فصلنامه پژوهش های تولید گیاهی
سال بیست و چهارم شماره 3 (پاییز 1396)

Evening primrose (Oenothera biennis L.) is medicinal plant of moderate region and its seed containing about 20 to 30 percent of oil. Germination of seed and establishment of seedling are determining factors of crop production ripening time. Models apply for predicting of cumulative germination response and can estimate the cardinal temperatures too. Numerous thermal functions can describe germination response to temperature, amongst them segmented, beta and dent-like functions are most popular. Although many investigations have conducted to determine cardinal temperatures of germination and required thermal time of emergence, there is no sufficient information about evening primrose in Iran from this regard. This investigation has conducted in order to evaluate non-linear regression models to describe the evening primrose seed germination rate response to temperature and estimate its seed germination cardinal temperatures.
Experiment conducted as Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with four replications at ARYA TINA GENE® Co. laboratory. Evening primrose seeds were placed at eight constant temperatures regimes involves 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35 and 40 °C. One hundred evening primrose seeds were placed at 9 cm. petri dishes containing two Whatman No. 1 filter papers and drained with 5 ml. distilled water. Germinated seeds were counted at 12 hr. intervals. To obtain maximum germination rate, cumulative germination progress curve were plotted versus time and the time required to 50 percentile germination estimated using 3 parameters sigmoidal function. Cardinal temperature of germination described using quadratic, four parameters beta, segmented and dent-like functions. The best fitted model selected according to Root Mean Square Error (RMSE), Mean Absolute Error (MAE), adjusted Regression coefficient (adj. R2) values and Akaike Information Criteria (AIC and AICc) indices.
Results showed that temperature effects on germination percentile and time to reach 50 % germination (germination rate) were significant at 5% error level. Comparison of RMSE, MAE, adjusted R2 and AICc criteria improved that evening primrose seed germination response to temperature has the best fitting to dent-like function. According to dent-like model, the base, lower and upper range and ceiling temperatures were 4.7, 24.3 to 34.7 and 41.2 °C, respectively. There were no different estimation of base and ceiling temperatures between models. However, segmented model have overestimated optimum temperature among models.
Evening primrose seed germination followed by dent-like function clear that seeds are able to germinate at a wide range of temperatures. In cultural circumstances, cultivation of evening primrose is possible at autumn or spring which is completely confirmed with behavior of the plant in natural stands.

Turfgrasses are the most important ground covers with high dining leg strength that rarely replacement can be found for them in landscape. Limitation of water resources especially in arid and semi-arid regions is one of the main challenges in turf management. Mycorrhizae symbiosis with plants is one of the ways to reduce the adverse effects of drought stress.
In order to investigate the effects of three species of mycorrhizae fungi (G. clarum, G. fasiculatum, G. mosseae and Non fungi) and drought stress (80, 55 and 30 percent of field capacity) on the biochemical characteristics of turfgrass species, Poa pratensis and Agropyron elongatum, a factorial experiment based on randomized complete block design was carried out in the greenhouse of the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, University of Guilan in 2015. Following the establishment of turfgrass that lasted about 60 days, drought stress was applied. The traits of ascorbate peroxidase (APX), peroxidase (POD) and catalase (CAT) activity and malondialdehyde, proline, total protein of leaves and root colonization percent were studied.
According to the results Agropyron showed the highest root colonization with G. mosseae while Poa showed the lowest colonization with G. clarum. Drought stress reduced the root colonization of Agropyron and poa with G. mosseae but increased the root colonization of them with G. clarum and G. fasiculatum. Drought stress increased the activities of antioxidant enzymes, proline, malondialdehyde and total protein in the leaves of studied grasses. Mycorrhizal fungi, especially under drought stress increase the activity of antioxidant enzymes and proline content, but decreased the malondialdehyde content. There were significant differences between fungi species and grass species in terms of impact on the above mentioned traits. So that Agropyron with G. mosseae but Poa with G. clarum showed the highest leaf APX activity. In the highest level of stress grasses symbiotic with G. mosseae had the highest POD activity while under mild stress condition highest enzyme activity was observed in leaves of grasses symbiotic with G. fasiculatum. Grass response to mycorrhizal fungi species at different levels of drought stress on CAT activity was different. In moderate stress conditions Agropyron symbiotic with G. mosseae had a highest CAT activity, while in the highest level of stress Agropyron symbiotic with G. fasiculatum had a highest enzyme activity but in Poa in both moderate and severe stress the highest enzyme activity was related to grasses that had not been inoculated with mycorrhizae fungi. G. mosseae caused the proline content of grass leaves at the highest level of drought stress more than 130 percent compared to without mycorrhizae situation increased, but malondialdehyde more than 32 percent decreased. In moderate stress this rate was respectively 70 percent increase and 25 percent decrease.
The effect of mycorrhizal fungi species on the activity of antioxidant enzymes in leaves of studied turfgrasses under drought stress was different However, in general, mycorrhiza symbiosis with increases of antioxidant activity and proline could reduce the amount of lipid peroxidation in leaves of studied turfgrasses. In this regards the G. mosseae was more effective.

Storage condition in the bulb’s rest period may influence on vegetative and reproductive growth of plant. Results of previous studies show that temperature between 20 to 25°C lasting for 4 to 8 weeks are proper condition for storage of tuberose bulbs (Polianthes tuberosa L.), but there is no comprehensive information available regarding proper level of humidity and its interaction effect with temperature and bulb’s rest period duration. Based on this, the aim of current study was allocated to determine the effect of temperature, humidity, and bulb’s rest period duration on vegetative and reproductive growth in tuberose.
Design of the study was three factorial 3 temperature (15, 20, and 25°C), 2 humidity (50 and 75%), and 2 rest period (4 and 8 weeks) which was conducted in adaption to randomized complete block design with four repetitions on the tuberose double cultivar in 2015, and indicators of vegetative and reproductive growth including time of germination, spike emergence, first floret, and harvest, germination percentage, leaf numbers, numbers, diameter, and length of inflorescence spike, numbers and diameter of floret and inflorescence length were measured. Resulted data were analyzed using factorial analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Duncan's multiple rang test.
The results of current study showed that the main effect of temperature on all indicators of vegetative and reproductive growth including time of germination, spike emergence, first floret, and harvest, germination percentage, leaf numbers, numbers, diameter, and length of inflorescence spike, numbers and diameter of floret and inflorescence length is statistically significant, but the main effect of humidity only on numbers and diameter of inflorescence spike, and main effect of rest period on time of germination, germination percentage, leaf numbers, numbers, diameter, and length of inflorescence spike, diameter of first floret and inflorescence length are statistically significant. Also, interaction effects of temperature, humidity, and bulb’s rest period duration on all indicators of vegetative and reproductive growth were statistically significant. Follow-up tests showed that indicators of the vegetative and reproductive growth in the treatment of 25°C temperature with 75% humidity lasting for 4 and 8 weeks compared to other treatments are placed in better levels, but 8 weeks treatment creates better general condition compared to 8 weeks treatment.
The temperature of 25°C with 75% humidity lasting for 8 weeks creates better condition for acceleration of germination and flowering, and for increase of vegetative and reproductive growth which is proposed for tuberose bulbs storage.

Water deficit stress is first limitation that cause crops yield reduction in dried and semi-dried regions. In addition to the physiological changes that occurs due to water deficiency in plants, oxidative damage is also an important factor limiting plant growth and production. Plants adopt to cope with water deficit stress to accumulate osmolytes such as proline, glycine betaine and soluble sugar and increased antioxidant compounds (enzymatic such as superoxide dismutase, catalase and non-enzymatic such as carotenoids and anthocyanins against oxidative stress. This study was designed to investigate the effects of deficit stress, nitrogen fertilizer and zeolite on some physiological traits, biological and Trigonelline yield in fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.).
A split factorial experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design with three replications in the research field of Tarbiat Modares University in 2014 and 2015. Five irrigation regimes (unstress at vegetative and reproductive stages, Irrigation at 60% FC; mild stress and irrigation at 40% FC during the vegetative and reproductive stages respectively; severe stress irrigation at 20% FC during the vegetative and reproductive stages respectively) were randomized to the main plots. Subplots were 6 treatments in number and consisted of a factorial combination of three nitrogen fertilization (untreated plots, vermicompost fertilizer at a rate of 2.7 ton ha-1 and nitrogen chemical fertilizer at a rate of 11 kg ha-1) and two zeolite rates, (0, 9 ton ha-1). Physiological traits of fenugreek were measured.
The results showed that irrigation regime had a significant effect on all traits. And water deficit stress in both years resulted in increased levels of proline, glycine betaine, soluble carbohydrates, malondialdehyde, superoxide dismutase, catalase, carotenoids and anthocyanin and also reduces leaves greenness (SPAD), biological and grain trigonelline yield in fenugreek. Increase in the activity of two enzymes superoxide dismutase, catalase, and carotenoids and anthocyanin to sort of indicate activation of both enzymatic and non enzymatic antioxidant system to deal with oxygen free radical production in fenugreek under water deficit stress. It also increases the amount of compounds proline, glycine betaine and soluble carbohydrates in the leaves is effective in osmotic adjustment and create good conditions for absorbing water from the soil. With increasing severe stress decreased the amount of soluble carbohydrates, biological and grain trigonelline yield in fenugreek. The highest and lowest biological and trigoneline yield was obtained in full irrigation and vermicompost fertilizer treatment and severe water deficit stress in reproductive stage (20% FC) and no fertilizer treatment in both years. Also significant statistical difference was observed in trigoneline yield between mild water deficit stresses in vegetative stage treatment (40% FC) with control treatment (full irrigation) in both years.
Based on the results in this study, it can be concluded that although the reduction in water consumption was reduced biological and trigonelline yield in fenugreek, But by using vermicompost fertilizer to some extent reduce (14% and 46%) the adverse effects of sever water deficit stress in during reproduction on biological and trigonelline yield in this plant in 2015, respectively. So that produced the least malondialdehyde content (as a marker of lipid peroxidation and membrane damage) with (8 µmol g-1) and the highest total antioxidant capacity (4/6 mg protein), biological and grain trigonelline yield in control treatment (60% FC).

In the field of ornamental plants breeding, extensive research has been carried out using morphological, biochemical and molecular markers, but only a few reports have been presented in the field of genetic diversity of Chrysanthemums by morphological and molecular markers. Therefore is important for further identification of germplasm and cultivars of Chrysanthemums in Iran. This study was conducted to evaluate the genetic diversity of 15 cultivars of Chrysanthemums based on morphological characteristics and selection of compatible cultivar with Khorramabad region.
This experiment was carried out in a randomized complete block design with three replications at the Agricultural Research Station of Lorestan University. quantitative trait such as stem height, petiole length, leaf length, leaf width, number of lateral branches of the plant, leaf to width ratio, bud diameter, the diameter of the disc, flowering date, number of florets tab, branch diameter, number of flowers, leaf length to petiole length ratio, and etc. were measured according to the relevant Descriptor. All characters of the flower measured in the full opening of the first flowers and were used 10 mature leaves in the middle of each plant for evaluation the characteristics leaves.
Based on variance analysis of the data, most the traits examined in cultivars were significant differences (P≤0.01). Results showed that the correlation between the number of flowers with the number of lateral branches, and main branch diameter with the extent of plant there was a significant and positive correlation. The most significant and negative correlation (r = -0.82) was observed between length / width of leaf with leaf area. Based on the results obtained from principal components analysis, the six main and independent components with Eigen values than greater one could justify 82.5 percent of the total variation. The first component, Justified 27.4 percent of the total variation. Cluster analysis cultivars in Euclidean distance of 63.24, were categorized into two main groups. The cultivars "Dila", "Afshan", "Elika" and "Yasamin" in the first group In terms of leaf characteristics have most similar together of leaf traits were most similar. The cultivars "Oran", "Taban3" and "Nadia2" were separated, from the rest cultivars with the highest height branch
Based on the results leaf size, petiole length, branches length, number of branches and number of flowers in plant traits were most important to recognize the diversity of cultivars of Chrysanthemum. With using some cultivars belonging to the first cluster with large flowers and cultivars in the second cluster with a height of more branches as a parent can be began a new cycle of Chrysanthemum breeding program.

Increasing consumer demand for medicinal plants needs to develop agro-management and planning correctly. Black cumin is one of the important and valuable medicinal plants and, due to its frequent application in the pharmaceutical industry, is cultivated in different parts of Iran but, limiting environmental factors have a negative impact on its growth and production. Drought is one of the main inhibitors for crop production in Iran and many arid and semi-arid regions. Production and potential yield of black cumin also can affect by drought stress. There are not many reports available about drought tolerance of black cumin. Therefore, this research focused on response of 10 black cumin genotypes to water-stress condition.
In order to study the effects of drought stress on morpho-physiological traits including oil and grain yield of black cumin an investigation was carried out in Abadeh (city of Fars province) in 2014. The experimental design was split plot based on complete randomized block design with three replications. Water-stress and well-water conditions as main factor and 10 black cumin genotypes were used as sub-factor. Application of drought stress was seedling to ripening stages. Plant height, number of lateral branches, number of follicles per plant, number of seeds per follicle, number of seeds per plant, 1000 grain weight, grain yield, oil content, oil yield, proline content, total soluble sugars and potassium content of black cumin genotypes were measured in both stress and non-stress conditions. Descriptive statistic parameters for all the above measured traits and stress tolerance index (STI) for oil and grain yield were calculated. Data subjected to analysis of variance and means comparison using SAS and Excel soft wares.
Analysis of variance showed that the effect of drought stress for all the measured traits, genotype effect for the most of traits except for the number of follicles per plant, grain yield, oil content percentage, proline and total soluble sugars contents, and interaction between drought and genotype for all traits except for grain yield, oil yield, and proline content were significant. Arak genotype had the highest values for plant height, seed number per follicle, number of seeds per plant and potassium content in water-stress condition. Classification of genotypes using three-dimensional plots of stress tolerance index, stress and non-stress oil and grain yields showed that Arak and Indian were tolerant genotypes for grain and oil yields respectively. Stress intensity results indicated that proline content and number of lateral branches (SI=0.59) more affected by drought stress.
Morpho-physiological traits of black cumin affected by drought stress. There is enough genetic diversity for drought tolerance among black cumin genotypes. So, based on these results improvement of drought tolerance of black cumin is possible. These results can be used in breeding programs to improving drought tolerance of black cumin.

Mullein (Verbascum sp.) is a biennial herbaceous member of the Scrophulariaceae family. Verbascum flowers are highly valued herbal drugs used in the treatment of inflammation, asthma, spasmodic coughs and other respiratory tract diseases. In this study, preliminary evaluation of morphological and phytochemical diversity of different Mullein species from West Azerbaijan province for its domestication was investigated.
West Azerbaijan as the centers of origin for many species of Mullein in Iran was selected for sampling. For assessment of morphological diversity, different species of Mullein were evaluated in full flowering stage based on 12 qualitative and 20 quantitative morphological traits. After species identification, leaf and flower samples were extracted using ultrasonic device. For evaluation of phytochemical diversity among different species of Mullein, total phenolic content and antioxidant capacity of leaves and flowers were determined using Folin–Ciocalteu assay and DPPH method, respectively.
Based on the evaluation of collected samples from different regions 9 species (V. erianthum, V. songaricum, V. speciosum, V. szovitsianum, V. stachydiforme, V. sinuatum, V. haussknechtianum,V. cherirantifolium and V. saccatum) were identified. The results showed that species has significant effect on the plant height, inflorescence length, number of flowers per bunch, number of flowering stems, basal leaves length and length and width of capsule (p The findings of this study showed that there is a wide diversity of Mullein species in West Azerbaijan province. V. sinuatum has unique morphological and phytochemical traits that can be used for breeding strategies and economic production.