مجله تحقیقات گیاهان دارویی و معطر ایران
سال سی‌ام شماره 4 (پیاپی 66، زمستان 1393)

This research was aimed to investigate the effects of different amounts of NPK fertilizers on quantitative and qualitative traits of Matricaria chamomilla L. The experiment was conducted during 2007-2008 in Barij Essence Company of Kashan in a factorial experiment based on randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. Treatments consisted of three levels of N (0، 50، 100 kgha-1)، P2O5 (0، 25، 50 kgha-1) and K2O (0، 25، 50 kgha-1). Plant height، number of flower per plant، number of lateral branches، dry and fresh weight per plant، flower yield/m2، flower diameter، essential oil percentage، and chamazulene were measured. N levels showed significant differences for the number of flower per plant، fresh weight per plant، number of lateral branches، flower yield/m2 and dry and fresh weight of flower (p < 0. 05). Analysis of data showed significant differences for fresh weight per plant under different levels of P2O5 (p < 0. 05). K levels showed no significant differences for all traits. Interaction of N and P2O5 levels revealed significant differences for fresh and dry weight per plant and flower yield/m2 (p < 0. 01). Interaction of N and K2o5 was significant for flower diameter (p < 0. 05). Analysis of mean comparison for flower yield per m2 showed that the highest flower yield was obtained at 50 kg/ha N and 25 kg/ha P2O5، and the lowest flower yield was obtained at 100 kg/ha N and 50 kg/ha P2O5. NPK fertilizers did not affect chamazulene and essential oil. In conclusion، Matricaria chamomilla L. requires few nutrient elements.

Thymus is one of the most important genera of the Lamiaceae family، belonging to the Nepetoideae sub family. In this study، the relationship between altitude from sea level and soil physical and chemical characteristics as important factors affecting the quantitative and qualitative essential oils of Thymus fallax Fisch. et C. A. Mey. were examined. Four natural habitats of this species (Zagheh، Alashtar، Razan and Rhimeleh) were selected. Aboveground samples were collected in flowering stage and the essential oils were extracted with hydrodistilation method. Essential oils composition was determined using GC & GC/MS. Data analysis was performed by SPSS software، and Duncan''s Multiple Range Test was used for mean comparison. According to the obtained results، the highest essential oil was recorded for Rhimeleh (2. 8 %w/w) as compared to other habitats. The main components in the essential oils were carvacrol، thymol، gamma- terpinen، p-cymen، champhen and geranial. With increasing altitude، the percentage of carvacrol and thymol increased significantly. Some soil characteristics were correlated with the essential oils، presented in a linear regression model.

Genus Achillea millefolium L. (Asteraceae) consists of about 110-130 species. Nineteen species grow naturally in Iran of which seven are endemic. In this study، chemical composition of the essential oils of seven Achillea populations growing wild in northwest Iran، during the flowering period were investigated. The aerial parts were collected from Zonoz، Basmenj، Pirbala، Bonab، Shabestar، Kondlaj and Jolfa regions from Eest Azerbaijan province in May and June 2011. The essential oils were obtained by hydrodistillation method and analyzed by combination of GC-FID and GC-MS. Mean essential oil yield was calculate to be 0. 1%، 0. 4%، 0. 1%،0. 2%، 0. 1%، 0. 25% and 0. 4% (w/w) for Zonoz، Basmenj، Pirbala، Bonab، Shabestar، Kondlaj and Jolfa، respectively. Overall، 35، 38، 48، 43، 45، 37 and 42 compounds were identified from Zonoz، Basmenj، Pirbala، Bonab، Shabestar، Kondlaj and Jolfa، respectively. The main constituents of the oils were δ-cadinol (23. 3-3. 7%)، 1،8-cineole (18. 5-7. 7%)، trans-nerolidole (2. 6-11. 3%)، germacrene D (2. 7-10. 9%)، alpha-pinene (1. 06-9. 44%)، borneole (0. 0-6. 5%) and pinocarvone (2. 8-6. 3%). According to the obtained results، Basmenj and Zonoz are recommended as two suitable regions for the extraction of 1،8-cineol and δ-cadinol.

Seed priming includes very simple methods that could be effective in improving seed germination and establishment of seedling. Seed treatment with ultrasound waves and magnetic field are considered as biophysical and seed priming methods. The production and processing of this species in the world is of outmost importance regarding the medicinal effects of Carum copticum (Carum copticum (L.) C. B. Clarke)، belonging to the Apiaceae family. This research was aimed to study the effects of ultrasound waves and magnetic field on germination of Ajowan in laboratory conditions at the University of Agriculture and Natural Resources of Ramin in 2010. In addition، increasing the percentage of seed germination and velocity، and increasing the resistance of seedlings to the environmental stresses such as drought، cold، heat، as well as diseases and pests were investigated. The seeds were treated with an ultrasound of 22 kHz frequency in two times of two and five minutes (U2، U3) and a magnetic field intensity of 5000 gauss in three different times of 15، 30، 45 minutes (M2، M3&M4) at a temperature of 30°C. A factorial experiment in a complete randomized design with four replications was carried out. Results showed that seed germination and vigor increased in response to the magnetic field and ultrasonic wave treatments. According to the obtained results، a magnetic field for 30 minutes and in some cases 45 minutes with ultrasound waves for five minutes had the greatest impact on this species. Despite the high sensitivity to both plant diseases and pests، no trace of disease and pest was found in the field.

Flesh firmness is one of the most important characteristics to estimate the quality of Ziziphus mauritiana Lam. This study was aimed to investigate the efficacy of natural preservative and chemical preservative separately and in the combination in increasing the postharvest life period of Konar during storage. The experiments were carried out according to a completely randomized design (CRD) with six treatments (Aloe vera L. gel-coating and calcium chloride) and four replications. After harvesting and washing، the fruits were dipped in A. vera gel coating at the concentrations of 50%، 75% and 100% and calcium chloride at three concentrations of 0. 5%، 1. 0% and 1. 5% for five minutes. Treated fruits were stored under ambient storage for three weeks at 7° C and they were evaluated by the weight loss percentage، firmness percentage and total soluble solid rate. Results revealed that the least and the most amount of weight loss was observed in the calcium chloride 1% (1. 3%) and in the control group (66%). Our results clearly showed that the highest fruit firmness (6. 02 kg/cm2) was obtained in calcium chloride 1%، showing a significant difference as compared to other treatments. The lowest and the highest total soluble solids (TSS) was recorded for the treatment of Aloe vera gel 75% and calcium chloride 1% (15. 22%) and control fruits (18. 22%)، respectively.

Contact toxicity and persistence of essential oils from Foeniculum vulgare Mill. (Apiaceae)، Teucrium polium Boiss. (Lamiaceae) and Satureja hortensis L. (Lamiaceae) were investigated against the adults of cowpea seed beetle، Callosobrochus maculates at 28±2 °C and 60±5% R. H. under dark condition. Essential oils were obtained by hydro-distillation using a clevenger-type apparatus. Contact toxicity was studied against one-day-old adult of C. maculatus with six concentrations at 24hours exposure time. The persistence of insecticidal activity of essential oils was examined for a period of 30 h at the LC99 level. The results of contact toxicities showed that the mortality of adults increased with oil concentration. Males were more susceptible to essential oils than females. The essential oil of F. vulgare proved to be most toxicant with the LC50 values of 390. 38 and 513. 46 µl m-2 against males and females، respectively. The LC50 values of S. hortensis oil were 535. 69 and 640. 99 µl m-2 and the counterpart values of T. polium oil were 1263. 09 and 1469. 72 µl m-2 against males and females، respectively. The results of persistence test of oils revealed that essential oil of S. hortensis was the most persistent and essential oil of T. polium was the least persistent. The persistence of S. hortensis oil could be attributed to its high proportion of oxygenated compounds compared to other oils. The present study demonstrated that these essential oils could be used as appropriate alternatives to control cowpea seed beetle.

An experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of funnel and licorice on immune response، blood parameter and gastrointestinal organs in broiler chiks. A completely randomized design with six treatments، four replications and 25 broiler chicks in each replication were used. Experimental groups were consisted of 1- Basal diet without any additives (Control-)، 2- Basal diet + 2. 5 g/Kg funnel، 3- Basal diet + 5 g/Kg funnel، 4- Basal diet + 2. 5 g/Kg licorice، 5- Basal diet + 5 g/Kg licorice and 6- Basal diet+ Antibiotic growth promoter. In this experiment، immune response as like as SRBC، immunoglobulin G and M and some blood parameters (T3 and T4) were investigated. In addition، gastrointestinal organ was investigated. According to the results، using funnel and licorice in 2. 5 and 5 g/Kg of diets had no significant effect on feed intake، body weight، livability، feed conversion and production index (p > 0. 05)، but the numerical difference between herbal groups and antibiotic was observed. Based on these results، carcass، breast، drumsticks and abdominal fat percentage were not affected by treatments (p > 0. 05). Using herbal plant and antibiotic did not alter the intestinal and immune organs weight and also its effects on duodenum، jejunum and ileum weight and length were not significant (p > 0. 05)، and finally similar results were observed for T3 and T4.

In order to study the effects of rate and time of nitrogen application on yield and yield components of karela (Momordica charantia L.)، a field experiment as split plot design with three replications was conducted in 2011 at Research Center for Agriculture and Natural Resources of Sistan. The treatments consisted of three levels of nitrogen fertilizer، obtained from urea source، at the rate of N1=75، N2=150 and N3=225 kg N. ha-1 as main plot، and three time application including: T1=1/2 at 3 and 4 leaves and 1/2 before flowering، T2= 1/2 at 3 and 4 leaves and 1/2 after fruit to start and T3=1/3 at 3 and 4 leaves، 1/3 before flowering and 1/3 after fruit to start were used as sub plot. Results showed that nitrogen application had significant effect on the yield and amount of biomass production (p < 0. 01) in karela. By increasing nitrogen level from 75 to 225 kg N. ha-1، yield and biomass values increased. The amount of yield increased about 63. 1%. Nitrogen treatment had positive and significant effect on yield components including plant height، number of lateral branches، number of fruits per plant، number of seeds per fruit، the length and diameter of fruit. Timing of nitrogen application had only significant effect on yield، the amount of biomass production، number of fruits per plant، length and diameter of fruit. The maximum yield of karela was obtained at T2 treatment.

This research was aimed to evaluate the effect of drought stress، induced by polyethylene glycol (PEG6000)، on physiological and biochemical parameters of black cumin (Nigella sativa L.). The traits were included: shoot dry weight، electrolyte leakage، relative water content، photosynthetic pigments (chlorophyll a، b، total chlorophyll and carotenoids)، malondialdehyde and other aldehyde''s contents، anthocyanines، polyphenol compounds، flavonoids، phenylalanine ammonialayse activity، soluble sugar content and protein. An experiment was conducted as a completely randomized design with three replications under hydroponic culture at research laboratory of Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman in 2011. Treatments were four levels of drought stress (0، -0. 2، -0. 4 and -0. 6 MPa). Results showed that drought stress caused a significant reduction in shoot dry weight، relative water content، photosynthetic pigments، anthocyanines، polyphenol compounds، flavonoids and protein and an increase in electrolyte leakage، malondialdehyde content، phenylalanine ammonialayse activity and soluble sugar. Based on the obtained results، it seems that this plant is sensitive to drought stress، and the application of exogenous protective compounds could increase the antioxidant capacity of plant against stress condition.

Pimpinella aurea DC. is one of the most abundant perennial species from Pimpinella genus in Iran، distributed in northwest، west، center، northeast، and southeast of Iran. This aromatic species contains essential oil with antimicrobial effect. In this research، to study the quality and quantity of seed essential oil of Pimpinella aurea and also the effect of seed size on essential oil content and composition of Pimpinella aurea، seeds were collected from three localities in Tehran province (Tochal، Vardavard and Lavasanat) and were، after drying، separated by sieves having mesh sizes of 20، 25 and 30. All samples were subjected to hydro-distillation، individually، for obtaining their essential oils. The mean oil yields for Tochal seeds were calculated to be 4. 01%، 3. 20% and 1. 12% for 20، 25 and 30 meshes، respectively. These values were 5. 69%، 3. 20% and 1. 94% for the samples from Vardavard and 3. 21%، 2. 70% and 1. 85% for Lavasanat samples. Results showed that the oil yield decreased remarkably with decreasing the size of the seeds. The essential oils were analyzed by GC and GC/MS for the identification of their chemical composition. β-bisabolene was identified as the main component in the oils collected from different habitats (57. 2-83. 6%). The other major component was epoxy allo-aromadendrene (3. 9-30. 6%). According to the obtained results، seed size had no considerable effect on essential oil composition. In addition، more oil yield and β-bisabolene content were recorded for the seeds collected from Vardavard (with a warmer and dryer habitat).

In order to evaluate the morphological and agronomical traits of linseed (Linum usitatissimum L.) genotypes in different plant densities، a field experiment was conducted as a factorial experiment in RCBD design with three replications in the field. Plant densities of 300، 500، and 1000 plant/m2 as first factor and four linseed genotypes (Iran، Australia، Canada، and France) as second factor were used. Plants were harvested at three stages of vegetative growth، 50% flowering، and maturity stage. Results showed that plant densities had significant effect on plant height and above-ground dry weight in vegetative stage; plant height، stem diameter and dry weight in 50% flowering; and plant height، stem diameter، stem branch number، and dry weight in maturity stage. In addition، the number of capsules per plant، 1000 seeds weight، grain yield and harvest index were significantly affected by plant densities. Different linseeds genotypes showed significant effect on the characteristics of plant height، stem diameter، and stem branch number، in all three harvest stages. Traits as number of capsules per plant، number of seeds per capsule، 1000 seeds weight، grain yield، harvest index، and 50% of flowering and maturity also were affected significantly by linseeds genotypes. The maximum grain yield was obtained in the density of 1000 plants/m2. Maximum values were recorded for Iranian linseed genotype with an average production of 6. 40 seeds per capsule، an average production of 1375 kg of seeds per hectare، and a mean harvest index of 21. 23. It was also identified as the latest genotype for both days to 50% flowering (65 days) and days to maturity (123 days).

The essential oil of Thymus spp has valuable components such as thymol and carvacrol. The aerial parts of different thymus accessions، cultivated in Shahedied research station of medicinal plants، were collected at flowering stage and then dried in shadow and hydro-distilled for obtaining their essential oils. Analysis and identification of chemical composition of the oil were performed by GC and GC/MS. Among 74 cultivated accessions in 2011، the highest amount of oil yield was related to the accessions CFTNJI (4. 17%)، ZELP (4%)، Q (3. 72%)، NJICFT (3. 71%)، XDRMKO (3. 54%)، respectively and the lowest was related to BHUZSE (0. 66%). The highest amount of oil production per hectare was related to the accesstions XDRVGY (87. 5kg/ha)، NJICFT (45. 42kg/ha)، ZSECFT (40. 86kg/ha)، BHUMKO (38. 31kg/ha)، respectively and the lowest was related to CFTMKO (0. 9kg/ha). Para-cymene، 1،8-cineol، gamma terpinene، borneol، thymol، carvacrol، geraniol، limonene، acetate geranil، terpineol، linalool، caryophyllene، respectively with values of 28. 41%، 31. 66%، 20. 44%، 29. 35%، 71. 1%، 81. 45%، 76. 99%، 43%، 28%، 38. 6%، 55. 56%، 81%، 20%، were related to the accessions VGYCFT، NJIBHU، MKOMKO، CFTCFT، ZSEQ، NJICFT، CFTQ، MKOQ، CFTZSE، NJIBHU، ZSEQ، NJICFT، CFTQ، MKOQ، CFTZSE، NJIBHU، ZSELP، VGYMKO. In (2012)، the highest amount of oil yield was recorded for the accessions Q (4. 07%)، CFTVGY (3. 7%)، MKOVGY (3. 63%)، ZSEQ (3. 45%)، ZSELP (%3. 43)، respectively and the lowest was found in VGYMKO (62. 0%). The highest amount of oil production per hectare was related to the accessions BHUVGY (74. 9kg/ha)، XDRVGY (60. 9kg/ha)، XDRLP (51. 78kg/ha)، CFT (49. 21kg/ha)، Q (46. 11kg/ha)، respectively and the lowest was found in BHUZSE (2. 36kg/ha). Generally، in terms of oil yield، oil production and main composition of essential oil، three accessions including NJICFT (Thymus Transcaspicus) with 3. 71% essential oil and 45. 42kg per hectare oil production and 81. 5 % carvacrol، ZSEQ (T. daenensis) with 3. 45% essential oil and 37. 15 kg/h oil production and 73% thymol، and XDRVGY (T. vulgaris) with 2. 75% essential oil and 78. 5kg/h oil production and 45. 8% thymol were selected as superior accessions.

In this study، the analysis of seed and leaf essential oil of Heracleum anisactis Boiss. & Hohen.، as an endemic species، was reported. The plant parts of H. anisactis were collected from Dizin Mountain at three altitudes of 2100، 2600 and 3200 m. The essential oils were obtained by hydrodistillation and analyzed by GC and GC-MS. Twenty and twenty-two components were identified in the leaf and seed essential oil، respectively. According to the results، the main constituents of leaf oil were octyl acetate (66/9%، 67. 4% and 69. 3%)، octyl butyrate (3. 7%، 3. 5% and 5. 6%) and hexyl isobutyrate (3. 3%، 3. 8%، 4. 5%)، at altitudes of 2100 m، 2600 m، and 3200m، respectively. In the seed oil، octyl acetate (69. 4%، 72. 4% and 76. 5%) and hexyl butyrate (3. 2%، 4. 8%، 6. 2%) were identified as the mail constituents at altitudes of 2100، 2600 and 3200m، respectively.

The genus Salvia، belonging to the Lamiaceae family، contains 58 species in Iran، 17 of which are endemic. In this study، Salvia macilenta Boiss. was collected from Bam-Jiroft road، Jebalbarez area، Kerman Province، Iran، in May 2012. The essential oils of leaves، flowers، stems and roots of the plantwere separately extracted using hydrodistillation method and analyzed by GC and GC/MS. In the leaf oil، 46 components were identified، representing 99. 7% of the total oil، with α-pinene (36. 4%)، β-pinene (7. 6%)، borneol (5. 4%) and β-caryophyllene (5. 1%) as the main constituents. The flower oil was characterized by higher amount of α-pinene (45. 1%)، β-pinene (10. 5%)، camphene (8. 8%) and limonene (6. 8%) among the 26 components comprising 100% of the total oil detected. Furthermore، 18 compounds were identified in the stem oil، representing 97. 5% of the total oil. α-Pinene (25. 1%)، bornyl acetate (16. 8%)، β-eudesmol (8. 6%) and borneol (8. 1%) were found to be the major constituents. In the root oil، 10 components were identified، representing 88. 2% of the total oil، with trans-viridiflorol (18. 1%)، β-eudesmol (16. 4%)، trans-ferruginol (15. 8%) and dibutyl phthalate (10. 6%) as the main constituents. Consequently، the leaf، flower and stem essential oils of S. macilenta were rich in monoterpenes، while α-pinene، the dominant component of these oils، was not identified in the root oil.

Melia L. genus، belonging to the Meliaceae family، has important tree species. There are more than 15 species of this genus in the world and two species from Iran have been reported so far. In this study، the chemical compositions of the essential oils of reproductive organs of M. azedarach L.، cultivated in Kashan Botanical Garden، were investigated. The flowering branches and ripe fruits of this species were collected in the spring of 2009 and dried in the shade (at room temperature). The essentila oil was extracted by simultaneous steam distillation extraction method. The oil analysis was performed by using GC and GC-MS. The essential oil yield of flowering branches and fruits was calculated to be 0. 02% and 0. 01% (w/w)، respectively. Ten and 35 chemical compositions were identified in the essentila oils of flowering branches and fruits of this species. The main components of the essential oils of flowers were E-nerolidole (39%)، bicyclogermacrene (8. 2%) and viridiflorol (8. 1%). The main components of the essential oils of fruits were aromadendrene (21. 9%)، bicyclogermacrene (13. 7%)، globulol (8. 1%)، spathulenol (6. 5%)، allo-aromadendrene (4. 7%)، β-caryophyllene (4. 7%). Oxygenated sesquiterpens were identified as main component in the essential oil of flowers، while the major chemical component of the essential oils of fruits were associated with hydrocarbon sesquiterpens، and hydrocarbon monoterpenes were not found in plant reproductive organs.