مجله تولید و فرآوری محصولات زراعی و باغی
سال نهم شماره 1 (بهار 1398)

In order to evaluate the effect of biofertilizers (nitroxin and phosphate barvar2), vermicompost and chemical fertilizers on the quantity and quality traits of sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.), an experiment was conducted in randomized complete block design (RCBD) with 13 treatments and three replications at Agricultural and Natural Resources Research Station of Miandoab, Iran in 2015. The treatments were 100% chemical fertilizer (350, 100 and 50 kg ha-1 urea, superphosphate triple and potassium solphate) as control (T1), 10 t ha-1 vermicompost (T2), 20 t ha-1 vermicompost (T3), 10 t ha-1 vermicompost + 50% chemical fertilizer (T4), 20 t ha-1 vermicompost + 50% chemical fertilizer (T5), nitroxin + phosphate barvar 2 (T6), 10 t ha-1 vermicompost + nitroxin + phosphate barvar2 (T7), 20 t ha-1 vermicompost + nitroxin + phosphate barvar2 (T8), nitroxin + phosphate barvar2+ 50% chemical fertilizer (T9), 10 t ha-1 vermicompost + chemical fertilizer (196 and 85 kg ha-1 urea and superphosphate triple) (T10), 20 t ha-1 vermicompost + chemical fertilizer (40 and 70 kg ha-1 urea and superphosphate triple) (T11), nitroxin + phosphate barvar 2 + 10 t ha-1 vermicompost + 50% chemical fertilizer (T12) and nitroxin + phosphate barvar2 + 20 t ha-1 vermicompost + 50% chemical fertilizer (T13). The highest (47.8) and lowest (39.2) chlorophyll indices were obtained in T13 and T2 treatments, respectively. Also, the highest root yield (66366 kg ha-1) was achieved in T13 treatment that was not significantly different from T12 and T11. Due to a combination of organic and biological amendments with chemical fertilizers, sugar yield was increased significantly in T13 treatment due to increases in root yield and sugar content. The sugar yield and white sugar yield in T13 treatment increased 16.7% and 23.5%, respectively compared with T1. Generally, based on root yield, white sugar yield and extraction coefficient of sugar, integrated application of nitroxin + phosphate barvar2 + 20 t ha-1 vermicompost + 50% chemical fertilizer can be recommended for sugar beet production in the Miandoab area.

Eggplant is a crop that has been cultivated for a long time in different areas of Iran. Nevertheless, no sufficient studies have been done on variation of morphological traits and yield of this crop in Iran, and it has not been well-attended in breeding programs. Therefore, to study genetic diversity in collected local varieties, the experiment was conducted in a Randomized Complete Block Design with three replications at the Isfahan University of Technology, Isfahan, Iran. There were significant differences (p<0.01) among genotypes for all traits except for fruit density and leaf dry matter. Fruit yield varied from 2410 to 4023 g plant-1 between the varieties. Plant width, leaf dry matter, number of short style flowers, number of fruits per plant, plant growth habit and leaf blade lobing had significantly positive correlations with fruit yields per plant. Cluster analysis grouped the varieties into four clusters. Fruit number and yield per plant (as the most important traits) had the higher values in third group. Factor analysis recognized five factors, which explained 83.11 percent of total variation. In the first factor, the most variation was explained by fruit number and yield per plant which generally named fruit component. In conclusion, the results of this study indicated that there was a broad genetic diversity among local varieties of Iran’s eggplant which makes it possible to use valuable varieties by desirable traits such as high yield and sweat flavor of fruit in breeding program aimed at improving traits.

To evaluate the effect of different concentrations of humic acid on guar (Cyamopsis tetragonoloba L.) yield and nutrient uptake in different sowing densities, an experiment was carried out by using a split plot design with three replications based on a randomized complete block design, in Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources University of Khuzestan, Iran at summer 2016. Experimental factors consisted of four levels of humic acid (0, 5, 10 and 15 kg/ha) as the main plots and four plant densities (35, 55, 75 and 95 plants/m2) as sub plots. The density of 35 plants/m2 and 15 kg/ha humic led to increase in nitrogen, phosphorus, zinc and iron content of the plant. Moreover, the highest nitrogen harvest (295 kg/ha) was obtained from density of 95 plants/m2 and 15 kg/ha of humic acid. The lowest plant protein content (8.84%) was obtained from density of 95 plants/m2 and without application of humic acid. The highest grain yield and dry matter (4209 and 17955 kg/ha, respectively) were obtained from density of 95 plant/m2 and application of 15 kg/ha humic acid. Generally, it seems that high levels of plant density (greater than 95 plant/m-2) must be evaluated for cultivation of guar in Khuzestan province. In addition, application of humic acid may lead to significantly increase of guar yield in the region.

To study the response of Iranian melon cultivars to salinity stress a factorial experiment based on RCBD with 3 replications was conducted. Four salinity treatments (0, 6.6, 8 and 12 dS/m NaCl) and 16 muskmelon (Cucumis melo L.) cultivars namely ‘Dargazi’, ‘Khatooni’, Abbas shori’, ‘Chah paliz’, ‘Zard Ivanaki’, ‘Gorgab’, ‘Gongi’, Saderati’, ‘Dastgerd’, ‘Sabz Isfahan’, ‘Jalali’, Ghasri Mashhad’, Sooski’, ‘Khaghani’, with two imported hybrids ‘Annanasi’ and ‘Diamond’ were used. The results showed that along with increasing salinity levels to 6.6, 8, and 12ds/m, the highest increase in electrolyte leakage and Na+ concentration (45.35 and 64.48%, respectively) were observed in Gongi cultivar, compared with the control. The largest decrease in chlorophyll fluorescence was found to be 21.95% in Dargazi cultivar. Greenness index, K+ concentration of leaf, K+/N+, fresh weight of shoot and dry weight of root were decreased by 52.31, 49.74, 82.19, 75.45, 76%, respectively, in salt stressed Gongi plants. The greatest salt induced decreases in RWC (71.36%) and fresh weight of root (60.36%) were observed in Gongi and Zard ivanaki cultivars in comparison to the control plants. Cluster analysis divided the examined accessions to 3 groups. Sabz Isfahan, Ananasi, Sooski, and Diamond were recognized as salt-tolerant accessions which may contain tolerance genes which could be used to develop new modified cultivars with high salinity resistance. Dargazi, Zard ivanaki and Gongi were the most sensitive ones to the salinity stress.

In order to evaluate the effect of autumn and winter planting on yield and phenology of potato cultivars using thermal indices an experiment was coducted in split plot in time based on a radomized compelet block design with three replications at Behbahan Agriculture Research Station in Khuzestan province, south of Iran in 2014 and 2015. Cultivar (Sante, Savalan and Javid) was considered as main plot and planting season (autumn and winter planting) as sub plot. In Autumn and winter planting seasons tubers were planted in early October and early December, respectively. Tubers were harvested in early March and mid May in autumn and winter planting seasons, respectively. The duration of sprout dvelopement in the autumn planting season was 14 days shorter than winter planting season, but tuber bulking duration was 25 days longer in the latter planting season. Futhermore, growing degree days, helio thermal unit and photo thermal index of sprout development stage in autumn planting season (117.41°C day, 1967°C day hour and 9.29°C day day-1, respectively) were greater than winter planting. However these agro-meteorologial indices at tuber bulking stage (537.58°C day, 4168.79°C day hour and 10.42°C day day-1, respectively) were smaller in winter planting. Yield, thermal use efficiency and helio thermal use efficiency were reduced (18.36, 34.95 and 31.58%, respectively) due to high temperatures encountered during tuber bulking stage in winter planting as compared with the autumn planting season. The highst yeild, thermal use efficiency and helio thermal use efficiency in both of planting seasons belonged to Javid cultivar.

One of the most important characteristics of fruit crops is susceptibility to decay and quality reduction during storage life. Crops with higher antioxidant capacity are tolerant to stress and have greater nutritional quality and storage life. Hence, to investigate the antioxidant capacity of two grape cultivars Ghezel uzum and Red hosseini a factorial experiment with 3 replications was carried out as a Randomized complete block design. Results showed that the percentage of weight loss in Ghezel uzum cultivar was 1.5 fold greater than Red hosseini cultivar. Berry quality traits such as total soluble solids, pH, the amount of electrolyte conductivity and fruit taste index were increased while titrable acidity, carotenoid, chlorophyll a and b, anthocyanin, vitamin C, total phenol and the amount of antioxidant activity were decreased during storability in both cultivars. Ghezel uzum had more carotenoids than Red Hosseini (2.6 fold) but the extent of decreases in pigment concentration in Red hosseini was lesser than that of the other cultivar. In contrast the amount of antioxidant capacity (88.20% and 17.38% in skin and pulp, respectively), total phenol (204.4 and 2.11 mg 100gFw-1 in skin and pulp, respectively) and chlorophyll a and b (1.13 and 3.9 µg Kg-1, respectively) was greater in Red Hosseini cultivar compared to Ghezel uzum cultivar. It may be concluded that the Red hosseini cultivar has a greater capability in preserving its quality characteristics at the end of storage life, compared to other cultivar.

In order to evaluate the effect of biofertilizers (Rhizobium and mycorrhiza) on yield and qualitative characteristics of Pinto bean under deficit irrigation, an experiment was conducted as split plot based on a randomized complete block design with three replications in 2017. Experimental treatments included irrigation regime with two levels (normal and deficit irrigation) as main plots and biological fertilizers with six levels {Control (C), Rhizobium phaseoli (R), fungus included Rhizophagus intraradices (I) and Funneliformis mosseae (M), Integrated 1 (R. intraradices and Rhizobium-T1), Integrated 2 (F. mosseae and Rhizobium-T2)} as sub-plots. Inoculation with F. mosseae led to increase in 1000-seed weight in deficit irrigation condition. Grain yield was enhanced by 28% due to application of R. intraradices, compared with control treatment. The highest grain protein content (19.86%) was observed in Rhizobium fertilizer application under normal irrigation condition and its lowest (13.77%) was obtained from control plants under deficit irrigation condition. The maximum amount of crude protein (21.45%) and digestible dry matter (71.15%) were found in the plants treated with R. intraradices under deficit irrigation condition, and the lowest amount of them (16.72 and 58.94%) were obtained from untreated plants under normal and deficit irrigation treatments, respectively. Plants treated with F. mosseae had the highest concentrations of proline and total chlorophyll under deficit irrigation condition. Generally, F. mosseae and R. intraradices species led to improving qualitative and qualitative characteristics of Pinto bean under deficit irrigation condition.

Autumn daffodil (Sternbergia lutea) is one of bulbous plants from Iran that has potential as an ornamental plant. The understanding and control of dormancy and investigation of cold requirement in this plant are critical for its cultivation This research was conducted to investigate the effects of duration of cold and the size of bulb on growth, development and flowering of autumn daffodil. The experiment was performed as a completely randomized design based on factorial design with two factors: the duration of cold (4 °C) at three levels (20, 40 and 60 days) along with control (without cooling) and three sizes of bulb (small, medium and big) with 3 replications. After applying the cold and planting the bulbs in September 2015, vegetative and reproductive variables were measured. Results indicated that the interaction between cold duration and the different sizes of bulbs had a significant effect on most of the measured vegetative and reproductive characteristics. By applying the cold treatment, the numbers of days to sprouting and two, four and five leaves stages were increased. The highest amounts of leaf area, fresh and dry weights were obtained with big bulb and 40 days of bulb cooling. Parameters such as volume, length, and number, fresh and dry weights of bulb roots were higher in bulbs that had been kept a way from cooling. The highest of flowering percentage, flower longevity on the bush, flowering stem height, fresh and dry weights were obtained in big bulbs with 20 days of bulb cooling. Flowering was not observed in 40 and 60 days of bulb cooling. According to the results of this research, it can be concluded that autumn daffodil bulb has a little cold requirement or the cold requirement is not obligatory. According to the results obtained, the treatment of 20 days of cooling with the big size of bulb is recommended although further research is needed to investigate the dormancy status of the bulb in terms of physiological, biochemical and molecular aspects.

In order to evaluate the effect of Benzyl Adenine (BA) on qualitative characteristics and shelf life of plum fruits CV “Gold Drops”, an experiment was conducted as a factorial based on randomized complete block design with three replications. In this experiment different concentrations of BA (0, 50, 75, 100 and 125 mg L-1) were applied as a foliar application. After harvesting, fruits were stored at 0.5-1 °C and 90% relative humidity for 6 weeks. Fruit characteristics including weight loss, firmness, titratable acidity, soluble solids, pH, ascorbic acid, antioxidant capacity, phenolic and total flavonoid content, were measured once a week at Tabriz University, Tabriz, Iran. The results showed that effects of BA treatments and storage time were significant in all traits. The lowest percentage of weight loss was found at 125 mg L-1 BA in the first week of storage. The highest and lowest content of TSS were obtained at 125 mg L-1 BA during the six weeks of storage and control treatment in the first week, respectively. The amount of ascorbic acid gradually reduced during storage and the lowest content was found at the end of storage. The highest phenol content of fruit was occurred in 125 mg L-1 BA in the 2nd week and the lowest one in control at the 6th week of storage. According to these findings, BA spraying can bear positive effects on postharvest quality sustainment and shelf life of plum fruit.

Fruits and vegetables contain an array of antioxidant compounds. In this experiment, the effect of pomegranate, grape and kiwifruit juice or extract viz., pomegranate husk on pear fruits were investigated and compared with chitosan 1.5% and distilled water (control). The changes in the ascorbic acid, total soluble solids, total acid, weight loss, firmness and peroxidase and polyphenol oxidase activity of fruits were monitored during 60 days storage at 4±2°C. Combination of kiwifruit juice with pomegranate or grape juices reduced ascorbic acid and total soluble solids losses, suppressed peroxidase and polyphenol oxidase activity and maintained the firmness of intact pear fruits in storage compared to the control. Based on the findings of this study, natural fruit antioxidants can be recommended as a potent source of antioxidant coating for intact pears, as these compounds may delay pear fruit ripening and reduce the loss of fruit nutritional value.

The ever-increasing problem of water scarcity in arid and semi-arid regions of Iran has necessitated the demand to replacement of sugar beet plantation by more water-use efficient plants. Sweet sorghum is one of the sugars plants with low water requirements that potentiates cost-effective sugar production in different regions. However, physiological aspects of sugar yield in this plant is not completely understood. The present experiment studied the effect of sink (spike) removal (as a limiting factor for sugar production) and magnesium spraying (as an improving factor for plant growth) on photosynthetic pigments concentration and yield of two sweet sorghum cultivars. This research was carried out as a factorial experiment based on a randomized complete block design with three replications in two years (2014, 2015) in Shahroud Agricultural Research Center, Shahroud, Iran. Experimental factors included sweet sorghum cultivars (KFS2 and KFS3), sink removal treatments (control, mechanical removal and chemical removal of spike by ethephon) and spraying different concentrations of magnesium (0, 4 and 8 mM). Interaction of cultivars, sink removal and magnesium spraying levels was significant on photosynthetic pigments concentration, leading to increase in total sugar and sugar yield. The highest sugar yield in both cultivars was obtained from chemical removal of sink and 4 and 8 mM of magnesium application. In both of the studied cultivars, assimilate surface index was significantly affected by sink removal and the highest amount of this trait (2.65 g sugar per square meters of leaf area) was achieved from chemical removal of sink in KFS2. The latter results indicated that photosynthetic capacity of the sweet sorghum plants was enhanced by sink removal, especially when removed chemically, i.e. by ethephon. As no significant difference was observed between 4 and 8 mM in most examined traits, the 4 mM magnesium spraying was proven more suitable.

In order to study the grain yield attributes of sesame in the presence of nutritional treatments and different irrigation regimes, a factorial split-plot experiment was conducted based on randomized complete block design with three replications in Shahed University of Tehran, Iran during 2015-2016. The treatments included irrigation regimes (full irrigation and irrigation up to 65 and 75 BBCH scales), three types of nitrogen fertilizers (nitroxin, urea, and the combination of nitroxin and 50% urea) and four levels of potassium fertilizer (non-fertilized as control, spraying and soil application of potassium nano-chelate and potassium dioxide). The triple interaction effect of irrigation × nitrogen × potassium was significant on plant height, the number of lateral branches, capsules, seeds per capsule, and grain yield. The highest grain yield was obtained from plants irrigated up to 50% of seed ripening (75 BBCH) in the absence of application of potassium and use of nitroxin with an average of 1340.5 kg ha-1 leading to 35% increase, compared to the control treatment. In addition, the grain yield was positively and significantly correlated with stem diameter, plant dry weight, number of capsules and seeds per capsule, and 1000-seed weight. A weak correlation was observed among the morphological traits. Further, there was no significant correlation between morphological and yield attributes. Based on the results of stepwise regression, the maximum grain yield difference was related to the total number of capsules, 1000-seed weight, and number of seeds per capsule, together explaining 98.8% of the grain yield changes.

Durum wheat (Triticum durum desf.) is one of the most important cereal crops used to make pasta, macaroni and other foods. Understanding the complexity of the genotype × environment interaction (GEI) and its impact on determining the most stable genotypes, mega environments and other adaptation goals has been a special concern for the plant breeders. Various methods exist for the stability analysis of grain yields based on different sustainability concepts that can be grouped into parametric, nonparametric and multivariate methods. In this research, 20 genotypes of durum wheat (19 advanced genotypes and Dehdasht commercial variety) were evaluated in five regions during four years (2009-2013). Experiments were carried out in a randomized complete block design with four replications in each environment (year × location). Based on the results of grain yield stability assessment using 13 nonparametric methods in the methods of mean rank, standard deviation and adaptability percentage, genotypes 9, 10 and 12, in the methods of Nassar and Huhn and sum rank of Kang, genotypes 4, 5, 10, 11 and 17 and in the Thennarasu and Fox methods, genotypes 6, 9, 10, 12, 13 and 17 were selected as the most stable genotypes. Finally, based on summarizing the results of all methods genotypes 10 and 12 were selected as the most stable genotypes. According to the previous studies of the authors, it is suggested that in the next researches, in order to better evaluate the stability of genotypes, one of the sustainability methods such as AMMI, spatial regression or mixed models, along with nonparametric methods, must be considered.

In order to study the effect of natural zeolite superabsorbent on yield and yield components of linseed under different moisture regimes, a split plot experiment was conducted in a randomized complete block design with 3 replications at Research Farm of Shahrekord University, Shahrekord, Iran in 2017. The main factor in four moisture regimes included irrigation after 50 (control), 80, 130 and 180 mm evaporation from class A evaporation pan and sub factor, at three levels encompassed no application of zeolite (control), 5 tons zeolite per hectare and 10 tons zeolite per hectare. The results showed that the effect of application of zeolite on vegetation index, number of capsules per plant, number of seeds per capsule, 1000 seed weight, grain yield, biological yield and harvest index was significant at 1% probability level, but this factor had no significant effect on hectoliter weight. Effect of moisture regimes on all studied traits were significant at 1% probability level. The effect of interaction of factors was significant on the number of capsules per plant at the probability level of 1% and on the vegetation index at 5% probability level. With increasing of zeolite superabsorbent under moisture treatments, all studied traits were increased, while application of 10 tons of zeolite per hectare showed the most effect on the growth and yield of linseed in all irrigation conditions (normal irrigation and under drought stress conditions). The highest seed yield (1581 kg ha-1) of linseed was related to the application of 10 tons of zeolite per hectare and the lowest yield (1331 kg ha-1) was obtained at the zeolite – free conditions.

In the present study 18 agronomic, phonological and morphological traits were evaluated in 34 genotypes of sainfoin based on a randomized complete block design with three replications in Agricultural and Natural Resources Research Center of West Azerbaijan, Iran. Analysis of variance showed that there were significant differences among the genotypes for all of the measured traits, suggesting that there is considerable genetic variation among genotypes and indicating high potential for improving these traits through targeted selection in breeding programs. Correlation analysis showed that forage yield had significantly positive correlations with plant height, harvest index, dry weight of stem, and number of stems. Principal component analysis revealed that five components justify more than 73 percent of the total variation. In order to select effective yield components, step-wise regression was undertaken and number of stems, number of leaves and harvest index were entered into the regression model. Cluster analysis using Ward algorithm classified 34 genotypes into three groups, including 18, 9 and 7 genotypes. Moreover, principle components analysis confirmed the result of cluster analysis.