Research Article
Ebrahim Abedi Gheshlaghi; Vali Rabiei; Malek Ghasemi; Javad Fattahi Moghadam; Farhang Razavi
Abstract
Introduction: It is important to understand the structural events associated with flower morphogenesis in horticultural plants, because it has many aspects of practical horticultural significance. Information about different stages of flower initiation and development is important for better management ...
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Introduction: It is important to understand the structural events associated with flower morphogenesis in horticultural plants, because it has many aspects of practical horticultural significance. Information about different stages of flower initiation and development is important for better management of the vineyardsand fruit set. Knowledge of floral ontogeny in kiwifruit is also important for the establishment of breeding programs and for the understanding of the evolutionary processes involved in the development of the floral organs. The main objective of this study was documentation of the differentiation stages of flower buds for better understanding of morphological and external changes in (Actinidiadeliciosa[A. Chev.] C.F. Liang &A.R. Ferguson var.deliciosa) cvs.Hayward (female) and Tomuri (male).
Materials and Methods: The experiment was carried out over two years in a mature 'Hayward' and ‘Tomuri’ kiwifruit vineyard at the Citrus and Subtropical Research Center of Iran (Ramsar city). Pistillate and staminate flowers development was followed from the stage of undifferentiated primordia, present in the axils of leaf primordia in dormant buds since mid-March to early June 2015 and 2016. Equally buds in diameter and size from sixth to twentieth buds on one-year old cane of Hayward and Tomuri selected at 5 to 7 days intervals. They were sampled and fixed in a solution of formalin, ethanol 70%, glacial acetic acid (2:5:1 FAA) then stored in refrigerator. Fifteen buds of each sample dissected under a Nikon SMZ645 stereo zoom microscope. The very dense pubescence within the buds was removed manually without damaging the axillary flower primordia. The remaining pubescence was removed using dissecting needles. Various stages of flower differentiation were explained with principal growth stage 5 of BBCH scale.
Results and Discussion: The first signs of the flower on Tomuri were observed 2 days before bud swelling stage (01), on the March 12th, about one month before bud break in 2015. While in the Hayward variety the first signs of the flower primordia were observed on the March 21th of 2015 (9 days later). At the beginning of bud swelling (01), flower primordia begin to differentiation and at advanced bud swelling stage (03), bracts and sepals initiated. As development proceeded, different parts of flowers initiated acropetally. Lateral flowers were formed in the bud break (07), before initiation of petals. In advanced budburst stage (09) stamen primordia appear almost immediately after petal initiation, as two whorls in 'Hayward' and as three whorls in the Tomuri cultivar. Stigma initiated in the open cluster stage (10) in Hayward cultivar about 24-25 days after bud swell stage. The process of differentiation of buds and reproductive organs in the second year was the same as the first year with the exception that differentiation began earlier than that in the first year. Climatic conditions were affected flower development and in the second year primordia differentiation began earlier two days in Tomuri and six days in Hayward than those in the first year. The advanced budburst stage (09) in Tomuri 9 days and in the Hayward 10 days was occurred earlier than that in the first year. Unlike other tree fruits, flower induction in the kiwifruit occurred about 6 months before flower initiation. Flower primordia differentiation initiated shortly before bud break stage and approximately two months before full bloom. Flower initiation and differentiation time may be partly estimated with external changes of buds development. According to cultivar, chilling and heat requirements and climatic conditions during the research, flower initiation and differentiation period have fluctuation. A reason for the difference between the development stages and different varieties can be caused by the chilling and heat requirements. The more heat requirement, the longer reproductive meristem differentiation period.
Conclusion: An understanding of the flower initiation and development is very important for the research and management of fruit trees. A knowing of flower initiation and differentiation can be developed corrective vineyard management and practices in crisis period and prepared breeding programs. Tomuri initiated and developed their floral organs earlier than those in Hayward. Different external changes in the bud may be partly used to estimate of flower development status. The results showed that flower initiation and differentiation in buds coincided with the beginning of development and elongation of bud in the early of spring.
Research Article
Mahdi Yaghoobi; Mahdi Parsa; Ali Gazanchian; Hamidreza Khazaie
Abstract
Introduction: Lack of water resources is one of the most problems ofincreasing urban green spaces. Over the last threedecades, turfgrass and lawn researches have put significant effort into developing and evaluating turf species that have good drought resistance. As water conservation becomes an important ...
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Introduction: Lack of water resources is one of the most problems ofincreasing urban green spaces. Over the last threedecades, turfgrass and lawn researches have put significant effort into developing and evaluating turf species that have good drought resistance. As water conservation becomes an important issue, considerable interest is increasing in identifying grasses that require less water. Plants with good drought resistance are those that are able to survive stress by means of drought avoidance, drought tolerance at leaf water potentials, or both. The efficient use of water is made possible by understanding the effects of irrigation water on crop development and yield. Drought affects the visual quality, growth rate and evapotranspiration. Researchers reported that turfgrass subjected to drought conditions for short periods could sustain a fairly good appearance by irrigation about half of its consumptive use whenever soil moisture level falls to near permanent wilting point. Drought stress caused decrease in RWC and visual quality of many grass cultivars. In drought conditions resistance grass showed increase in proline content on their leaves. Therefore the use of native grasses with high-strength instead of grass imported with low-resistance is one way to increase green space and reduce costs. The purpose of this study was comparednative grasses with commercial grass cultivars.
Materials and Methods: This study was to evaluate the yield and resistance of native grasses to drought stress in 2014. This experiment was conducted in Khorasan Agricultural Research Center. NativeAgropyron grass species includedAgropyronelangatum, A. desertrum, A. cristatum and commercial cultivarwassuper sport and third level of stress, including severe stress (45% FC), moderate stress (65% FC) and control (85% field capacity) were experimental treatments. Plants were cultured in PVC containers measuring 9 cm in diameter and 60 cm deep under greenhouse condition. Soil was mixture of 70% loam soil, 20% pit mass and 10% sand. Greenhouse air temperature was maintained between 22 and 28 centigrade degree. All plants were maintained under well watered conditions for 45 days before drought stress. This experiment was designed in factorial experiment based on completely random with fourreplicates. After the stress treatment parameters such as length and width of leaves, chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b and total chlorophyll content, visual quality, electrolyte leakage, RWC and proline content of leaves were measured. Length and width of leaves were measured with ruler. Proline content, RWC percent, chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b and total chlorophyll content of leaf, visual quality and leaf electrolyte leakage weremeasured with standard protocols. Analysis of the data by statistical software JMP 8 and graphs with Excel 2010 was drawn.
Results and Discussion: Result of the experiment showed that those native species have different response to soil moisture stress conditions. The highest and lowest lengths of leaf were observed under45% field capacity in A. elangatum and super sport grass, respectively. The results showed that width of leaves of A. elangatum increase and then decrease in super sport. Under drought stress conditions A. desertrum has best visual quality with 6.07 score. Highest chlorophyll a and total chlorophyll were observed in A. elangatum. The lowest electrolyte leakage under drought stress was obtained from A. elangatum with 17.91 percent. RWC content in the native A. elangatum increased to 82.12 compared with super sport (control). A. elangatum under drought stress showed highest proline content and commercial cultivar (super sport) indicated lowest proline content at 45% field capacity irrigation. Selahvarzi and et al. (2009) found that visual quality of tall fescue decrease in drought stress. In drought stress, RWC percent decrease in grass species. Proline content was increasedupondrought stress inLoliumperenecool season grass. Many studies on native cultivar indicated that native turfgrass cultivar have more resistance to drought stress compared with exotic turfgrass cultivars.
Conclusions: According to the results, we said native grass species under drought stress conditions have better quality compared with imported grass cultivar such as Super sport. Visual quality in native grass was suitable for use in urban landscape, that visual quality show little change in drought stress and leaves were fresh in this conditions. The best visual quality of two native species A. elongatum and A. desertrum was observed under 65% field capacity. Nativegrass cultivars were more resistance than imported grass cultivars. This study showed that native grass such asA. elongatum and A. desertrumhas low cost to use and these turfgrass need to lower water irrigation than commercial grass Super sport. Then two species can be introduced as low-input cultivars.
Research Article
Mojgan Parvandi; Mohammad Farsi; Mohsen Ashrafi
Abstract
Introduction: The white button mushroom does not produce remarkable yield in the third flash. Nutritional deficiency and the inability of this mushroom to efficient use of compost are mentioned as its reasons. Basically, compost includes two major food components, lignocellulose and microbial biomass. ...
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Introduction: The white button mushroom does not produce remarkable yield in the third flash. Nutritional deficiency and the inability of this mushroom to efficient use of compost are mentioned as its reasons. Basically, compost includes two major food components, lignocellulose and microbial biomass. But this microbial biomass provides just 10% of button mushroom food needs. According to research studies, differentenzymes in both white button mushroom and oyster mushroom are responsible for decomposition of lignin compounds in compost media, from begin of mycelium grows to the end of fruiting. Lacasse, manganese peroxidase, lignin peroxidase, glyoxal oxidase enzymes contribute to degradation of lignin compounds in degradation mushroom has proven by researchers however itis dependent on mushroom types. Manganese peroxidase enzyme (EC. 1.11.1.13) is an extracellular parser lignin enzyme that has a central peroxidase core. Manganese peroxidase enzyme oxidizesMn2+ to Mn3+ and then Mn3+ oxidizes phenolic structure to fonoxile radical. Produced Mn3+ is very active and makes complex by chelating organic acids that is produced by mushrooms such as oxalate or malate. Mn3+ ions become stable by helping of these chelates and it can penetrate through materials such as wood. On the other hand, in recent years, plant biotechnology provides new solutions for old problems such as use of microorganisms, particularly using bacteria for gene transfer and improvement of superlatives. For a sample of this method, Agrobacterium-mediated transformation system can be noted. In addition, the use of suitable promoters for heterologous genes expression in suitable hosts is an important strategy in functional biotechnology that has been raised in edible mushroom genetic engineering. The lack of efficient and sufficient use of compost, low power of white button mushroom in competition with other rivals, lack of yield per area unit due to production costs, pests and diseases, low flexibility and adaptability with environmental conditions changes are some of the problems that the mushroom reformers are faced. Unlike the great efforts made by researchers, conventional breeding techniques to produce the A. bisporus mushroom only have been led to produce a few new races. Therefore, todays some problems associated with traditional methods of breeding of edible mushrooms, including the need to provide races that have desired characteristics, the traditional method performance tests and low chances of success in the transfer of important agronomic characteristics such as functionality and disease resistance. So, they almost have been replaced with new biotechnology methods. Anexample of this method is to manipulateproperties transformation for the particular purpose. Modification of both expression or type of lignin degrading enzyme are possible solutions to deal with this problem, but these are not applicable or are difficult to be done with traditional breeding programs. In recent years, gene transformation mediated with Agrobacterium routinely is used for gene transformation to mushrooms and is proposed as a method for removing limitations of white button mushroom breeding.
Materials and Methods: In this research, the oyster mushroom strain Florida was used as the source of manganese peroxidase (mnp) gene and white button mushroom strain 737 gill and cap tissue were used as transformation host. Agrobacterium strain LBA4404 harbors p133H88-FM plasmid thatcontainsmnp gene of oyster mushroom and also hph gene under control of gpdII promoter of the button white mushroom strain IM008 was used as a transformer. Selection medium containing 30 mg/ml Hygromycin B and was used for selecting transformed explants. To confirm transformation, PCR with specific primers of mnp and hph genes was performed on genomic DNA of selected colonies.
Results and Discussion: Results showed the gill tissue explants, with transformation rate 5%, have a better response to applied transformation method than cap tissue explants, with transformation rate zero percent. As expected, polymerase chain reaction with specific primers ofhph and mnp genes amplified 1049 and 1086 bp fragments and verified the transformation of mycelium's grown on selection medium. It seems that Bacterial strain and also used plasmid were one of the responses for observed low rate transformation which is in accordance with leach and co-workers study. Finally, we could propose that cap tissue is more suitable for further gene transformation of this mushroombecause of high transformation rate of cap tissue.
Research Article
Seyyed Mousa Mousavi; Mehrangiz Chehrazi; Esmaeil Khaleghi
Abstract
Background and objectives: Water stress is one of the most important environmental stresses in agriculture and urban landscape management. Water stress has been defined as the induction of turgor pressure below the maximal potential pressure. Previous studieshave showed that drought had been negative ...
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Background and objectives: Water stress is one of the most important environmental stresses in agriculture and urban landscape management. Water stress has been defined as the induction of turgor pressure below the maximal potential pressure. Previous studieshave showed that drought had been negative effects on morphological, physiological and biochemical characteristics of plants. Changes in protein expression, accumulation, and synthesis have been observed in many plant species as a result of plant exposure to drought stress during growth plants. The maintenance of plant water potential during water deficit is essential for continued growth and can be achieved by osmotic adjustment mechanisms resulting from the accumulation of compatible solutes such as proline in the cytoplasm. Proline acts as a "compatible solute", i.e. one that can accumulate to high concentrations in the cell cytoplasm without interfering with cellular structure or metabolism. Proline has a protective action which prevents membrane damage and protein denaturation during water stress. Accumulation of sugars in different parts of plants is enhanced in response to the variety of environmental stresses. Marigold(Tagetesspp.) is a genus of annual or perennial, belonging to the Asteraceaefamily, that is used as a marginal flower in the landscape.Due to the fact that drought stress is one of the most important problems especially in the agricultural industry and also in the landscape, it is necessary to study the damaging effects of drought stress on plant characteristics. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the effect of different levels of water stress on physiological and biochemical characteristics of two types of pot marigold.
Materials and Methods: A research was conducted in order to investigate the effect of different levels of water deficit (100 as control, 75 and 50 percent of potential evapotranspiration (ETcrop)) on trend changes of leaf proline, total soluble sugars, relative water content and soluble protein changes in two species of pot marigold (French and African) as a factorial experiment based on a randomized complete block design with three replications. In this experiment, two species of pot marigold seeds (African and French) were planted in the trays including cocopeat. Then seedlings were transplanted to pots with 19 × 16 cm dimensions. After transplanting, the seedlings were irrigated well for 3 weeks. Then plants were irrigated with 100%, 75% and 50% ETcrop. Parameters such as leaf proline and total carbohydrates content, leaf relative water content were measured three times at intervals of once every 21 days but the amount of soluble proteins was measured one time in 63 days after treatment. Data analysis was performed using MSTATC software and mean comparison was done by Duncan's multiple range test at 5% and 1% probability.
Results: The results showed that leaf proline and total soluble sugars increased with incrementin levels of water deficit and the trend changes of leaf traits were increased with the passing of time. So that, in 43 days after water stress treatment, leaf proline content had an increase of 3 or 4 times in 50% Etcrop irrigation treatment compared with the control and 75% Etcrop irrigation treatment, respectively. The highest levels of leaf proline (119.28 mg per gram of fresh weight) and total soluble sugars content (1.8 mg per gram of fresh weight) was related to 50% ETc treatment. The amount of leaf total soluble sugars was also higher in African species compared with French species. The results showed that the leaf soluble proteins and relative water content decreased with reducingirrigation, so that the lowest amount of relative water content (57.9%) and soluble protein (31.57mg per g fresh weight) were obtained in 50% ETc treatment.
Conclusion: When the plants were exposed to progressive drought stress, changes appeared earlier in relative water content, whereas later effects in the levels of free proline, total soluble sugar, total soluble protein. The results showed that irrigation had significant effects on all evaluated parameters such as leaf proline, total soluble sugers, RWC and soluble proteins. Our findings also showed that there was no significant difference between control treatment and 75% ETcrop treatment in the measured indices and it's importancfor optimal management of water in landscape couldbe considered. Finally, it can be expected that African species is better than French species for planting in landscape.
Research Article
Ahmad Sharifi; Seyyedeh Mahdiyeh Kharrazi; Fatemeh Keykha Akhar; Abdolreza Bagheri; Elahe Samari; Maryam Moradiyan
Abstract
Introduction: Gerbera is one of the most important ornamental plants in the world. The importance of Gerbera is due to its beauty, diversity and economically aspects. Traditional propagation methods such as crown division and cutting methods are not suitable for obtaining disease free plants and rapid ...
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Introduction: Gerbera is one of the most important ornamental plants in the world. The importance of Gerbera is due to its beauty, diversity and economically aspects. Traditional propagation methods such as crown division and cutting methods are not suitable for obtaining disease free plants and rapid multiplication. These methods also do not have the capacity to fulfill global demands. Therefore, obtaining efficient protocol for micropropagation of this ornamental plant is necessary.
Materials and Methods: In this study the effect of various factors on in vitro regeneration, proliferation, rooting and acclimation of gerbera capitulum explants were analyzed in four separate experiments. Capitulum explants were first washed with running tap water for 30 min then surface sterilized by dipping in 1.5% sodium hypochlorite solution for 15 min and rinsed with sterile distilled water, followed by immersing in 0.1 % mercuric chloride solution for 10 min. To remove mercuric chloride residue, capitulum was rinsed with sterile distilled water. Subsequent washing was done with sterile distilled water for three times. Sterilization steps were done under laminar air flow hood. For regeneration, eight genotypes of gerbera capitulum explants (Famous, Sunway, Red Pearl, Pink Snow, Popov, Balance, Dune, Eagle)were cultured on solid MS medium containing several cytokynins, BA, TDZ, 2IP or KIN (4 mg/l) in combination with IAA (0.2 mg/l). In proliferation stage, the effect of different concentrations of BA was evaluated on proliferation rate of Sunway regenerated explants. In the rooting stage, Sunway genotype plantlets were cultured on ½ MS medium containing NAA, IBA or IAA (1 mg/l) or ½ MS medium without any hormones. The pH of the medium was adjusted to 5.7-5.8 prior to autoclaving (15 min at 121 oC and 1.5 kg.cm-2 pressure). The cultures were incubated in a growth chamber at 25±2 oC with a 16-h photoperiod (2500-3000 Lux) provided by cool-white fluorescent lamps. For acclimation of rooted plantlets, different substrates used as follow: 1- perlite, 2- perlite: Cocopeat, 3- Cocopeat: peat moss, 4- Cocopeat: peat moss; treated with fungicide.
After 30 days, the response of explants was evaluated for each experiment. Data preparation was done in the Excel program and data analysis was done using JMP-8 software. Mean comparison of the treatments was done by Tukey test and finally the charts were drawn using the Excel program.
Results and Discussion:The results of regeneration stage showed that application of MS media containing kinetin or 2IP did not make an appropriate response to capitulum explants and no regeneration was observed in this condition. The medium containing 4 mg/l BA and 0.2 mg/l IAA indicated the highest percentage of regeneration in all genotypes.
The highest regeneration was observed in Sunway genotype with an average of 21.96%. On the other hand no regeneration was observed in Eagle genotype. In terms of the number of regenerated plantlet, the highest number (61.2) was attributed to the Sunway genotype while no plantlet was recorded for Eagle genotype. No significant differences were also observed between Pink Snow and Dune genotypes.
For the proliferation stage, only Sunway genotype was utilized due to its vigorous growth in comparison to other genotypes. In this stage, the highest (6 regenerated plantlets) and the lowest (1 regenerated plantlet) regeneration rate were observed in MS medium containing 2 mg/l BA and hormone-free medium, respectively. Hormone-free ½ MS medium and ½ MS medium containing 1 mg/l IAA or IBA, indicated the highest rooting rate (100% rooting) while medium containing 1 mg/l NAA showed 55% rooting rate. It seems that the application of NAA in the medium composition had the lowestimpact on the rooting of regenerated plantlets. At the end of the experiment, the highest (90.42%) and the lowest (47.5%) acclimation rate was obtained in peat moss + cocopeat + fungicide medium and perlite medium, respectively.
Conclusions: Generally, for shoot induction of gerbera through capitulum culture, application of MS medium containing 4 mg/l BA and 0.2 mg/l IAA is recommended. It is also concluded that for proliferation stage, the MS medium containing 2 mg/l BA showed the highest rate of regeneration. Using of Hormone-free ½ MS medium is economically affordable. Finally for acclimation of the plantlets, application of peat moss + cocopeat + fungicide medium is recommended.
Research Article
Mohammad Saeid Tadaion; Gholamreza Moafpourian
Abstract
Introduction: One of the latest efficient methods on increment of water use efficiency that confirmed by many scientists all over the world is deficit and alternative partial root zone deficit irrigation. In this experiment the effect of deficit and alternative partial root zone deficit irrigation on ...
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Introduction: One of the latest efficient methods on increment of water use efficiency that confirmed by many scientists all over the world is deficit and alternative partial root zone deficit irrigation. In this experiment the effect of deficit and alternative partial root zone deficit irrigation on fruit yield, quality and water use efficiency of pomegranate (Punicagranatum (L.) cv. Zarde-anar) were investigatedin Arsenjan semi-arid region.
Materials and Methods: The experiment was carried out in a constant plots and randomized complete block design (RCBD) with four replicationsin five years.Treatmentswere 1- full flood irrigation (100 percent crop water requirement) (T1) 2- flood irrigation with 100 percent crop water requirement as alternate partial root-zone irrigation(every irrigation conducted on one side of tree) (T2) 3- flood irrigation with 50 percent crop water requirement as regular deficit irrigation (T3) 4- full two-side drip irrigation(with regard to crop water requirement) (eight drippers with twolit/hour flow by two different individual networks) (T4) 5- alternate partial root-zone drip irrigation with 100 percent crop water requirement (T5) 6- regular deficit drip irrigation with 50 percent crop water requirement (T6) in every irrigation period. Each experimental treatment includes four trees and 96 similar twelve years old trees overall. Cultivation practice was conducted similarly on all of the trees.
Results and Discussion: Results showed that the highest yield and water use efficiency based on statistical analysis belong to both PRD treatments i.e. alternate partial root-zone drip irrigation with 100 percent crop water requirement and alternate partial root-zone flood irrigation with 100 percent crop water requirement, respectively, that both of them decreased water requirement for irrigation up to 35 and 50 percent in comparison tocontrol. Application of partial root drying irrigation on both traditional flood irrigation and drip irrigation, in comparison todeficit irrigation, caused a significant increment of water use efficiency up to 78.34 and 71.4 percent than control in pomegranate trees, respectively. Reduction of water consumption caused a significant increase on pomegranate fruit set and there was a significant positive correlation between pomegranate yield and fruit set percentage. Increment of water use efficiency, fruit set percentage and yield had significant effects on fruit quality such as aril color, total soluble solid, total acid, TSS/TA and fruits peel color, so that, with decrease in water consumption, these traits were improved. Reducing water consumption caused an induction in reproductive characteristics, meanwhile reduced vegetative growth that is dominated in pomegranate trees. Under partial root drying irrigation and deficit irrigation on both traditional flood irrigation and drip irrigation, due to the differentiation in root morphology and structure by positive hydrotropism, increment of water absorption and use efficiency could be improved in consequence. Decreasing amount of water inirrigation had significant effect on fruit quality. Fruit peel thickness and cracking had significant relationship with each other and fruit cracking has affected by deficit irrigation. The highest total soluble solid to acid of fruit juice belong to regular deficit drip irrigation with 50 percent crop water requirement that caused an increment of 95.34 in comparison tocontrol. After that, alternate partial root-zone drip irrigation with 100 percent crop water requirement and flood irrigation with 100 percent crop water requirement as alternate partial root-zone irrigation caused an increment intotal soluble solid to acid ratioof fruit juice with 61.94 and 52.99 percent. The highest amount of TSS in pomegranate fruit juice belong to alternate partial root-zone drip irrigation with 100 and 50 percent crop water requirement with 20.51 and 18.01 percent increment than control treatment, respectively. Maximum amount ofacidity infruit juice belongs to full flood irrigation with 100 percent crop water requirement (control) and the minimum amount of thatbelong to regular deficit drip irrigation with 50 percent crop water requirement.
Conclusions: with regard to the irrigation management, the best applicable treatment for pomegranate cultivar Zarde-anar was alternate partial root-zone drip irrigation with 100 percent crop water requirement that could be recommended for the Arsenjan and same climate region. After that in the second place the alternative treatment were flood irrigation with 100 percent crop water requirement as alternate partial root-zone irrigation and followed with flood irrigation with 50 percent crop water requirement as regular deficit irrigation, respectively.
Research Article
Ahmad Noroozi; Abdolreza Bagheri; Nasrin Moshtaghi; Ahmad Sharifi
Abstract
Introduction: Anthurium is a popular genus of the Araceae (order Spathiflorae).The flower consists of a protruding spadix containing numerous florets, subtended by a brightly colored modified leaf, the spathe. Anthuriums are bisexual and protogynous.Anthuriumscherzerianum as the most important species ...
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Introduction: Anthurium is a popular genus of the Araceae (order Spathiflorae).The flower consists of a protruding spadix containing numerous florets, subtended by a brightly colored modified leaf, the spathe. Anthuriums are bisexual and protogynous.Anthuriumscherzerianum as the most important species ofAnthurium genus is a potted perennial plant. Due to having beautiful, attractive and long-life flowers, A. scherzerianum can be used for the production of pot and cut flowers. Tissue culture is suggested as the most commonly method in order to rapid propagation and removing disease in a short period of time. This method also recommended for Anthuriumbecause of problems in classical propagation method of this flower..The three basic propagation methods for Anthuriumare propagation by seed, traditional vegetative and tissue culture.Micropropagation of Anthurium is using forcommercial production.
Materials and Methods: In this study, the effect of plant growth regulators and explants on indirect regeneration of A. scherzerianumdetermined in separate experiments. In the first experiment, callogenesis was done by leaf explants on MS medium containing growth regulators, BA in three concentrations (0.5, 1.25 and 2 mg/l) in combination with
2, 4-D (0.5, 1.25 and 2 mg/l) or NAA (0.5, 1.25 and 2 mg/l) and the combinations of TDZ (0.5, 1.25 and 2 mg/l) with
2, 4-D (0, 0.5 mg/l). In the second experiment, regeneration was done on MS medium containing 0.75 mg/l BA with 0.05 mg/l 2, 4-D and 0.1 mg/l NAA and also in combination with TDZ (0.75mg/l). For rooting, MS medium containing different concentrations of IBA and IAA (0, 0.2 and 1 mg/l) were used. Callus induction, regeneration and rooting experiments were done based on completely randomized design, with 12, 6 and 6 replications, respectively.Data from all the schemes used in this study were analyzed with SAS statistical software. The comparison of means using Duncan's multiple range test was evaluated at the 5% level.
Results and Discussion: Analysis of variance showed that the effect of explant type and hormone combinations was significant on the percentage of callogenesis, callus volume and survival percentage. The interaction effect of explant type and combination of hormones was also significant on percentage of callogenesisand the volume of callus. Means comparisons showed that the highest callogenesis, viability and callus volume were achieved on MS medium containing 2 mg/l of BA and 0.5 mg/l of 2, 4-D. Petiole explants, also produced the highest percentage of callus (95%), survival rate (96%) and callus with dimensions of 6 mm2. Callus formation in leaf vein explants was higher than others. The effect of explant type and hormone combinations on regeneration, number of branches, number of leaves and leaf length was significant.The interaction of explant and hormone combinations on regeneration, number of branches, number of leaves and leaf length was also significant. Moreover, results of regeneration experiment indicated that the maximum number of shoots (6.9) and the maximum shoot length (5 cm), number of leaves (18) and the leaf length (2.8 mm) were achieved in 0.75 mg/l BA mg/l of and 0.05 mg/l 2, 4-D. In this study, petiole explants were also regenerated earlier than leaf explants.The effect of hormone combinations and concentrations was significant on rooting specially on the number of roots and root length.Furthermore, results of rooting experiment revealed that the highest rooting percentage (95%), the maximum number of roots (4.5 per plantlet) and the longest roots (3.5 cm) were produced in the medium containing 0.2 mg/l of IBA. Finally, the rooted plantlets were adapted (90%) in vivo condition by placing them on a mixture of cocopeat and perlite (2:1) substrate.
Conclusion: In this study callugensis, regeneration and rooting of A.scherzerianum’s petiole and leaf explants were studied and different levels of plant growth regulators used for callugensis and regeneration. In this study petiole explants showed the highest callugenesis and regeneration. MS medium containing BA (2 mg/l) and 2, 4-D (0.5 mg/l), was the best for callugenesis. Also the highest percentage of regeneration was observed in medium containing BA (0.75 mg/l) and 2, 4-D (0.05 mg/l). Moreover low concentration (0.2 mg/l) of auxin has a better effect on rooting than high levels (1mg/l) so that the highest rooting percentage was produced in medium containing IBA (0.2 mg/l) and the lowest rooting percentage was produced in medium containing IAA (1 mg/l). Anthurium plantlets acclimized is cocopeat and perlite substrate (2: 1) with 90% acclimation.
Research Article
Mehdi Aran; Bahram Abedi; Ali Tehranifar; Mehdi Parsa
Abstract
Introduction: Most plants have developed morphological and physiological mechanisms which allow them to cope with drought stress. Almost all the studies conducted on grapevines (Vitisvinifera L.) responses to drought conditions have focused on physiological responses such as stomatal reactions, photosynthesis ...
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Introduction: Most plants have developed morphological and physiological mechanisms which allow them to cope with drought stress. Almost all the studies conducted on grapevines (Vitisvinifera L.) responses to drought conditions have focused on physiological responses such as stomatal reactions, photosynthesis and osmotic adjustment, and biochemical responses like carbohydrates and proline. According to these studies, physiological and biochemical responses of grapevines to water stress are quite variable. This variability could be related to cultivar, time of the year, previous water stress level, intensity of stress, and environmental conditions. Osmotic adjustment in terms of compatible solutes accumulation has been considered as an important physiological adaptation for plant to resist drought, which facilitates the extraction of water from dry soils and maintenance of cell turgor, gas exchange and growth in very dry environments. Acting as compatible solutes as well as antioxidants, a significant rise in proline amount was observed in grapevine leaves under water stress conditions, suggesting that this amino acid has a protective role against the formation of excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS). Plants, in order to overcome oxidative stress, have developed enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant defense mechanisms against scavenge ROS.
Materials and Methods: This research was conducted to assess the effect of different levels of irrigation on some characteristics of three cultivars of grapevine (Yaghooti, Bidanesefid and Askari), as a factorial based on a randomized complete block design in two years with four replications. The experiment started in June 21, 2014 and 2015. Water treatments were applied in four levels including: control plant (100% FC), moderate stress (60% FC), severe stress (30% FC) and rewatering treatment after severe stress treatment. Increase height, leaf number, stem diameter, leaf fresh and dry weight, stem dry weight, chlorophyll index,RWC, electrolyte leakage, soluble sugar, antioxidant activity, phenolic compound and proline were measured at the end of the experiment. JMP8 software was used to test the significant differences among the treatments and the interactions. When there were significant differences, means were separated by Tukey HSD test at the probability level p
Research Article
Maryam Aflaki Jalali; Abdollah Hatamzadeh; Hassan Bahrami Sirmandi
Abstract
Introduction: Tissue culture is an effective technique for mass propagation of walnut that has many advantages. Plants were obtainedby in vitro techniques in comparison with in vivotechniques areableto producet fruitearlier. However one of the major problems in walnut micropropagation is the difficulty ...
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Introduction: Tissue culture is an effective technique for mass propagation of walnut that has many advantages. Plants were obtainedby in vitro techniques in comparison with in vivotechniques areableto producet fruitearlier. However one of the major problems in walnut micropropagation is the difficulty of rooting. Auxin protection against auxin-oxidase system can make a major contribution to rooting. Among all the compounds that can play the synergistic role with auxin, they will probably have the ability of auxin protection against enzymes. In this experiment, the effect of lignosulfunate on rooting of micropropagated walnut was investigated for the first time.
Materials and Methods: In this experiment, Hartley cultivar of walnut was used. At first, explants were washed under running water for 1 hour then explants were placed in 70% alcohol for 1 minute and after that in 10% bleach for 10 minutes. After sterilization, under laminar air flow hood, explants were washed three times with distilled water and werecultured on Driverand Kuniyuki, 1984(DKW) medium supplemented with 2.2 g l-1phytagel, 2 mg l-1 BA, 0.01 mg l-1 IBA and 30 gl-1 sucrose (establishment stage). In multiplication stage, plantlets were subcultured every 25 days. All of the plantlets were placed in jars and were kept inside a growth chamber in photoperiod of 16 hours of light. All the multiplicated shoots were used as explants for the trails. Twodifferenttestswere usedto induceroot in explants. At the first trial, explants were transferred to induction medium containing IBA (3, 5, 7 and 10 mg l-1) and treatmentswere placedin thedark for 3, 5and7 days. Treatments related to theconcentrations of5and7 mg l-1IBAand7 daysof darknesshadthe highestpercentage ofrooting. In the next experiment, thecombination ofthree levels oflignosulfunate (1, 2 and 3 g l-1), and two concentration of 5and7mg l-1IBAwere used. Treatmentswere placedindarknessfor 7 days. After root induction,shootlets were transferred to root development medium. Rootdevelopmentmedium includesa quarteroftheDKWand vermiculite.
Results and Discussion:The aim of the first trial was to determine the concentration of IBA which produced the highest percentage of rooting. Among all the auxins, it was shown in other experiments that IBA has the best results in rooting of walnut. Due to this, we chose IBA as root induction hormone. With increasing of IBA concentrations and the induction period, rooting increased. Because the higher amount of exogenous auxin will induce the higher amount of endogenous auxin (IAAsp). However, rooting increased to a certain level and then began to decrease. With increasing concentrations above 10 mgl-1 IBA rooting reduced and formation of callus in the shoot end increased which is not good for rooting because callus would not let the cells form roots. It seems that accumulation of IAAsp induces self-productive cells in root area to grow and duplicate abnormally and maybe root formation stops because of this accumulation and also because of the inadequacy of the IAAsp to transfer to neighboring cells. Also with increasing concentration, defoliation and wilting happens. A lower concentration of IBA (about3 mgl-1) caused loss of rooting. The highest percentage of rooting for the first treatment with IBA was with 5 mgl-1 IBA and 7 days of darkness and 7 mgl-1 IBA and 7 days of darkness. The treatments were placed in darkness due to degradation of auxin under light condition. The induction time was related to auxin concentration. If the auxin concentration is less, the exposure time in the dark will be more. Root induction in the dark had better results than induction in light. The capacity of rooting in walnut is related to the amount of endogenous (IAAsp) and exogenous auxin. The amount of endogenous auxin is completely related to the cultivar and thatis why some cultivars respond really well to the amount of exogenous hormones in rooting stage. Exogenous auxin induces the production of endogenous auxin (IAAsp). These two concentrations were chosen for next treatment with lignosulfunate. Rootingratedecreaseswith increasinglignosulfunate. However, the highest root induction among all the treatments wasachieved on medium containing 1 g l-1lignosulfunate. The reason of transferring all explants after root induction to root development medium was changing the hormone and salts concentrations. At this stage, the ¼ DKW was used as a medium. This is due to the reduction of salts, root induction and rooting accelerate.
Conclusions: In this study, the effect of lignosulfunate (auxin synergist) on rooting stage of Hartley cultivar of walnut was investigated. For this goal, two trials were done. The first trial was to determine the best concentration of IBA for rooting. Two concentrations were chosen and another trial was the effect of the combination of lignosulfunate with IBA on rooting. For the first time in this study, we showed that lignosulfunatecan improve rooting of walnut.
Research Article
Ali Farhadi; Hossein Arouiee; Seyyed Hossein Nemati; Reza Salehi; Francesco Giuffrida
Abstract
Introduction: Salinity stress is regarded as one of the most important abiotic factors in plant limiting growth, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions. The reduction of plant growth by salinity stress has been well documented. When water supply is limited, plant structure is modified by increasing ...
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Introduction: Salinity stress is regarded as one of the most important abiotic factors in plant limiting growth, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions. The reduction of plant growth by salinity stress has been well documented. When water supply is limited, plant structure is modified by increasing the root: shoot ratio. To reduce of losses in vegetative growth and production of plant and to improve water use efficiency under saline conditions in high-yielding genotypes grafting them onto rootstocks could bereduced the effect of saline stress on plant shoot. Grafting is a routine technique in continuous cropping systems. Most of the species of cucurbits are distributed in the dry regions. The objective of this studywas investigated the effectiveness of salinity stress on accessions of cucurbita and hybrid inter specific which enter from another country to Iran.
Materials and Methods: This research was conducted in laboratory and greenhouse at the Research Center of Agricultural and Natural Resources of Isfahan during 2013-2014 growing season. A factorial experiment based on completely randomized design with three replications was conducted for rootstock and irrigation water salinity.. In the first experiment 25 seeds of rootstocks were sown in petri dishes with 10 cm diameter and irrigated by 10 ml of saline water. Rootstocks included 20 different local landraces and interspecific hybrids (C.moschata cv. Isfahan and Koshk, C.pepo cv. Alvar, Tiran, Koshk and Asgharabad, C. maxima cv. Kermanshah, Shahreza, Mohamadiyeh and Alvar, Lagenaria Siceraria, Luffa cylindrica, Trichosanthes cucumerina, RZ-Ferro, Es113, Ews910, Ews909, Ews913, 426 and Es152). Salinity stress was 6 levels (0, 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 ds/m of NaCl). Germination, diameter of stem, height of root and stem, shoot and root fresh mass, vigor index and root: shoot ratio were evaluated. In the second experiment seeds were sown in plastic pot by soil media. Seedlings were irrigated daily with 200 ml of saline water (0, 2 and 4 ds/m) for 35 days. Excess solution was allowed to drain from the plants through drainage holes in the base of the pots. Hybrids of 152,426 and Trichosanthes cucumerina, Luffa cylindrical and Cucurbita pepo con. Pepo var. Styriaca was added. In the second phase measured shoot and root dry mass, SPAD index, relatively water content and seedling vigor index.
Results and Discussion: the results showed that all parameters were significantly influenced by salinity except root: shoot ratio in Petri dish. Salinity stress reduced chlorophyll index (SPAD), relative water content in cucurbita leaves than control (without saline) and also seeds germination, seedlings fresh mass and seedlings vigour by 51%, 53%, and 75 % respectively. .The shoot dry biomass of local landrace and inter specific hybrids in both experiment decreased linearly in response to increasing saline stress. Recorded data in Petri dish and plastic pot were significantly influenced by rootstock, whereas no significant difference was observed on germination rate and vigor index for plastic pot in greenhouse. The lowest seed germination percentage, seedling growth, vigor index and root: shoot ratio recorded on high saline concentration. NaCl threshold damage to cucurbits was evaluated 4 ds/m. Populations of C. maxima cv.Kermanshah and Shahreza, C.moschata cv. Isfahan and inters pecific hybrids Ferro, 909 and 910 were showed tolerant to salinity. It is proven that crop growth decreases with increasing saline stress (Rouphael, et al., 2012). Hybrids of C. moschata cv. Koshk, C. pepo cv. Koshk and Asgharabad, Lagenaria Siceraria, Es113 and Cucurbita pepo con. Pepo var. Styriaca were sensitive to saline stress. Kumar et al, (2008) also reported plant response to salinity depends on type of salt, salt concentration and plant genotype.
Conclusions: Salinity stress adversely affect biomass and leaf water content of cucurbita. Our results indicated that local and hybrid cucurbit plants exhibited different response to saline stress. Hybrid rootstocks 909, 910 and Ferro were tolerant to salinity. Although local landrace C. maxima. cv. Shahreza and Kermanshah, C. moschata cv. Isfahan and C. pepo cv. Tiran were tolerant to salinity. Sensitivity to saline stress was similar between some local landrace and hybrid plants. Finally, after grafting in cucurbita rootstocks needs more research to use water, wast water, NaCl and other resources of salinity and to find the most tolerant rootstock.
Research Article
Mohammadsadegh Sadeghi; Seyyed Jalal Tabatabaie; Hassan Bayat
Abstract
Introduction: Spinach is a leafy vegetable which is rich source of vitamins, antioxidant compounds (e.g. flavonoids, acid ascorbic) and essential elements (e.g. Fe, and Se). Spinach is capable of accumulating large amounts of nitrogen in the form of nitrate in shoot tissues which is undesirablein the ...
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Introduction: Spinach is a leafy vegetable which is rich source of vitamins, antioxidant compounds (e.g. flavonoids, acid ascorbic) and essential elements (e.g. Fe, and Se). Spinach is capable of accumulating large amounts of nitrogen in the form of nitrate in shoot tissues which is undesirablein the human diet. The concentration of nitrate in plants is affected by species, fertilizer use, and growing conditions. Green leafy vegetables such as spinach, generally contain higher levels of nitrate than other foods. Nitrate ofplant tissueslevels are clearly related to both form and concentration of N fertilizers applied. Nitrogen fertilizers have been known as the major factors that influence nitrate content in vegetables. Ideally, the N fertility level must be managed to produce optimum crop yield without leading to excessive accumulation of nitrate in the harvested tissues.Usinghigh amounts ofN fertilizer produced higher yield with higher nitrate inleaves but the highest amount of nitrate was accumulated in the petioles.There are several plant species that may accumulate nitrate, including the Brassica plants, green cereal grains (barley, wheat, rye and maize), sorghum and Sudan grasses, corn, beets, rape, docks, sweet clover and nightshades. The presence of nitrate in vegetables, as in water and generally in other foods, is a serious threat to man’s health. Nitrate is relatively non-toxic, but approximately 5% of all ingested nitrate is converted in saliva and the gastrointestinal tract to the more toxic nitrite. This study was aimed to investigate theeffects of nitrogen and nutrient removal on nitrate accumulation and growth characteristics of spinach (Spinacia oleraceae L.).
Materials and Methods: A pot hydroponic experiment was carried out to evaluate the effect of different levels of nitrogen and nutrient removal (one week before harvest) on nitrate accumulation and growth characters. A factorial experiment based on completely randomized design was conducted with twolevels of removal (removal of nutrient one week before harvest) or not to remove and fourlevels of nitrogen (25, 50, 100 and 200 mg/l) with sixreplications. During the growing season in the greenhouse, temperature was fixed between 24-27 °C and photoperiod of 16 hours of light and 8 hours of darkness. The measured traits were root fresh and dry weight, shoot fresh and dry weight, Fv/Fm ratio, and chlorophyll index, number of leaf per plant, leaf area, nitrate and total nitrogen.
Results and Discussion: The results of this experiment showed that increasingnitrogen concentration from 25 to 200 mg/l increased shoot dry weight, number of leaves and leaf area, by 22.00, 7.26, 4.79 and 14.00 fold, respectively. Nitrogen also increased Fv/Fm and chlorophyll index. Nutrient removal in a week before harvest had no significant effect on fresh and dry weight of shoots and roots, number of leaves,leaf area, chlorophyll index and Fv/Fm. Increasing concentrations of nitrogen increased nitrate and total nitrogen in petiole while removing the nutrient solution in a week before harvest significantly decreased amounts of the above-mentioned traits. Nutrient solution removal is an appropriate strategy to reduce nitrate accumulation in spinach that has no effect on yield loss.
Conclusions: The results showed that increasing the concentration of nitrogen increased plant growth indicators such as shoot fresh and dry weight, root fresh and dry weight, leaf area and number of leaf per plants, so that the greatest increase was obtained from concentration of 200 mg/lit. Increasing the concentration of nitrogen enhanced nitrate and total nitrogen of petiole so that the highest concentration of nitrate and total nitrogen was observed in200 mg/lit nitrogen. Nutrient solution removal in a week before the harvest had a significant effect in reducing all traits but it decreased nitrate accumulation and total nitrogen of petiole significantly. At the end of the experiment, it was found that increasing the concentration of nitrogen increased nitrate concentrations and total nitrogen in the petioles while nutrient removal in a week before harvest reducedthe amount of leaf nitrate. Thereforethe removal ofnutrient solution is one of the strategies to reduce nitrate accumulation that had no effect on yield loss of crop. Based on the results from this research, nitrogen at a concentration of 200 mg/lit, with the removal of nutrient solution a week before harvest is recommended for growing in hydroponic culture of spinach.
Research Article
Naser Abbaspour; Lavin Babaei; Alireza Farrokhzad
Abstract
Introduction: Water stress is considered as a main environmental factor limiting crop growth and yield, including grape in Mediterranean areas.Selection for drought-tolerantvarieties is possible through investigation of their performance under stress conditions. The estimation of physiological characteristics ...
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Introduction: Water stress is considered as a main environmental factor limiting crop growth and yield, including grape in Mediterranean areas.Selection for drought-tolerantvarieties is possible through investigation of their performance under stress conditions. The estimation of physiological characteristics as reliable indices can be used as a tool to select tolerant plants. For this reason, varieties and genotypes of one plant species are usually investigated through physiological characteristics and its relation to drought tolerance. Investigation of the effects of water stress on some growth and physiological characteristics in grape plants has revealed that plant height, number of leaves and nodes, leaf area and the percentage of dry weightdecreased under increasing drought stress. Salicylic Acid is a naturally occurring plant hormone whichinfluences various morphological and physiological functions in plant. It can act as an important signaling molecule and has diverse effects on biotic and abiotic stresses tolerance capacity.
Materials and Methods: In this research, two-yearold grapesplanted in plastic pots containingingredients of humus, soil and sand (1:2:1) were used. The experiment was conducted using a factorial based on randomized complete block design with three factors including irrigation periods (every 5, 10 and 15 days), salicylic acid concentrations (0, 1 and 2 mM) and grape cultivars (Rasheh andBidanesefid) with 3 replications in thegreenhouse of faculty of agricultureinUrmia University. Plant height, stem diameter and leaf area and chlorophyll indicesweremeasuredby usingruler, digital caliper (Model22855 NO: Z), leaf Area Meter (ModelAM200) and SPAD-502 chlorophyll meter (Minolta Crop, Japan),respectively. In order to determine proline content, malondialdehyde (MDA), total protein and total soluble sugars, spectrophotometric methods [51,25,6and28] were utilized,respectively.
Results and Discussion: Based on comparing the averages related to the interaction of various levels of drought and salicylic acid, increasing watering intervals resulted in significant decrease in parameters of plant height, stem diameter, leaf area, leaf number and chlorophyll index,and increase inproline content, malondialdehyde, total protein and total soluble sugars.Furthermore, according to the obtained results, plant height, stem diameter, leaf number, chlorophyll index, accumulation of prolineandtotal protein in grape cv. Rashehwere higher than Bidanesefidone.Drought effected the mitotic division, andelongation and expansion of cells, leading to reduced growth and crop yield. It was concluded that plant height, stem diameter, and leaf area decreased noticeably byincreasing water stress. The reduction in plant height could be attributed to decline in the cell enlargement and higher rate ofleaf senescence in the plant under water stress. The reduction in leaf number under severe water deficit was partially due to leaf senescence. Reduction inthe number of leaves could be a response by plants to minimize the transpiration surface. Sorghum plants have also been reported to have a similarbehaviorthroughwhichthey conserve water by reducing the number of leaves. When exposed to chronic water deficit, they showed an initial decrease in the daily increment of leaf area and eventually a decrease due to accelerated senescence. Dropping of the leaves during severe stress markedly reduces the evaporative surface and allows the plant to conserve water.It is well known that proline contents in leaves of many plants are enhanced by several stresses including drought stress. The efficiency of exogenous SA depends on multiple causes such as the species, developmental stage of the plant, manner of application and concentration of SA.Plant height, stem diameter, leaf number, leaf area, leaf total soluble sugar and chlorophyll index increased by applying 2 mM salicylic acid comparedwith 0 and 1 mM doses. The findings of this study showed that salicylic acid was able to enhance the tolerant capacity of the grape plant to the drought stress. According to theobtained results, Rashehcultivar showed a greater resistance to drought stress. Salicylic acid prohibits auxin and cytokinin loss in plants and thus enhances cell division and plant growth. Salicylic acid maintainsphotosynthetic aspects like chlorophyll content at proper level and thus helps plants to grow and developwell. In this study, the drought stress increased the amount of MDA.MDA and other aldehydes in the dry conditions are the result ofactive oxygen species (ROS) such as super oxide radical, peroxide, hydrogen and radical hydroxide, whichareproduced underoxidative stress conditions. The species of active oxygen leads to lipids' per oxidation as a result of injury or damage to the cellular membrane, especially chloroplast membrane.Salicylic acid increases the activity of antioxidant enzymes such as CAT, POD and SOD which in turn protect plants against ROS generation and lipid peroxidation. Salicylic acid treatment also providesa considerable protection from the enzyme nitrate reductase, thereby maintaining the level of diverse proteins in leaves.Mohammadkhani and Heidari (48) found that the initial increase in total soluble proteins during drought stress was due to the expression of new stress proteins.
Research Article
Nahid Amoli; Amirhooshang Jalali; Peyman Jafari
Abstract
Introduction: Basil(Ocimumbasilicum L.)is a diploid plant with48chromosomes. Basil isthe aromatic annual herbofthe Lamiaceae familyofleafy vegetablesandhas mentionedand originated inIndiaandIran. Basilhasiron, calcium, magnesium, potassiumandvitamins Aand B. More than 60 varietiesof basilhave been identifiedthathavegreenleavesandredto ...
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Introduction: Basil(Ocimumbasilicum L.)is a diploid plant with48chromosomes. Basil isthe aromatic annual herbofthe Lamiaceae familyofleafy vegetablesandhas mentionedand originated inIndiaandIran. Basilhasiron, calcium, magnesium, potassiumandvitamins Aand B. More than 60 varietiesof basilhave been identifiedthathavegreenleavesandredto purple.The performance of15varietiesof basilin Mazandaran province were studied, genotypescollected fromSari(darkgreen) withthe23.63 tha-1(fresh weight) had thehighestyield. In comparison, 38the massbasil, withtwocultivars(Opal andKashkanyLulu), localpopulationsofmanyof the traits(e.g.,length and width ofleavesandfresh and dry weight) showed superiority than cultivars. Incomparing the performance of38varietiesof basilinItaly, drymatter yieldper hectarerangedfrom1812 to6165kg ha-1thatthis wasmore attributestobegenetic aspects. Landraces ofbasilhavevaluabletraitssuch asdrought resistance, saltresistance, resistancetodisease, resistancetocoldandheat. In order to achieveoptimalpopulationpurple basil with high-performance inIsfahan andMazandaran, the present studywas conducted usingsomeof the populationinthese two provinces.
Materials and Methods: The number of populations of purple basil wasstudied toselect superior genotypes according to the yield and adaptation to climatic conditions in two provinces at Agricultural Research Station Gharahil of Mazandaran and Kabootarabad of Isfahan. The experiment was conducted as a randomized complete block design with three replications with seeds collected from two areas of the province (a total of 12 varieties of basil) during one year. Land preparationwas consisted ofplowanddiscperpendicular to each other(for crushinghunk) and thenlevelingandplotsofland. Inprovinces, nitrogen, phosphorusandpotassiumfertilizerwas used based on soiltest.In this experiment,harvest time was4st. for every two region. Duringthe growing seasonweed controlwascarried outmechanically.
Result and Discussions: In both areas, the yield and plant height (at 5% statistical probability level) and the number of leaves per plant (at 1% statistical probability level) were statisticallysignificant. In Isfahan area, Ghaemshahr red basil mass yield was 17.1 t ha-1, but the yield of this mass were not significantly different with Farah Abad, Bahnamiri, Dastgerd, Mobarake, Ardestan and Dorche. The yield of Mazandaran 1,Mazandaran 2 and Najaf Abad masses were 11.61, 11.02, and 11.10, respectively, that had the lowest performance among the masses. In Mazandaran region, in most cases, the yields of all 12 purple basil mass were twotimes or more than doubles in the Isfahan region. The yield of Mazandaran 2 mass was the lowest in Isfahan region, but had high performance (29.6 t ha-1) in Mazandaran region. In both regions, Ghaemshahr, Neka, Behshahr, Mobarakeh and Ardestān purple basil masses had the highest yield. In Isfahan, plant height rangedfrom19.67(Ardestan) to28.00cm, while thisrange in Mazandaran region was 29.7to41.7cm. In a studyin Turkey,a highest height for purple basil without water limitation was38.6cm. Basil plant height has a positive and significant correlation with performance and in addition to genetic factors, environmental characteristics, in particular the amount of moisture available to plants can also have a significant impact on plant height. Among all12 genotypes tested, the number of leaves were 53 (Dastgerd) to 73.7 (Behshahr), and the number of leaves rangedfrom 48.3 (Behshahr) to 78.3 (Mazandaran 1)in Mazandaran. Usually the soil areas withhigh fluctuations in moisture and air (comparison Isfahan with Mazandaran), leaves hada smaller number and leaf area. The number of branches of genotypes was from 12.6 to 16.3in Isfahan region and in the Mazandaran region was from 6.3 to 9.3. Reduce the number of branches in Mazandaran (1.5 to 2 times less) related to radiation exposure in the area and its difference with radiation in Isfahan.Usually the weather of Isfahanis sunnyanddirect sunlightwhereas the weather of Mazandaran region iscloudy. In both regions, the greatest contribution performance harvest was in second and third harvest, respectively (although yields were higherin Mazandaran region). The lower yield at first harvest can attributed with opportunity when it is necessary for plant establishment. The fourth harvest yield loss can be two reasons, one terminate of plant growth and aging, and other high temperature at this time. Although basil is a plant that originated from warm zones, but increased plant maintenance respiration can occur at high temperatures is an issue that should be considered.
Research Article
Zeinab Aghakhani; Majid Azizi; Hossein Arouiee
Abstract
Introduction: Evening primrose (OenotherabiennisL.) is a relatively new and valuable oilseed crop for temperate region. Its oilseed is important because of high levels of unsaturated fatty acids, especially gamma-linolenic acid. Seeds contain 20-30% oil which includes 70% linoleic acid (LA) and 10% gamma ...
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Introduction: Evening primrose (OenotherabiennisL.) is a relatively new and valuable oilseed crop for temperate region. Its oilseed is important because of high levels of unsaturated fatty acids, especially gamma-linolenic acid. Seeds contain 20-30% oil which includes 70% linoleic acid (LA) and 10% gamma linolenic acid (GLA). Oil content in O. biennis is a quantitative trait which controlled by many genes and similar to any other quantitative traits varies with environmental conditionssuch factors as age of seed and growth conditions. Evening primrose oil, especially gamma-linolenic acid, has many therapeutic properties, and it uses as cure for many diseases such as Diabetes, Eczema, inflammation, Cardiovascular, Cancer, Autoimmune diseases, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Depression. Studies on Medicinal Plants in nature and farmlands show that the use of sustainable agriculturae andnatural sources are two suitable methods for producing healthy plants.Additionally, the use of bio-fertilizers lead to maximum yield and quality in these plants. Azizi et al.(6) showed that interactions of vermicompost and plant density had significant effect on oil content, oil density and refractive index of evening primrose oil. The best treatments were also including 2 Kg/m2 of vermicompost,20 plants/ m2in terms of oil production,9 plants/ m2in terms of oil quality and ratio of unsaturated fatty acids to saturated, respectively.
Material and Method: The aim of this research was to determine the effect of humic acid and bio-phosphor application on growth parameters in O. biennis. The experiment was conducted based on randomized complete block design with 8 treatments and three replicates during 2013-2014 growing season, at the experimental farm of the faculty of Agriculture, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad.. Treatments consisted of 4 levels of humic acid (0, 1, 3, 5 ml/L) and 2 levels of bio-phosphor (without bio-phosphor or with bio-phosphor). Liquid form of humic acid was used, which has low percentage of organic matters (16.5%) and applied as foliar spray after stem elongation in three stages with 10 days intervals until flowers stage. The use of bio-phosphor contain three strains of phosphate solubilizing bacteria(Pseudomonas pautida, Bacillus circulans and Bacillus subtilus) withCFU 108 numbers of spores (the number of living cells of each bacteria per milliliter). Analysis of variance was calculated using MSTATC andDuncan's multiple range tests was employed at probability level of 5%.
Results and Discussion: The results showed thatmaximum plant height (85.59 cm),number of seed per capsules on main shoot (251.17), oil percent (21.75 %) was obtainedby interaction effect between 5 ml/Lhumic acid and without bio-phosphor. Also, seed yield (1080 kg/ha) and oil yield (227 kg/ha) increased byinteraction effect between 3 ml/Lhumic acid and without bio-phosphor. Humic acid had a significant effect on increasing number of lateral branches (26/8), number of capsules on main shoot (117/35), as the highest value of all traits were obtained in 5 ml/L humic acid treatment. The highest number of capsules in lateral branches was observed in bio-phosphor treatment without humic acid. Bio-phosphor application had no significant effect on increasing oil percent. Oil yield was reduced by using of this fertilizer with 1ml/L humic acid treatment but application of 3 and 5 ml/L of humic acid showed no significant difference in comparison to control. Ahmed et al.reported that humic acid is a suspension based on potassium humate, which can be used as a plant growth stimulant in order to increase plant natural resistance against diseases and pests and subsequently increase plant yields. Phosphorus is an important element for cell division, root development and seed formation. Phosphate solubilizing bacteria produce organic acids which increase solubility of phosphorus and make it available for plants. Use of bio-fertilizers not only improves plant structure and activity of beneficial soil microorganisms, also it provides good availability of water and nutrients which finally improve plant yield. It can be said that foliar spray by humic acid stimulates plant growth and increaseevening primrose oil content.
Conclusions: Application of 3 and 5 ml/L of humic acid had the best results on traits andinteraction effect between humic acid and bio-phosphor showed positive effects on all traits except oil percent and oil yield. Generally, humic acid had positive effect on plant growth, oil yield, content and composition. Although, bio-phosphor had good effect on seed yield as a growth trait,its application with humic acid improved this trait.While bio-phosphor had no significant effect on oil content, it can be relative impact on oil composition.
Research Article
Kazem Bashiri; Abolfazl Jowkar
Abstract
Introduction: The climate of every region does not let to have year-round production of crops. Use of plant growth regulators allows to produce the flowers out of season and improve their quality and yield. Gibberellin is one of the plant growth regulators which can substitute cold requirement of plants, ...
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Introduction: The climate of every region does not let to have year-round production of crops. Use of plant growth regulators allows to produce the flowers out of season and improve their quality and yield. Gibberellin is one of the plant growth regulators which can substitute cold requirement of plants, while cytokinin is another plant growth regulator to stimulate floral initials. Paclobutrazol is a triazole compound that inhibits gibberellin synthesis. Cineraria (Pericallis × hybrida) as a prominent flowering pot plant has a growing demand during the spring festivals especially Nowrouz, which needs further improvement of quality and yield. In this regard a study was designed to examine the morphological characteristics of cineraria using gibberellin, cytokinin, paclobutrazol and cold.
Materials and Methods: Seeds of cineraria (Pericallis × hybrida cv. Satellite( were sown in plug trays at the research greenhouse of college of agriculture, Shiraz University. A study was carried out with a completely randomized design and five replications. Control plants were transferred to incubators at eight leaves stage to receive six weeks of cold. Spraying treatments consisted of control (water), 100 mg/L gibberellin at three times (before cold, middle of cold and after cold), combinations of cold and/or gibberellin (100, 200 mg/L) with benzyl adenine (150, 300 mg/L) and/or paclobutrazol (250, 500 mg/L). In order to better understand the effects of paclobutrazol, its treatments were applied two weeks after gibberellin treatments. Data analysis was done by SAS 9.1 software and means were compared by LSD at 5 percent probability level.
Results and Discussions: Gibberellin can be used as a replacement for cold. The maximum acceleration of full flowering (32 days) and the greatest delay of full bloom (14 days) were observed in 100 mg/L gibberellin + 250 mg/L paclobutrazol and 200 mg/L gibberellin + 300 mg/L benzyl adenine, respectively. These results were consistent with other studies on iris, lily, tulip and hyacinth. The highest longevity of cineraria was observed in 100 mg/L gibberellin + 250 mg/L paclobutrazol (31.8 days) which showed increasing of 24 days compared to control. Gibberellin and cytokinin lengthened the life of flowers, while paclobutrazol reduced the ethylene production and delayed the senescence. The greatest shoot fresh and dry weight was evaluated in 100 mg/L gibberellin + 300 mg/L benzyl adenine, while paclobutrazol decreased the plant growth. Similar results have been reported in zinnia and geranium. Gibberellin and cytokinin increased leaf area, while paclobutrazol decreased it. The highest leaf area was detected using 100 mg/L gibberellin + 300 mg/L benzyl adenine. . Maximum flower number was obtained using 100 mg/L gibberellin + 300 mg/L benzyl adenine, while the lowest number was obtained by 100 mg/L gibberellin + 500 mg/L paclobutrazol application. In addition, observations in orchid and jasmine were showed similar result. Gibberellin enhanced and paclobutrazol decreased plant height. plants Spraying with 200 mg/L gibberellin and cold + 500 mg/L paclobutrazol showed the maximum and minimum height, respectively. Similar observations have been found in cyclamen and tuberose. number. . Also, Paclobutrazol application enlarged flower diameter. The greatest enhancement of flower diameter ( 1 cm) was found by cold + 500 mg/L paclobutrazol spray. Flower diameter improvement is related to the severed growth, height and flower number by paclobutrazol. Flower diameter reduction in higher concentrations using gibberellin and cytokinin may be attributed to increasing translocation of carbohydrates to shoots and vegetative growth rather than flowers. Osteospermum and chrysanthemum showed similar and opposite results, respectively with this study. The effect of chemicals inhibitor depends on the number of applications, environmental conditions, plant sensitivity and how it is used. The bestvisual quality was detected in cold + 150 mg/L benzyl adenine, 100 mg/L gibberellin + 150 mg/L benzyl adenine and cold + 500 mg/L paclobutrazol. Application of cold + 500 mg/L paclobutrazol showed dwarf form, compact inflorescence and widened flower diameter. Additionally, minimumvisual quality was evaluated by cold + 300 mg/L benzyl adenine which may be related to decreasing calcium uptake and subsequent lateral shoot bending.
Conclusions: Spraying with gibberellin, benzyl adenine and paclobutrazol had a positive effect on morphological traits of cineraria and increased its growth and development. Cineraria’s limited cultivation, due to its six weeks cold requirement, could be overcome by gibberellin application. Application of cold + 500 mg/L paclobutrazol increased flowers and new compact form. Generally, 100 mg/L gibberellin + 250 mg/L paclobutrazole spraying could reduce cineraria’s growth period for 32 days and make a new dwarf form. Overall, 100 mg/L gibberellin + 300 mg/L benzyl adenine spraying reduced cineraria’s growth period for 21 days and also increased its fresh and dry weight, fresh root weight, leaf area, plant height, stem diameter, visual quality, flower number and flower longevity compared to other treatments.
Research Article
Razieh Valiasill; Majid Azizi; Hossein Arouiee; Masumeh Bahraini; M. Morabaian
Abstract
Introduction: Today, tendency to use drugs and therapies with herbal and natural products are increasing because negative effects of chemical drugs and environmental pollution have been proved. Collection and handling of medicinal plants are not usually done in sanitary conditions and difference in cultivation ...
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Introduction: Today, tendency to use drugs and therapies with herbal and natural products are increasing because negative effects of chemical drugs and environmental pollution have been proved. Collection and handling of medicinal plants are not usually done in sanitary conditions and difference in cultivation conditions can also increase pollution, influencing the maintenance period and damaging the aspect and the potential benefit of medicinal plants. Medicinal plants decontaminate with different methods that each of these methods has different effects on their microbial load. Therefore it seems essential to use of methods that can have the highest effect on microbial load decrease and the lowest effect on active substance of these plants.
Materials and Methods: In order to evaluate the effects of Ozone gas and gamma irradiation on microbial load of Melissa officinalis, an experiment was conducted based on randomized complete block design with three replications. Plant samples were collected from the Research farm of, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad. Meliss leaves were treated by Ozone gas concentrations 0.3, 0.6 and 0.9 ml/L for 10 and 30 min and irradiated at dosages 3, 7, 10 and 15 KGy by a Co60 source. Then microbial load of Meliss leaves were measured. Coliform bacteria were determined using Violet Red Bile lactose (VRBL) agar (Liofilchem Co., Italia), according to the method of ISO4832. According to ISO 7954, yeast extract of glucose chloramphenicol agar (Liofilchem Co., Italia) was used for determination of mold and yeast. The total count (plate count agar, Liofilchem Co., Italia) was determined by method of ISO 4833, that each replicate was tested with duplicate pour plates. Ozone gas was produced by corona discharge Ozone generator with production capacity 10 g/h of Ozone gas (OZONEAB co. A.S10. Iran). Analysis of variance and means comparison were calculated using SAS 9.1 (Cary, NC, USA, 2002-2003). Means square comparisons were different at the 5% significance level by the least significant difference test.
Results and Discussion: The effect of Gamma radiation on microbial load such as total count, molds, yeasts and Coliform was significant (p
Research Article
Mohammad Reza Asghari; Mohammad Tohidian
Abstract
Introduction: Asaclimactericfruit, peach has a highrespiration rateandvery lowshelf life. Nowadays theuse ofappropriatepostharvesttechnologiesto increase fruit postharvest lifeis necessary.Use of nanotechnologyis considered asan effective method to increase fruit postharvest life. Nanotechnology isused ...
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Introduction: Asaclimactericfruit, peach has a highrespiration rateandvery lowshelf life. Nowadays theuse ofappropriatepostharvesttechnologiesto increase fruit postharvest lifeis necessary.Use of nanotechnologyis considered asan effective method to increase fruit postharvest life. Nanotechnology isused extensivelyinallstages of production, processing, storage, packagingand transport ofagriculturalproducts.The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of silver and silica nanocomposites, nanosilver and polypropylene containers on shelf-life and preservation of peach qualitative characteristics (Prunuspersicacv. Elberta) such as titrable acidity, soluble solids, ascorbic acid, total antioxidant and total phenolics content in cold storage after the harvest.
Materials and Methods: To determine the effect of nanopackaging onshelf life andqualitativecharacteristics ofElberta peaches,the experiment was conducted in a factorial based on a completely randomized design with two treatmentsand four replications.The first factor consisted of nanopackagingnanosilver, silver and silica nanocompositesandpolypropylenepackaging, and the second factor was coldstorage periods of15, 30 and 45 daysattemperaturesfrom 0 to0/5 °C and a relative humidityof 85to 95%.In general, the experiment consisted of 36 experimental units, and each includinga container with four Elberta peach fruits.Data were analyzed by using SAS software, and Microsoft Office Excel 2010 software was used to plot the graphs.Duncan's multiple range test was used to compare the means of treatments.
Results and Discussion: At the end of the maintenance period, the highest firmness of peach texture was related to nanosilver containers. The main cause of fruit softening is the destruction of cell wall components, especially pectin, which is caused by certain enzymes such as polygalactronase. Whenstorage timeincreased, polypropylene containers showed a higher weight loss compared to nanocomposite containers, thus the results indicated that nanopackaging had a greater effect on preventing weight loss, which could be attributed to the formation of better barrier against water molecules. Nanoparticles and polypropylene containers up to 30-daystorage period preserved the pH of the product to some extent and prevented it from increasing too much. However, with an increase in storage time from 30 to 45 days, the pH of all dishes showed sharpincrease. In most treatments, fruits grew during the maintenance period, which is due to the reduction of organic acids. The lowest levels of organic acids reduction were recorded in polypropylene and nanosilver treatments. Generally, organic acids decreased as a result of respiration or becoming sugars, whichcan bedirectly related to metabolic activity. Maintaining organic acids in fruits is the result of a slowdown in the processes of ripeningand aging and reduction inrespiration and other metabolic activities. The results showed that in all the three treatments, the amount of soluble solids up to 15-day periodshowed an increasing trend, and after the end of day 30, it stopped in nanosilver and polypropylene treatments, and soluble solids were retained but reduced in nanocomposite treatment showed that this decrease. Nanocomposite containers exhibited the best performance in maintaining ascorbic acid content and preventing its changes, while ascorbic acid content in nanosilver and polypropylene containers varied greatly, thoughthere were no significant differences among thetreatments. Low oxygen environments, such as packaging containers, can inhibit ascorbic acid changes during maintenance by inhibiting oxidation. The results showed that total antioxidant level was almost identical in all treatments at the end of maintenance. Antioxidant activity has a close relationship with phenolic compounds, flavonoids and vitamins. The antioxidant capacity of fruits and vegetables is related to enzymatic and non-enzymatic compounds such as vitamin C, phenolic compounds, and carotenoids. Treatments reducingrespiration and producingethylene can reduce the rate of aging,the rate of free radical production and the consumption of antioxidants. Based on the results, on the day 30 in all treatments, the amount of phenolic compounds initiallyincreased, which is normal in red fruits, but afterwards decreased in all treatments mainly due to the increased activity of the polyphenol oxidase enzyme and the progression of aging. Increasing the amount of phenol on the day 30 can be attributed to decreased activity of the polyphenol oxidase enzyme and the oxidative stress associated with high concentrations of oxygen.
Conclusion: Nanopackaging increased the shelf life and qualitative properties of peach fruit. Nanotechnology has a simple and fast process for industrialization compared to other methods of keeping food products. As a result, the use of modern technologies such as nanopackaging can improve the taste, favor, quality of food and the storage of crops, especially fruits and vegetables.