مجله تولید و فرآوری محصولات زراعی و باغی
سال هفتم شماره 3 (پاییز 1396)

Although safflower is widely distributed in Iran, other diversity centers have also been reported in many Asian and European countries, especially arid regions of the world. In this research 15 domestic and 42 exotic safflower genotypes were evaluated for drought tolerance in three locations of Najafabad (Isfahan), Jiroft and Jopar (Kerman), using a lattice design at normal and drought stress conditions. Water stress was applied at budding stage and depletion of 85% of available soil water. Results showed that drought stress significantly decreased most of the traits, including seed yield (30.20%), oil yield (32.28%), oil content (3.54%), number of capitulums per plant (16.77%), number of seeds per capitulum (16.04%) and plant height (4.43%). Drought stress did not significantly affect number of seeds per capitulum in Najafabad and Jopar locations but significantly decreased it in Jiroft location, leading to a lower seed yield in Jiroft compared to two other locations. According to principle components analysis based on drought-tolerance/susceptibility indices, genotype number 29 (PI- 657800) originating from Egypt was identified as the most drought tolerant genotype across all three locations. Moreover, genotypes number 37 (PI- 657820) originating from Jordan, 31 (CART 64) originating from Slovakia and 4 (PI- 239707) originating from Turkey were the most drought tolerant genotypes in Najafabad, Jiroft and Jopar, respectively. Generally, domestic genotypes had high oil content (more than 30%). The exotic tolerant genotypes with high and sustainable yield in this germplasm can provide useful gene pool for breeding of domestic genotypes with desirable traits such as high oil content. Also, there is the possibility to find stable - yielding genotypes in this worldwide collection.

This experiment was designed for easy and accurate estimation of corn plant leaf area with multilayer perceptron (MLP) neural network and conducted at Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, University of Guilan, Rasht, Iran in 2013. Three plant densities (75, 85 and 95 thousand plants/ha) and five genotypes (Persia 454, 484, 565, 626 and 647) were considered as treatments. Samplings were conducted at various times (66, 80, 94 & 108 DAP). At each sampling, number of leaves per plant, number of green leaves, leaf length and width, plant leaf area, leaf and stem dry weight, plant height, stem diameter and biological yield were measured. Correlations analysis indicated that measured characteristics had positive significant correlation with plant leaf area (r≥0.859**) and they can be used as inputs for estimation of leaf area. Among these variables, the highest sensitivity was associated to leaf width, number of green leaves, leaf length, number of leaves per plant and stem diameter, respectively. However the model with a lower number of variable, i.e. including leaf width, number of green leaves and leaf length was more appropriate for quick estimation of leaf area. When a single input had been used for estimation of leaf area, leaf dry weight offered a better simulation than other variables (d = 0.989), so that 95.69% of leaf area changes was described through leaf dry weight (R2 = 0.9569) and it can estimate leaf area well (RMSE (%) = 15.67). In both methods of estimation for leaf area (by using single input and sensitivity analysis), the best fitted models were not affected by cultivar, plant density and interaction of these two factors. Therefore, a general model can be used for rapid and accurate leaf area estimation of genotypes and plant densities used in the experiment.

In order to study seed yield components and agronomic traits in some F3 families of flax (Linum usitatissimum L.), this experiment was conducted in 2014 at the Research Farm of Isfahan University of Technology, Isfahan, Iran. In this experiment, 50 families of F3 generation derived from different crosses were evaluated in a randomized complete block design with two replications. The results showed that there were significant differences among the families for all yield components, seed yield per plant and seed yield per plot. The means of seed yield per plot for the families ranged from 622 (family of 32) to 2212 kg/ha (family of 37).The range of days to maturity, plant height and seed yield per plant in families was 82 to 97 days, 38 to 71.3 cm and 1.27 to 3.71 g, respectively. The coefficient of genetic variation for most of the studied traits were slightly smaller or very close to those of phenotypic ones, indicating that most of the observed variation for these traits were due to genetic factors, and thus a moderate to relatively high broad-sense heritability (45.7 to 86.83%) was observed for those traits. The highest and lowest genetic variations were observed for seed yield per plot and days to flowering, respectively. Cluster analysis based on the agronomic traits separated the families into 4 distinct groups, in which the 2nd and 4th groups had the highest mean of seed yield components and, thus seed yield per plot. Generally, the results showed that there was high genetic variation for the studied traits including seed yield and its components and selection can be effective to improve these traits.

To evaluate the effect of weed interference, sowing date and method on phenology, growth, protein and yield of red bean, a split-split plot experiment based on a randomized complete block design with three replications was conducted in the Research Field of College of Agriculture, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran during 2013- 2014 growing season. Main plots consisted of planting methods (single-row and double-rows staggered onto the stack), subplots included the presence and absence of weeds, and sowing dates were placed in sub-subplots (15 May, 1 June, and 18 June). Weed competition was effective in reducing 47 percent of LAI, 53.4 percent of dry weight and 47.3 percent of seed yield. Results showed that dry weight of weeds in single-row sowing method was higher than in double-row sowing method. Due to the growing season length in most of the measured traits such as LAI and grain yield, 15 May and 1 June sowing dates were superior compared to the June 28 sowing date. In general, 1st of June sowing date with double-row sowing method could be recommended for Badjgah region.

In order to investigate the effect of Aloe vera gel, salicylic acid and hot water treatment, on postponement of decay and improvement of fruit quality, a factorial experiment based on a completely randomized design with eight treatments and four replications was conducted in 2015. Treatments included Aloe vera gel in 3 concentrations of 0, 25 and 50%, salicylic acid at 2 rates of 1.5 and 3 mM and hot water at three temperatures of 35, 45 and 55oC for 20 minutes. Treated and untreated fruits were held at 20oC and 85-90% RH and fruits characteristics were evaluated in 15 days intervals during 60 days of storage. Traits such as the percent of fruit weight loss, fruit decay, fruit browning, Total Soluble Solid (TSS), titration acidity as well as pH and fruit skin color (a*, b* and l*) were measured. The results showed that percent of fruit weight loss, fruit decay and fruit browning in untreated fruits increased after 60 days in storage. The lowest fruit weight loss (7.64%), fruit decay (14.9%) and fruit browning (2.81%) were obtained in fruits treated with salicylic acid and Aloe vera gel when compared with untreated fruits. Also fruits treated with salicylic acid and Aloe vera gel were found to be superior in terms of color (a*, b* and l*) after 60 days in storage. Finally, application of salicylic acid at 3 mM and Aloe vera gel at 25-50% treatments may be recommended for improving the postharvest quality of sweet lemon.

In order to evaluate the effect of peppermint and faba bean intercropping patterns, a field experiment was carried out as a randomized complete blocks design (RCBD) with 9 treatments and 3 replications at the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Maragheh, Iran during 2015 growing season. Treatments included sole planting of peppermint and faba bean and intercropping patterns with ratios of 1:1, 1:2, 2:1, 2:3, 3:2, 1:3 and 3:1 (peppermint: faba bean). The highest number of pods per plant (5.4), seeds per pod (3.7) and 100-seed weight (118.4 g) were achieved in the ratio of 2:3. The highest seed yield of faba bean per occupied unit of land when the latter species were planted with the ratios of 2:3 (268.3 g m-2) and 1:3 (250 g m-2). The highest seed yield of faba bean per intercropped unit of land area was related to faba bean sole cropped (189.8 g m-2) and 1:3 (187.5 g m-2) cropping pattern. Also, the highest dry mass yield of peppermint per occupied unit of land area was obtained in the 2:3 treatment (629 g m-2) with no significant difference with 3:2 and 1:3 treatments. The highest dry mass yield of peppermint per intercropped unit land area was observed in the peppermint sole cropped (320 g m-2) and ratio of 3:2 (303 g m-2) with no significant difference with 2:1, 2:3 and 3:1 cropping patterns. The highest peppermint essential oil percentage (2.15%) and essential oil yield (5.61 g m-2) were related to 2:3 and 3:2 treatments. In all cropping patterns (except of 1:1 treatment), the LER value was higher than 1, while LERs value was higher than 1 in 2:3, 3:2 and 1:3 treatments. The greatest value of LERs (1.31) was achieved in 2:3 cropping pattern. In conclusion, based on faba bean seed yield, peppermint essential oil content and yield and LERs, the ratio of 2:3 for peppermint:faba bean was superior to other treatments.

In order to study the effect of irrigation withholding and biofertilizers application on quantitative and qualitative yield and grain filling duration of sunflower (Helianthus annus L.), a factorial experiment was conducted based on randomized complete block design with three replications in research field of Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Iran in 2015. Treatments were four biofertilizers levels [(no biofertilizer, seed inoculation by Azotobacter chrocoocum strain 5, application of mycorrhiza (Glomus mosseae), Azotobacter chrocoocum Glomus mosseae) and irrigation in three levels (full irrigation as control; moderate water stress or irrigation withholding at grain filling period; severe water stress or irrigation withholding at flowering stage]. Results showed that number of unfilled and filled grains per head, grain filling rate, 1000- grain weight, oil percentage and chlorophyll index, grain filling duration and effective grain filling duration were significantly affected by irrigation levels and biofertilizers. The highest grain filling rate (1.95 g per day), grain filling duration (21.18 days), and effective grain filling duration (35.85 days) were obtained in full irrigation and application of Azotobacter mycorrhiza. Irrigation withholding at flowering stage led to 26, 5.18, 42.48 and 16.88% decreases in number of filled grains per head, 1000-grain weight and chlorophyll index and oil percentage, respectively, in comparison with full irrigation. Whereas, application of Azotobacter mycorrhiza led to 15.24, 3.48, 30.16 and 9.25% increases in number of filled grains per head, 1000-grain weight, chlorophyll index and oil percentage, respectively, in comparison with control (no biofertilizers). Under severe water stress, application of biofertilizer (Azotobacter Glomus) led to 13.3% increase in grain yield in comparison with lack of biofertilizers. Based on the results, it seems that application of biofertilizers is suitable for increasing sunflower yield under water stress condition.

This study was carried out to assess the effect of coated urea fertilizer on yield and yield components of sweet corn (KSC 403) under different irrigation regimes, in Ramin Agriculture and Natural Sciences University, Iran by using strip split plot in a randomized complete block design with four replications. Three levels of deficit irrigation (100%, 80 and 60% of calculated water requirement of sweet corn) were assigned as vertical factor and six sources of urea fertilizer (without urea, un-coated urea, sulfur-coated urea fertilizer, starch-coated urea, agar-coated urea and chitin-coated urea) were assigned to horizontal factor. Effects of deficit water and source of fertilizer were statistically significant on plant height, 1000 kernel weight, ear diameter, and number of rows per ear, ear yield, biological yield and harvest index. Maximum of plant height (153.23 cm), 1000 kernel weight (104.51 g), grain yield (9853.3 kg/ha) and biological yield (12471.6 kg/ha) were obtained in chitin coated urea fertilizer. Maximum of ear diameter (4.67 cm) and number of row per ear (13.22) were achieved in agar coated urea fertilizer and that of harvest index (45.79%) was indicated by starch-coated urea. Maximum of length of ear, number of kernels per row and grain yield were 23.65cm, 25.83 and 7142 kg/ha, respectively, and were obtained with the using of chitin-coated urea fertilizer and 100% water requirement. Minimum values of these traits were 13.54 cm, 5.56 and 871 kg/ha, respectively, and were obtained by using of control (no urea application) and 60% water requirement. Results showed that biopolymer coated urea is potent to improve some morphological characteristics and increase grain yield of sweet corn.

In order to evaluate the effect of seed priming on lodging-related characteristics in direct seeding method, a study was conducted in a factorial randomized complete block design with four replicates in the research field of Rice Research Institute of Iran (Rasht) for two years. The first factor consisted of two rice cultivars (Khazar and Hashemi) and the second one consisted of ten levels of seed conditions encompassing, eight priming treatments including hydropriming, ascorbic acid, salicylic acid, CaCl2, cold, cold heat, seed coating, and non-primed dry seed, all sown with seed tap technology along with linear direct seeding of germinated seeds and transplanting (25-days-old seedlings). Agronomic and morphological characteristics and resistance to lodging indices were measured. The results showed that there were significant differences between two cultivars and ten levels of seed conditions in morphological traits and lodging resistance indices. Mean comparisons and correlation analyses showed that grain yield (5142 kgha-1), resistance to fracture in third and fourth internodes (549 and 704 Newton, respectively) in Khazar were higher than those of Hashemi. There was a significant difference between planting methods (direct-seeded and transplanting) in terms of lodging resistance. Maximum indicators in the third and fourth internode bending momentum (1060 and 1708 gcm-1) were observed in the transplanting method. Hydropriming treatment had significant effect on fourth internode thickness in cultivar Khazar. Priming treatments appeared to leave significant effect on resistance to lodging in different planting methods in a cultivar-specific manner.

In order to evaluate the intercropping of barley-faba bean and choose the best planting pattern a field experiment was conducted in the growing seasons of 2015-2016 using a randomized complete block design with 8 treatments and 3 replications in Ramhormoz Khuzestan, Iran. The treatments were barley sole cropping with 20 cm spacing between rows, faba bean sole cropping with 40 cm spacing between rows, 50% barley 50% faba bean, 75% barley 25% faba bean, and 25% barley 75% faba bean with 30 cm spacing between rows, and 50% barley 50% faba bean, 75% barley 25% faba bean, and 25% barley 75% faba bean with 20 cm spacing between rows. In all barley-faba bean intercropping patterns, barley’s relative crowding coefficient and the competitive ratio were higher than faba bean’s. While aggression ability index of barley was positive, that of faba bean was negative. The total yield of barley and faba bean, land equivalent ratio, and relative crowding coefficient was higher in intercropping with 30 cm spacing between rows than that with 20 cm of spacing between rows, meaning that the former pattern was more effective than the latter one. The maximum land equivalent ratio (1.11) was obtained in the mixture of 25% barley 75% faba bean with 30 cm row spacing. For the mentioned pattern, the actual yield loss index was positive and intercropping advantage and the monetary advantage were higher than other planting patterns, indicating the superiority and usefulness of this intercropping pattern compared to sole crops of barley and faba bean.