of cadmium and lead, while the concentrations of lead and cadmium increased. However, this damage was more pronounced in the presence of cadmium compared to lead. The presence of cadmium in a lead-containing environment had an inhibitory effect on lead uptake by the plant, and vice versa. The highest level of MDA was reported in the combination of lead and cadmium concentrations of 450 and 24 mg/kg, respectively. The analysis of enzyme activity showed that the maximum catalase activity was observed in the combination of 6 and 450 mg/kg of cadmium and lead, respectively, while the minimum activity was found in the control group. Similarly, the highest APX activity was reported in the combination of 24 mg/kg of cadmium and zero lead, while the lowest activity was observed in the control group. The use of cadmium and lead at the highest consumption level compared to the control group resulted in a 204% and 40% increase in GPX activity, respectively. In the analysis of total phenols, flavonoids, anthocyanins, and protein, an increase in cadmium concentration from zero to 24 mg/kg led to a decrease of 52%, 42%, 208%, and 81%, respectively, while protein decreased by 39%. These traits showed an increase of 14%, 14%, 58%, and 40%, respectively, with an increase in lead concentration from zero to 450 mg/kg, while protein decreased by 24%. Based on the results, it appears that the increase in secondary metabolites with the increase in heavy metals has accompanied the plant's response to the prevailing conditions. Conclusion The study found that both cadmium and lead negatively affect the dry weight of plants, with cadmium having a greater impact. This reduction is particularly noticeable in photosynthesis, pigments, electron transport chain, and energy production. The highest concentrations of lead and cadmium (24-450 mg/kg) show the maximum decrease. As the concentrations of these elements increase in the growth medium, their concentration in the plants also increases. Lead has lower mobility and tends to accumulate in the roots compared to cadmium. Interestingly, the presence of cadmium inhibits the uptake of lead by the plant, and vice versa. This leads to an average inhibition of 39% for lead uptake by cadmium and 35% for cadmium uptake by lead in the aerial parts. The study also observed an increase in secondary metabolites, which act as antioxidants and help the plant cope with the stresses caused by cadmium and lead. These metabolites may also contribute to osmotic regulation along with the increase in proline. Based on these findings, it seems that these plants can be used in green spaces contaminated with moderate to low levels of cadmium and lead, particularly in mining areas.
Medicinal Plants
S. Samavat; M. Salehi Vozhdehnazari; M. Yahyazadeh Balalami; M. Rahimifard
Abstract
Introduction
So far, more than 40 different types of alkaloids have been known in poppy (Papaver somniferum L.) as a valuable medicinal plant, the most important of which are morphine, codeine, thebaine, noscapine, and papaverine. The biosynthesis of these alkaloids may be strongly influenced by a variety ...
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Introduction
So far, more than 40 different types of alkaloids have been known in poppy (Papaver somniferum L.) as a valuable medicinal plant, the most important of which are morphine, codeine, thebaine, noscapine, and papaverine. The biosynthesis of these alkaloids may be strongly influenced by a variety of biotic and abiotic elicitors. In fact, microbes as biotic elicitors can affect the production of poppy alkaloids. Among them, plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) can be noticed, which stimulate and improve plant growth through various mechanisms such as mineral phosphate solubilization, plant hormone production, siderophores secretion, nitrogen fixation, etc. The use of PGPR agents can not only lead to an increase in plant biomass, but simultaneously, due to their role as biotic elicitors, they cause to an increase in the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites in plants. These biotic elicitors target plants’ defense mechanisms and result in triggering a series of metabolic changes throughout the plant. The use of PGPR agents to stimulate the plant to produce secondary metabolites has several advantages: First, in some plants, defensive metabolites are active biological compounds that lead to the induction of food production with high added-value in the plants. Secondly, physiologically, with the increase in the synthesis of secondary metabolites, the resistance of the plant against pathogens also increases. Accordingly, the present study was performed with the aim of investigating the effects of bacterial strains with the ability to solubilize inorganic phosphate as biotic elicitors on the amount of morphine, papaverine, and noscapine alkaloids in P. somniferum.
Materials and Methods
In this research, the solubility of inorganic phosphate by four bacterial strains including Enterobacter xiangfangensis S2, Pantoea dispersa S7, Pantoea stewartii S25, and Pseudomonas canadensis S36 was evaluated quantitatively using Sperber broth medium. Under greenhouse conditions, the effect of foliar spraying of P. somniferum plants with a suspension of the bacterial strains (108 CFU.ml-1) on the amount of morphine, papaverine, and noscapine in the plants’ capsules, stems, and leaves was investigated. About three weeks after the appearance of capsules in poppy plants, the aerial parts of the plants (stems, leaves, and capsules) were sprayed with the bacterial suspensions. One week after foliar spraying, poppy plants were harvested in order to determine the amount of the desired alkaloids. Three pots were considered for each treatment and there were three poppy plants in each pot. Alkaloids were extracted based on an alcoholic method and detected using HPLC. Morphine and noscapine standards were prepared at a concentration of 1000 μg.ml-1 and papaverine standard at a concentration of 250 μg/ml. Then the mixture was prepared in proportions of 1, 1:50, 1:10, 1:50 and 1:100 and injected into the HPLC set to draw the calibration curve. All the experiments were conducted in a form of completely randomized design with three replications for each treatment (P<0.05).
Results and Discussion
The results showed that the highest (458.67 µg.ml-1) and the lowest (130.47 µg.ml-1) phosphate solubility were related to S2 and S36 strains, respectively. S7 and S25 strains were not statistically significantly different from each other and after S2 strain, they were placed in the second statistical position. In the bacterial strains’ treatments, the level of morphine in the stems and leaves as well as the capsules increased significantly in most cases compared to the control. The amount of papaverine in the stems and leaves decreased significantly, but it had no significant changes in the capsule. Also, noscapine showed a significant increase in the stems and leaves and reached from 0.8 mg.g-1 DW in the control to 8.12 in the S2 treatment. While, the amount of noscapine increased significantly in the capsules, only in the S2 and S36 treatments. Other strains did not show significant differences with the control for noscapine content in the capsules. The results showed that the interaction effects of the type of the alkaloids and the use of phosphate solubilizing bacterial strains on the concentration of the studied alkaloids in poppy stems, leaves and capsules are significant (P<0.01).
Conclusion
It can be concluded that there is no need to apply genetic engineering to increase the production of valuable secondary metabolites by medicinal plants. Rather, this goal can be achieved much cheaper by using bacterial elicitors. Accordingly, by selecting compatible and efficient bacterial strains with phosphate solubilizing activity, the amounts of morphine, papaverine, and noscapine alkaloids in the aerial parts of P. somniferum as a valuable medicinal plant can be noticeably increased.
Medicinal Plants
M. Yadegari
Abstract
Introduction
Hyssopus officinalis L. belongs to the family Lamiaceae, and is one of the endangered endemic species in Iran. This plant is rich in essential oil, flavonoids, monoterpene glycosides, trypanocidal terpenoids, rosmarinic acid, and linolenic acid6. The main compounds of the essential oil ...
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Introduction
Hyssopus officinalis L. belongs to the family Lamiaceae, and is one of the endangered endemic species in Iran. This plant is rich in essential oil, flavonoids, monoterpene glycosides, trypanocidal terpenoids, rosmarinic acid, and linolenic acid6. The main compounds of the essential oil from H. officinalis L. collected from natural habitats are α-pinene, Sabinene, 3-Carene, Beta-Pinene, Cis- Pinocamphone, Myrtenol, Pinocamphone and Camphor. The environmental factors cause changes in the growth, quantity, and quality of active substances (such as alkaloids, glycosides, steroids and volatile oils) in the medicinal and aromatic plants. Among environmental stresses, water deficit stress plays an important role in the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites in medicinal and aromatic plants in arid and semi-arid regions like Iran. Drought stress has detrimental effects on growth and yield and can upset the balance between the antioxidant defense system and free radicals by stimulating a series of biochemical reactions, where free radicals cause cell damage. In sustainable production systems of medicinal and aromatic plants, stable quantitative and qualitative functions can be achieved under conditions of environmental stress and it is possible to improve the production of secondary metabolites in these plants under adverse environmental conditions. Therefore, this study was done to evaluate the organic elicitors on the physiological and phytochemical properties of H.officinalis to determine and introduce the best elicitor under water stress.
Materials and Methods
This investigation was done from spring (May) 2022 to fall (September) 2023 at the Research Farm (latitude. 32°20′ N, longitude. 50°51′ E, altitude. 2061 m). Based on the Köppen climate classification, the climate of the area of study is classified as cold and semiarid. The present study was conducted in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications to investigate the effect of foliar application of different organic elicitors (chitosan, salicylic acid and phenylalanine) with control level (without any spraying) on the physiological and phytochemical characters of H. officinalis L. In each year, treatments were performed in 3 stages (end of vegetative, beginning of flowering and 50% of flowering) and in full flowering, harvesting was done. 3 irrigation regimes (4, 6, 8 day interval) in main plots and foliar application of elicitors in sub plots were done. The essential oils were extracted by hydro-distillation and analyzed using GC/MS.
Results and Discussion
According to obtained results, applied organic elicitors significantly influenced the physiological and phytochemical characters of H. officinalis L. However the assayed traits showed slightly variation during the studied years. In two years, the highest chlorophyll content (17.12-17.31 mg.Kg-1 FW) and total phenol content (1.77-1.81 mg.g-1 DW) were obtained in chitosan (0.5 mg.l-1) and phenyl alanine (1000 mg.l-1) treatments respectively. In most of measured characters, plants treated with chitosan (0.5 mg.l-1) and phenyl alanine (1000 mg.l-1) were in the same group. Amounts of some characters in plants treated with phenyl alanine (2000 mg.l-1) and salicylic acid (3 mM) lesser than control plants. The main constituents of essential oil were Sabinene, 3-Carene, Beta-Pinene, Cis- Pinocamphone, Myrtenol, Pinocamphone and Camphor (cyclic monoterpenes) that made the most components of essential oil plants. Among of elicitors, the chitosan effect on increasing of physiological and phytochemical characters such as the chlorophyll content was higher than other elicitors. Applied elicitors showed significant effects on essential oil content and composition of H. officinalis L. The highest essential oil content (0.89-0.91 %) was obtained from the treated plants by chitosan (0.5 mg.l-1). According to the biennial results of the chemical analysis of the essential oils from plants treated with treatments by GC/MS, the most important chemical compounds that determine the quality of H. officinalis L. essential oil including Beta-Pinene (17.93-18.53 %), Pinocamphone (24.97-25.12 %) and Cis-Pinocamphone (42.87-45.12 %) were identified. Cis-Pinocamphone belonging to bicyclic monoterpene was the predominant constituent of essential oil of H. officinalis L.
Conclusion
According to the results of this study, water deficit stress caused significant phytochemical changes in the H. officinalis L. essential oil. The main constituents of the volatile oils of H. officinalis L. were Sabinene, 3-Carene, Beta-Pinene, Cis- Pinocamphone, Myrtenol, Pinocamphone and Camphor were identified in the H. officinalis essential oil. Generally, Foliar application of chitosan and phenyl alanine significantly increased the monoterpenes compounds in essential oils of Hyssopus officinalis L., so that the content of these compounds and essential oil content in treated plants by organic elicitors 63% was more than the control plants. Finally, the application of chitosan at 0.5 mg.l-1 can be a good strategy to improve physiological and essential oil quantity and quality of H. officinalis L. in cold and semi-arid climates.
Medicinal Plants
A. Moshrefi-Araghi; S. H. Nemati; M. Shoor; M. Azizi; N. Moshtaghi
Abstract
Introduction Mentha is one of the most important genera of aromatic plants which belongs to the Lamiaceae family. The genus of Mentha is distributed across Asia, Africa, Australia, Europe, and North America. Mentha longifolia L., also known as wild mint, is a fast-growing aromatic perennial herb. ...
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Introduction Mentha is one of the most important genera of aromatic plants which belongs to the Lamiaceae family. The genus of Mentha is distributed across Asia, Africa, Australia, Europe, and North America. Mentha longifolia L., also known as wild mint, is a fast-growing aromatic perennial herb. It is widely used as herbal medicine and is beneficial for the immune system and fighting with secondary infections. The essential oil of this plant is partly responsible for the decongestant, antispasmodic and antibiotic effects. Currently, much emphasis is being laid on conserving plant germplasm as valuable bio-resources. Selection between and within accessions for a high level of herbage yield and other characters requires an effective tool to be applied by mint breeders. Achieving to cultivars that are more capable of optimum producing is a breeding goal. The objectives of this study were to analyze the diversion of the agronomical traits of Mentha longifolia L. genotypes from different regions of Iran under a similar condition in order to find the superior genotypes and introduce for the domestication of this plant. Material and MethodThis research was performed at the research field of the Ferdowsi University of Mashhad. The field is located at 36˚15' North latitude and 59˚38' East longitude, at an altitude of 985 meters. The information related to temperature and precipitation was obtained from climate station. Soil sampling was done in the depth of 0.3 meter and physical experiments on samples were done before starting the experiment. The field was fertilized by 25 kg/ha animal manure. Seeds of 20 genotypes of M. longifolia L. were prepared from Gene Bank of Research Institute of Forests and Rangelands and a view of the wild mint genotypes distribution was presented on the map. The experiment was performed in a field with 500m2 areas in 2015-2016 growing seasons. The experiment in form of compound analysis arranged in complete randomized design with three replicates of 20 wildmint's genotypes in every replication. In each furrow, fourteen bush was totally studied, in which the distance between the two plants was 20 cm. The plot was considered 1.2 by 3 m and the distance between rows was 0.50 m. The dimension in the plots for every replication area was 3.6 m2 and the distance between blocks were 1.5 and between experimental units were 0.5 meters. Picking up was done after elimination of 0.5 meters from every side of replication. The essential oil was extracted using Clevenger type apparatus and by hydrodistillation. Results and DiscussionAnalysis of variance showed that the effect of the diversity among the genotypes on morphological, agronomical and essential oil yield parameters of wild mint was significant (P≤0.01). The results of this study showed that Mentha longifolia L. herb has a high diversity under the same culture conditions among genotypes collected from 20 regions of Iran. Correlation result shows that vegetative organs have more effect on the essential oil content than the reproductive organs. This may be due to the distribution of essential oil accumulation and storage sites, which requires further research in this regard. The study of vegetative and reproductive characteristics suggests that the genotypes of the dry and semi-arid climates have different conditions, which may causes the separation of their genotypes compared with the other genotypes. The bi-plot, based on PC1 and PC2, reflects the relationships between the studied genotypes. The results of bi-plot of cluster analysis confirmed that genotypes were divided into two main groups based on agronomical and morphological traits. Conclusion Finally, plants of genotype G13 belongs to Hormozgan province and then G16 genotype belongs to Khuzestan province were selected because of more biomass, more aerial part volume and also the most essential oil performance compared to the other genotypes. Desirable traits for the aerial part such as the time of flowering, leaf length, leaf width, plant height, the highest number of leaves in the stem and internode distance are important traits that should be considered. In addition, the cultivation of these genotype in order to the further production can be the great help in the domestication of this species and, given the fact that the diversity is a precursor of breeding, this research can be an introduction for future breeding operations. However, further research is needed to confirm the phytochemical superior genotypes.
