مجله علوم و فنون باغبانی ایران
سال شانزدهم شماره 2 (تابستان 1394)

In this study, in order to evaluate water use efficiency, the effects of three different irrigation methods including surface, Babler and drip irrigation were studied on response of old grapevine cultivar ‘Keshmeshi Sefid’. The experiment was conducted during three years from 2009 to 2011 based on randomized complete block design with three treatments and four replications in Miandoab, west Azarbaijan, Iran. Results indicated that irrigation methods has significant effects (P≤5%) on growth characteristics of grapevine; height, trunk circumference, length of cane and leaf area suggesting that swiching of irrigation methods to under pressure methods reduced the vegetative plant growth. Also, irrigation methods showed significant effects (P≤5%) on yield per vine, the number of bunch on the vine, bunch weight, bunch width and bunch length, water use efficiency, weight of 100-berry, pH and TSS of fruit indicating that changing irrigation methods resulted increase in water use efficiency, TSS and pH but reduced growth rate.The highest water use efficiency by 2.21 kilograms per cubic meter of water was obtained from drip followed by Babler (2.16), while this value was 1.48 for the surface irrigation. With half of water used in surface irrigation, the reduced yield of grape was 2.5 and 3.8 t ha-1, respectively. Therefore, with respect to relatively low yield reduction and even improvement of fruit quality, Bubbler system is recommended to change irrigation method in old grapevine orchards.

Encapsulated seeds of Musa spp. cv. ‘Dwarf Cavendish’ were obtained by covering the shoot tips grown in vitro culture with artificial endosperm. The effects of thickness (one layer and two layers) and composition (with and without activated charcoal) of artificial endosperm on the regeneration, proliferation number of plantlet per encapsulated seed, shoot length, root number and length as well as plantlet fresh weight were evaluated. This study was conducted using a factorial experiment based on completely randomized design in 2012. Result indicated that composition and thickness of artificial endosperm have significant effect on regeneration rate and growth of encapsulated shoot tips and resultant ex vitro sustainability of regenerated plantlets. The reasonable achievement of regeneration rate, shoot and root growth achieved from shoot tips covered by one layer artificial endosperm containing activated charcoal. Developed and strong root systems accompanied with high root number were parameters that improved the plantlets survival and preliminary sustainability. Accordingly, plantlets regenerated from capsules with one layer endosperm containing activated charcoal adapted and grew well in plastic pots filled by a mixture of sand-perlite.

Winter freezing injury is one of the main problems for pomegranate production in Iran. Therefore evaluation of cultivars and different methods to overcome freezing injury is important. For this reason, it is necessary to find appropriate and reliable indices for evaluation of freezing damage in pomegranate trees. In present study cutting survival percentage, relative electrolyte leakage (EL), relative phenolic leakage and tissue coloring by tetrazolium chloride (TCC) indices were used for comparison of thin or thick of one or two year-old pomegranate shoots in freezing condition (-10, -15 and -20 oC). All evaluation indices except TCC showed the least freezing injury observed in one year-old thick shoots (LT50= -15.4 oC). These shoots had the maximum amount of soluble sugars and proline content. However, there were no difference in relation to water content between on year-old thich shoots and other shoots. Cutting survival percentage criteria that is more reliable index for the damage or tolerance rate, showed the highest correlation (r= -98%) with EL compared to other indices. EL measurement is easier and faster for evaluation than the survival percentage of cuttings, so this method detected to be the most appropriate index for evaluation of freezing injury in pomegranate winter shoots in lab condition.

‘Golab-e Kohanz’ apple fruit is a highly edible quality fruit but it has a short storage life. In order to study the effect of foliar application of calcium and boron on postharvest characteristics of ‘Golab-e Kohanz’ apple fruit, an experiment was carried out during two successive years in Homayjan, Sepidan, Fars province, Iran. The experiment was conducted as factorial based on completely randomized block design with 4 replications. The treatments included calcium chloride in 3 concentrations (0.05%, 0.75%, and 1%) alone or in combination with boric acid (0.05%) and commercial calcium fertilizers Calciogreen, Calboron and Set. The first foliar spray was done at 2 week after full bloom and other sprays were done every 2 weeks. Characteristics such as firmness, acidity, ascorbic acid, total soluble solids, pH and weight loss at harvest (time 1), 10 days after storage (time 2) and 20 days after storage were (time 3) measured. Results showed that characteristics such as firmness, acidity, ascorbic acid, and weight had fewer changes in treated fruits during storage compared with control. Total soluble solids and pH of treated fruits increased less than control during storage.

This research was carried out in order to investigate the effect of glycine betaine on reduction of salinity damage on sweet corn in plantlet stage. A factorial experiment with two factors including salinity in two levels (0 and 60 mM NaCl) and glycinebetaine in 5 levels (0, 5, 10, 20 and 40 mM) in a completely randomized design with 3 replications was used. The seeds were soaked for 24 hours in glycinebetaine solutions, and then cultured in pure sand medium in trays. Results showed that 60 mM NaCl had deleterious effects on most measured parametersm, but treatment with glycinebetaine led to decrease salinity damages, so that treatment with glycinebetaine had positive effect on number of leaves, fresh and dry shoot weight, root dry weight and plant height. Interaction between salinity and glycinebetaine for root fresh and dry weight, plant height, leaf proline and Na and K concentrations were statistically significant. So that 5 and 10 mM glycinebetaine in saline condition increased plant height; 20 and 40 mM increased root fresh weight and 10 mM increased root dry weight. In another word they reduced negative effects of salinity.

In order to investigate the influence of humic acid spraying on trees on shelf life and to maintenance of quantitative and qualitative characteristics of ‘Granny Smith’ apple, an experiment based on completely randomized block design was conducted in khoramdareh postharvest physiology laboratory of University of Zanjan. The humic acid spraying was conducted in four concentrations of 0 (distilled water), 5, 10 and 15 mg l-1 on 8 year-old ‘Granny Smith’apple trees grafted on MM106 rootstock. Spraying was conducted 2, 4 and 8 weeks after full bloom stage. Fruits of trees treated stored in 0±0.5°C with 90±5% relative humidity for six months. Fruit weight loss, fruit firmness, pH, total soluble solid (TSS), titrable acid (TA), total sugar (TS) and ascorbic acid content (vitamin C) were measured every two months. The results showed that, during the storage, fruit weight, fruit firmness, TA and ascorbic acid decreased. The maximum and minimum amont was belong to 10 and 15 mg l-1 humic acid and control treatment in the third stage of sampling (sixth months). Meanwhile, total soluble solid, pH and TA increased in the storage. According to the obtained results, it can be concluded that humic acid spraying had influence on shelf life and quantity and quality characteristics of ‘Granny Smith’ apple during storage. Therefore, to maintain postharvest quality of ‘Granny Smith’ apple spraying of humic acid with concentrations of 10 and 15 mg l-1 on trees is recommended.

This study was conducted to determine whether preharvest applications of calcium chloride (CaCl2) and salicylic acid (SA) could improve vase-life of cut rose flowers of ‘Fiesta’ cultivar. A factorial experiment was carried out based on completely randomized design with four replications and two observations in each replication. CaCl2 was used at concentrations of 0, 0.75, 1.5 and 2.25% and SA at concentrations of 0, 150, 300 and 450 mg l-1 were sprayed on plants. Characteristics such as shoot and flower bud fresh and dry weights, leaf area, stem length and physiological characteristics, such as leaf chlorophyll content, ions (calcium, magnesium, potassium, and nitrogen), leaf relative water content, ion leakage, flower quality and vase life were measured. The most effective treatment on the most of measured characteristics was 0.75% CaCl2 combined with 150 mg. l-1 SA. Also, this treatment increased vase life up to 11.5 days compared with control roses through improving the measured characteristics especially chlorophyll content and mineral nutrients and decreasing the electrolyte leakage.

Buttercup (Ranunculus asiaticus L.) is an ornamental plant¡ used as cut flower¡ potted plant and bedding plant in landscapes. A common method for propagation of buttercup is seed¡ especially hybrid seeds derived from crossing between selected parent lines. In vitro culture techniques can be the efficient method for rapid multiplication and mass production of the buttercup plant. In this research¡ the effects of different explants including leaf¡ axillary bud¡ cotyledonary leaf¡ thalamus and different levels of auxins and cytokinins on in vitro culture of buttercup (Ranunculus asiaticus ‘magic’) were investigated. All treatments were arranged in the factorial experiments in a completely randomized design with three replications. All explants except thalamus could produce plantlets in cultures. The most efficient explants was axillary bud and the best culture medium was MS.3 µM kinetin.4 µM benzyl amino purine. Ninety-five percent of shoots regenerated from different explants were rooted easily on MS medium free of growth regulators.

In recent years growth regulators have been widely used in turfgrass management. The main purposes of application growth regulators are to reduce height¡ decreases number of cutting and increase tolerance to stresses. This research was carried out to determine effect of trinexapac-ethyl¡ paclobutrazol and abscisic acid on the growth¡ morphological and physiological characteristics of Zoysia matrella in completely randomized design with four replications. According to the results¡ trinexapac-ethyl and paclobutrazol recued zoysia matrella height and improved color. Unlike other growth regulators¡ application of trinexapac-ethyl improved tillering and chlorophyll content. Trinexapac-ethyl¡ paclobutrazol and abscisic acid increased peroxidases enzyme activity significantly¡ however did not affected catalase. Trinexapac-ethyl and abscisic acid improved ascorbate peroxidase activity. Activity of superoxide dismutase enzyme enhanced by application of trinexapac-ethyl and paclobutrazol. Growth regulators increased shoots soluble sugar content but not those root. Finally trinexapac-ethyl showed more suitable effect on growth reduction and increased resistance in Zoysia matrell compared to paclobutrazol and abscisic acid.

The aim of this research was evaluating the effects of some chemical solutions on postharvest life of cut flowers Alstroemeria cv. ‘Stratus’. A factoririal experiment was conducted with two factors of sucrose at four concentrations, 0, 5, 10 and 15 g l-1 and salicylic acid (SA) at four concentrations, 0, 100, 200 and 400 mg l-1 in a completely randomized design with three replications. Longevity, anthocyanin content of petal, ethylene production, protein content, antioxidant enzymes activity including catalase and peroxidase in petals, chlorophyll content and leaf yellowing percent was evaluated. Results showed that treatment of 15 g l-1 of sucrose had greatest chlorophyll a, catalase and peroxidase activity and the lowest ethylene production at 6, 12 and 24 hours after harvest. SA at the rate of 400 mg l-1 t had the highest longevity, anthocyanin content, chlorophyll, protein, catalase and peroxidase activity and the lowest leaf yellowing percent and ethylene production at 3 and 6 hours compared to the control. Also 15 g l-1 sucrose plus 400 mg l-1 SA treatment showed the highest Longevity, anthocyanin content, catalase activity and the lowest ethylene production content at 3 and 6 hours compared to the control.

Cold induced oxidative stress has a negative effect on biomembranes and metabolic process of plants. In this study, the effects of foliar application of methyl jasmonate (MeJA) on lipid peroxidation, hydrogen peroxidase, total phenol, soluble proteins and some antioxidant enzyme activities including superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), guaiacol peroxidase (GPX) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) of greenhouse- grown cucumber (Cucumis sativus L. cv ‘Negin’) was investigated under cold stress. The seedlings was sprayed with MeJA in four concentrations [0 (control), 50, 100, 200 µM] at 4 leaves stage. Twenty-four hours after foliar spraying with MeJA, half of the controls and half of the MeJAtreated plants were subjected to 4 °C for 12 h followed by a recovery period of 3 days in optimum conditions, and the rest of the plants remained at 24 °C. Cold stress increased the malondialdehyde and H2O2 level in seedling leaves, whereas foliar MeJA treatment dramaticaly reduced these memberance deliterios indices. Soluble proteins and total phenol content was higher in the MeJA-treated plants than in the controls. MeJA especially at 100 and mainly 200 µM significantly increased the activities of SOD, CAT, GPX and APX in cold-stressed cucumber seedling. It seems that MeJA through increasing in some osmoregulant such as soluble protein and antioxidant enzyme activities as well as phenolic compounds helped to reduce the harmful effects of cold stress which finally led in cell membrane stability.

This study was performed on Reishi mushroom (Ganoderma lucidum) to investigate the effects of different agricultural wastes on some morphological characteristics (growth rate¡ fresh weight and dry weight of mycelia¡ biological yield) and crude polysaccharide content of fruit. Agricultural wastes included: black seed waste¡ tea waste¡ hazelnut waste¡ coconut waste¡ almond waste and sesame waste¡ with two types of bran (wheat and rice). A factorial experiment was done based on the completely randomized design with 3 replications. The results of analysis of variance showed that the use of these agricultural wastes had a significant effect (P≤0.01) on growth rate¡ fresh and dry weight of mycelium and biological yield. The highest growth rate of mycelia (on the basis of days after inoculation to medium colonized completely) was detected in media enriched with tea waste¡ hazelnut waste¡ coconut waste and almond waste (respectively 15.33¡ 16.67¡ 15.33 and 14.33 days). The lowest growth rate of mycelium was detected in media enriched with black seed waste (30.33 days). The substrate supplemented with Almond waste produced the highest amount of fruit fresh weight (31 g) and coconut waste the lowest fruit fresh weight (15.74 g). The highest amount of fruit dry weight (6.51 g) observed in the almond waste treatment and the lowest one observed in the coconut waste treatment (3.75 g). The media supplemented with almond wastes produced the highest biological yield (7.75%)¡ but tea waste¡ hazelnut waste and coconut waste treatments had the lowest biological yield (4.75¡ 5.32¡ 5.27 and 3.93 percent respectively) without significant difference (P≤0.01).