مجله علوم باغبانی ایران
سال پنجاه و یکم شماره 2 (تابستان 1399)

In order to evaluate, the effect of different levels of ammonium sulfate on morphological and phytochemical characteristics of summer savory, an experiment based on randomized complete block design (RCBD) with five treatments and three replications on Karaj climate conditions was conducted. The treatment including five levels of ammonium sulfate consist of: control (without fertilizer), 40, 60, 80 and 100 kg/ha of ammonium sulfate that as split application was applied. At full flowering stage, the plant samples of all treatments were harvested and desired factors such as morphological characteristics (plant height, lateral shoot number, plant diameter and stem diameter), biomass, Antioxidant activity, polyphenolic compounds, rosmarinic acid and carvacrol contents were measured. With increasing levels of ammonium sulfate, plant height, number of lateral shoots, plant diameter, stem diameter, internode length and dry matter yield were significantly increased. The highest antioxidant activity was observed in 40 kg ammonium sulfate treatment and increasing in ammonium sulphate concentration was decreased antioxidant activity. The maximum content of rosmarinic acid (10.93 mg per g dry weight) related to 80 kg ammonium sulfate treatment and the lowest content (6.85 mg per g dry weight) was measured in control. The highest amount of carvacrol (6.92 mg per g dry weight) was obtained in 80 kg of ammonium sulfate treatment, followed by 40, 60 and 100 kg treatments on the same level and the minimum content (5.05 mg) in control were detected. According to the results, the treatment of 80 kg/ha of ammonium sulfate, in addition to increasing growth and yield factors, inhansed the amount of carvacrol and rosmarinic acid.

In order to provide a rapid and useful method for propagation of Withania coagulans medical plant under in-vitro condition was conducted based on completely randomized design experience in tissue culture laboratory of Agricultural Research Center of Khorasan Razavi Province. At first, sterilized seeds are placed in MS media (collected from natural habitat in Sistan and Baluchistan Province). Then for shoot regeneration internode subculture placed in MS media, including Benzylaminopurine (BAP) in 5 levels (0, 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2 mg/L). In step 2, for root regeneration placed in MS media in including indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) in 4 levels 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2 mg/L and Naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) in 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2 mg/L), also, control treatment (non-application of hormone) was considered. Finally, in order to adapt to seedling, they were kept in an adaptive room for 30 days. The highest proliferation index, number of branches, and number of leaf belong to 0.5 mg/L BAP treatment and the best concentration of growth regulators with 90% marcotting was in the treatment of IBA at 0.5 mg/L concentration. Finally, by transfer of regenerated explants to the soil, 80 percent of them survived. In general, for the production of strong and succulent seedlings, the use of BAP and IBA at 0.5 mg/L concentration is recommended for branching and marcotting, respectively.

Thymus daenensis, one of the endemic thyme in Iran, is very important in the pharmaceutical and food industries due to high percentage of essential oils and high levels of thymol in essential oils. In order to evaluate genetic parameters and general combining ability (GCA) in 12 populations of T. daenensis, a polycross design has been used. Polycross test in a randomized complete block design with 6 replications in 2014 and 2015, and polycross progeny test in a randomized complete block design with 3 replications in 2016 and 2017 were carried out in the Horticultural Department, University of Tehran. Karaj. Iran. Morphological traits, essential oil content and yield, thymol and carvacrol were evaluated. Results revealed that, the high level of GCA for important traits such as plant height, plant fresh and dry weight and leaf dry weight were obtained in populations of Ilam, Isfahan 2, Markazi 1 and Markazi 2 and for essential oil percentage and yield were obtained in populations of Ilam and Malayer 2. Overall, the results of this study indicated a high diversity for morphological and phytochemical traits in studied populations. Also, Ilam, Malayer 2, Markazi 1 and Markazi 2 populations with positive and high GCA provide good opportunities for creating synthetic varieties or new genetic source for selection of superior genotypes.

To investigate the effects of irrigation cutting and different fertilizer on yield and qualitative traits of black cumim an experiment was conducted as split plot layout based on a randomized complete block design with three replications at University of Zabol Research Farm during 2016. Main plot included four levels of irrigation cutting; conventional irrigation, irrigation cutting in between stem elongation to flowering, irrigation cutting in between flowering to beginning of seed filling period and irrigation cutting in between beginning to end of seed filling period. Subplot was different type of phosphorous fertilizer including control (no fertilizer application), Azoto-e-Barvar 1, Phosphate-e-Barvar 2 and triple super phosphate. Interaction effect of irrigation cutting and fertilizer on yield and yield components, leaf chlorophyll content, carotenoids content, essential oil percentage and yield was significant. The highest yield and yield components, photosynthetic pigments and essential oil yield were achieved in normal irrigation along with application of Azoto-e-Barvar1 and the greatest essential oil percentage were observed in irrigation cutting in between beginning to end of seed filling period along with application of Azoto -e-Barvar 1. Seed yield affected by irrigation cutting in seed filling period and without application fertilizer was 46.76 % less than seed yield in conventional irrigation along with application of Azoto-e-Barvar 1. In conclusion, to improve the characteristics of black seed, except for essential oil content, the application of bio-fertilizers along with conventional irrigation would be appropriate.

In order to evaluate water deficient tolerance of nine selected tea clones, an experiment was performed in tea collections, Shahid Eftekhari Fashalam Tea Research Station in Shaft. The experiment was conducted as split plot based on randomized complete block design with three replications. Clones were considered as main plot in nine levels and irrigation treatments were as sub plot in two levels (irrigation and non-irrigation). Sixty days after the onset of water stress, water stress index, relative water content and quantitative traits included number of shoots, fresh and dry weight of shoot, length of shoot, length and width of 5th leaf and green leaf yield were evaluated in two stress and non-stress conditions for screening of tea clones. The results of variance analysis showed significant differences between clones, irrigation treatments and clone×irrigation interaction for all measured traits. Under water stress, relative water content, yield, yield components and other growth characteristics of clones decreased, so that the highest decrease belongs to green leaf yield. The results of water stress index and changing percent of measured traits showed that the clones of 276 and 100 promising clone with the highest water stress and the lowest changing percent of quantitative traits, have the higher potential to tolerate water deficit stress conditions compared with other clones and useful for tea breeding programs as tolerate clones, also because of the low water stress index and high changing percent of quantitative traits of clones 399 and 278, can be introduced them as susceptible to water deficit stress.

Gerbera flower belongs to the Composite family and is one of the five top cut flowers in the world in terms of production and consumption, which has a great economic value in the international flowering industry. This study was designed to evaluate whether calcium pre-harvest foliar application in hydroponic culture, provided through 0, 0.5, 1 and 1.5% of CaCl2 and CaNO3, could extend quality of gerbera cut flower. The layout was factorial experiment in completely randomized design (CRD) with four replication.  Afterwards, for evaluation of associated traits with vase life, the produced flowers were kept in a vase solution containing 200 mg/L hydroxyquinoline sulfate with temperature conditions of 20 °C. The results showed that vase life of flowers extended 6.1 and 5 days by application 1% CaCl2 for Intens and Rosalin respectively. All treatments were effective in the increasing relative fresh weight of flower due to increase water uptake. The results also revealed that the calcium pretreatment delayed flowers senescence and maintained leaf protein and petal anthocyanin content. Application of calcium resulted in a decrease in electrolyte leakage and malondialdehyde content in the cut flowers of both cultivars, providing evidence for delay of senescence in calcium-treated cut flowers. Also, results showed that calcium application significantly increased Peroxidase (POD) and phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) of both cultivars.  The maximum and the minimum PAL and POD activities were observed in resistant and sensitive cultivars, respectively. Taken together, pre-harvest application of calcium (especially 1% CaCl2) might be promising approaches to improve postharvest performance of gerbera cut flowers.

To investigate the effect of salicylic acid and iron on peach fruit (Prunus persica L. cv. Zaferani) quality, a factorial experiment in a randomized complete block design with four replications was conducted. Salicylic acid solution at four levels 0, 1, 2 and 4 mM and iron sequestrine in concentrations of 0, 5 and 10 mg/L were prepared and sprayed on peach trees in two stages (40 and 80 days after full bloom). After fruits harvesting, total soluble solids, titratable acidity, pH, firmness, fruit weight loss, antioxidant capacity, ethylene production and electrolyte leakage were measured. The results showed that the treatments compare to controls were prevented weight loss, electrolyte leakage and ethylene production and maintain titratable acids, soluble solids content and antioxidant capacity of fruits. Fruit treated with salicylic acid 4 mM and iron 10 mgl-1 were maintained antioxidant capacity and prevented ethylene production, weight loss and electrolyte leakage. The treated fruits eventually retained their quality until the 40th day and on the 60th day any fruits haven't marketable quality.

Optimizing the tissue culture condition for Adenium sp as an imported ornamental plant with a low propagation rate can deliver the way for mass propagation to multiplication of this ornamental plant. So, this research was carried out in a factorial experiment based on a completely randomized design to optimize organogenesis of Adenium abessum and Adenium arabicum during shoot induction, proliferation and root induction experiments. The highest rate of shoot regeneration for Adenium obesum was achieved in MS medium containing 0.5 mgl-1 BA, and for Adenium arabicum was achieved in MS medium containing 0.5 mgl-1 BA in combination with 0.5 mgl-1 TDZ. Organogenesis was more observed as leafy and rooted in A. arabicum and shoot induction in that was longer compare with A. abessum. The result showed that 0.5 mgl-1 BA can be used to prolifered shoots induced in both specie of Adenium. The full strength of free plant growth regulator MS medium supplemented with 0.3% activated charcoal was the best treatment at root induction stage. The plantlet gradually became first adapted in sterile perlite with 1/2 MS concentration and then in the culture media contained soil, vermicompost and perlite.

In order to investigate effect of humi-forthi biostimulator and L-arginine amino acid on growth, physiological and biochemical characteristics of marigold (Tagetes erecta) under drought stress, a factorial experiment based on a completely randomized design with three replications was carried out. The first factor was humi-forthi at three levels (0, 2.5 and 5 mg/l), the second factor was L-arginine at three levels (0, 1.5 and 3 mM), and the thirs factor was drought stress at three levels (100%, 70%, and 40% FC). Traits including the number of flowers, flower diameter, total chlorophyll content, SOD enzyme activities, andNPK concentrations were measured. The results indicated that drought stress, especially 40% FC, significantly influenced all morpho-physiological traits of marigold. There was observed a reduction flower diameter and number, chlorophyll content, and NPK under drought stress, whereas an increase was recorded for SOD activity and carotenoid. In most traits, 5 mg/l humi-forthi was more effective in respect to 2.5 mg/l and control. In addition, 3 mM L-arginine significantly had greater impact in respect to control and 1.5 mM. The interaction of humi-forthi, L-arginine and drought stress was significant on total chlorophyll, SOD activity, P and K (P≤0.05). The treatment of 5 mg/l humi-forthi + 3 mM L-arginine is the most effective treatment for alleviating the adverse effect of drought stress particularly 40 % FC.

In order to evaluate, the effects of different irrigation and fertilizer treatments on oil percent and fatty acid composition in purslane, a split plot experiment based on randomized complete block design with three replications on Zabol climate conditions was conducted. The treatment including three levels of irrigation (80, 60 and 40 % of FWC) as main factor and five levels of fertilizer treatments consist of: Control (without fertilizer), Cow manure (20 T/ha), Vermicompost (15 T/ha), Urea (150 kg/ha) and NPK (100 kg/ha) that as subplots was applied. During the growth period, the soil moisture was measured by TDR. The results showed that, different irrigation regimes, fertilizer and their interaction had significant effect on oil percent in leave (before and after flowering stage) and seed of purslane. Although, with the reduction of water consumption, and the drought stress occurrence, the percentage of oil was decreased, but application of organic fertilizers, especially vermicompost, at high levels of stress, the adverse effects of drought stress was reduced, Gas chromatogram (GC) showed that, 11 fatty acid components in oil of purslane was detected. Linolenic acid involved 40 and 60% of total fatty acid contents of leave and seed oil, respectively. Therefore, organic fertilizer application can save much water for the most sensitive stage of growth and oil production of purslane in drought stress conditions.

In order to investigate the effect of nanocomposite superabsorbent and humic acid on the characteristics of lawn sport, a factorial experiment based on a completely randomized design with three replications was carried out. The first factor was nanocomposite superabsorbent at three levels (0, 2 and 5 g/Kg in each pot), the second factor was humic acid at three levels (0, 250 and 500 mg/L, as spray) and the thirs factor was drought stress at two levels (50 and 100% field capacity). Results showed that the application of humic acid during drought stress improved color traits and aerial part hieght. Application of nanocomposite superabsorbent during drought stress reduced the effect of drought stress on color traits, leaf texture quality and aerial part hieght. The application of humic acid and nanocomposite superabsorbent simultaneously improved the density, shoot height, fresh weight, but reduced the ion leakage, proline and dry weight of turfgrass. In general, the results showed that the application of humic and nanocomposite superabsorbent acid could help the stress flow through the passage, and reduced the effect of stress on the plant.

In prder to investigate the effect of long-day treatment during autumn and winter on quantitative and qualitative characteristics of Rosa hybrida ‘Dolce vita’, an experiment was conducted in completely randomized design with nine replications. Rose bushes were treated with increasing length of photoperiod to 16-h under six levels of light intensity includes 0, 85, 170, 255 and 340 µmol m-2 s-1 using HPS lamp and 85 µmol m-2 s-1 using LED lamp. Important factors of quantitative and qualitative yield such as shoot length, stem diameter, time of harvesting, renewal bud formation, quality index and vase life were affected by supplemental light treatments. Using supplemental light, the average time required for harvesting the flower was around five days lesser than the control plants. The highest number of renewal bud formation was observed in light intensity of 85 µmol m-2 s-1 using HPS lamp, respectively. In many traits such as plant height and stem length, stem diameter under flower, leaf number, leaf length and width, fresh and dry stem weight, flower quality index and vase life, 340 µmol m-2 s-1 light intensity was the best treatment.

Use of drought tolerant grapevine rootstocks and application of garden management practices, such as the use of plant growth regulators, can be effective in achieving drought control methods. For this purpose, a factorial experiment based on a completely randomized design was conducted with three replications in greenhouse conditions in 2018 in order to study the effect of triacontanol on the physiological characteristics of grafted plantlet of grapevine on two native rootstocks of Iran under drought conditions. The treatments consisted of two rootstocks (Khoshnav, Sorkhak Ghouchan) and Bidaneh sefid (no grafting), three levels of drought stress including soil water potential of -0.2 (control), -0.7 and -1.5 MPa, and three concentrations of triacontanol (0, 50 and 100 μM). The measured traits included ratio dry weight to leaf area (LMA), membrane cell stability (MSI), total chlorophyll, proline, glycinebetaine, relative water content (RWC), catalase (CAT) and peroxidase (POX) activity. Based on the results, drought stress reduced LMA (25%), MSI (5%), chlorophyll (20%) and RWC (5%) and triacontanol treatments increased LMA (20%), MSI (4.5%), chlorophyll (14%), RWC (2.5%), glycinebetaine (27%), proline (22%), and antioxidant activity of catalase (23%) and peroxidase (8%). plantlet with Khoshnav rootstock showed better results than the control plantlet, and triacontanol improves drought tolerance in plantlets.

In order to investigate effect of humic acid (HA) on growth and some physiological parameters of bermuda grass under salinity stress, a factorial experiment was cinducted. The first factor was humic acid at four levels ( 0, 50, 100 and 150 mg/l )  and the second factor was salinity at  four levels (0, 5, 7 and 9 ds/m ).  Results of variance analysis showed significant effects of the salinity and HA on plant growth parameters, photosynthetic pigments, malondialdehyde (MDA), proline and antioxidant enzyme activity. Results showed that salinity stress imposed negative effects on plant growth and productivity. In salinity conditions, fresh and dry weight, leaf area and photosynthetic pigments reduced, but proline, malondialdehyde, catalase and superoxide dismutase activities increased. HA application improved growth parameters and increased chlorophyll content, catalase and superoxide dismutase activities of bermuda grass subjected to salinity and provided significant protection against salinity stress compared to non-HA-treated plants. The highest salinity tolerance was obtained with 150 mg/l HA application. In general, the results indicated that HA application, by altering in some tolerant responses, could be effectively used to protect plants from the adverse effects of high salt concentration.

In order to study the irrigation system and investigate the water requirement of date palm (Halili cultivar) in Minab Agricultural Research Station, an experiment was conducted as split plot with three replications based on randomized complete blocks design. The first factor was the irrigation method in two levels (surface and drip) as main plot and the second factor was the depth of irrigation water in two levels (75 and 100 percent evaporation from class A pan) as sub-plot. Each experimental plot consisted of two six-year-old trees at a distance of eight by eight meters. The studied traits included yield, water productivity, total soluble sugar content, average fruit weight, meat to kernel ratio, dry matter percentage and total soluble solids content. The results showed that treatment with 75% drip irrigation with the highest mean of water productivity (0.89 kg/m3) of water consumed over four years and an average of 7036 m3 of water consumed per hectare per year according to the drought challenge in recent years has been consistent with agricultural goals and is recommended in the region. In addition to the superiority of water productivity and the lowest amount of water consumed, this treatment showed superiority in all qualitative traits, except of the average weight of fruits.

The current research was conducted to evaluate the phenological, morphological and pomological diversity of some selected walnut genotypes in the north of Hamadan province during 2016-2017 growing seasons. For this purpose, 84 mature walnut genotypes were selected and evaluated based on the IPGRI and UPOV descriptors. After two years of evaluation, 12 genotypes were selected as the superior genotype. The results showed that HaRaToMa23 genotype is a late-leafing genotype with 23 days delay in compare with the reference standard genotype. In addition, three genotypes including HaRaSuSh1, HaRaToMa24 and HaRaVaAh17 were homogeneous.In term of pomological studies, nut and kernel weights and kernel percentages of superior genotypes varied from 12.95-22.60 g, 6.82-11.56 g and 47.15-59.47 %, respectively. The lowest shell thickness (0.77 mm) was among the superior genotypes above for HaRaVaAh9 genotype. Also, HaRaSuSh1 genotype had the highest nut and kernel weight and HaRaSuSh2genotype showed the highest kernel percentage. The selected superior genotypes had a lateral bearing habit and their kernel color varied from bright to very bright that was easily distinguished from the hard skin. Based on the results, a positive and significant correlation (r = 0.96 **) was observed between leafing date and harvesting date, tree yield and nut weight (r = 0.63 **) and lateral bearing rate (r = 0.73 **) at a probability level of 1%. Selected superior genotypes in terms of many important breeding traits showed superiority in compare with commercial cultivars, so these selected genotypes can be used in breeding programs to introduce new cultivars.

In order to evaluate the integrative application of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and chemical fertilizers on the quality and quantity traits of Dragon's head (Lallemantia iberica), a field experiment was carried out as a randomized complete blocks design (RCBD) with eight treatments and three replications at the faculty of Agriculture, University of Maragheh during 2016 growing season. Treatments were included 100% chemical fertilizer (CF), Glomus mosseae (GM), Glomus intraradices (GI), GM+GI, 50% CF+GM, 50% CF+GI and 50% CF+GM+GI. The results demonstrated that the highest (71.83) and the lowest (54.47) chlorophyll index was achieved in the 50% CF+GM+GI and individual application of GI. In addition, the highest number of lateral branches was related to application of 50% CF+GM+GI, 50% CF+GM and GI. Furthermore, the highest grain yield (802.8 Kg ha-1), number of flower cycles per plant (63.6), number of seed per plant (519.3), number of seeds in the main stem (149.2), number of seeds per flower cycle (18), seed weight per plant (3.75 g), the grain-1000 weight (4.75 g) and total dry weight (426.3 g m-2) were achieved in the integrative application of 50% CF+GM+GI. By the way, the highest of EO content (0.5%) and EO yield (2.2 g m-2) were observed with application of 50% CF+GM+GI. The analysis of GC-FID and GC-MS showed that the linalool,menthone,geranial,menthyl acetate,geranyl acetate,valencene andcaryophyllene oxide were the major essential oil compounds. Generally, integrative application of 50% CF+GM+GI could improve the quality and quantity traits of dragon's head.

The purpose of this experiment was to investigate the effect of deficit irrigation and chitosan on some physiological traits of Mentha spicata L. This experiment was conducted in a completely randomized block design in a split plot arrangement with three replications in University of Zanjan. The experimental treatments were irrigation at two levels (100% and 60% field capacity) as the main factor and chitosan treatment at three levels (0, 50 and 100 mg/l) was considered as a sub factor. The results showed that spraying with chitosan increased chlorophyll content. The highest chlorophyll content (1.240 mg gr-1 f.w) was obtained at 100 mg/l chitosan under complete irrigation conditions (100% field capacity). The spraying application of 100 mg/l chitosan and deficit irrigation conditions (60% field capacity) caused the highest amount of carotenoids (0.45 mg gr-1 f.w), phenol (9.989 mg gr-1 f.w), flavonoid (6.993 mg gr-1 f.w) and proline (23.96 mol gr-1 fw). The highest level of antioxidant activity (91.16%) was observed in 50 mg/l chitosan under deficit irrigation. Also, deficit irrigation and chitosan had a positive effect on the essential oil yield, so that the highest essential oil yield (10.44 kg/h) was obtained at 100 mg/l chitosan concentration and under deficit irrigation conditions. Overall, the results showed that chitosan treatment had positive effects on drought stress and non-stress conditions and improved the negative effects of drought stress.

Violet is one of the most important plant in field of ornamental and medicinal purposes that grow wild in most part of Iran. Therefore, it is important to identify and evaluate the characteristics of Iranian native violets. In this study, 37 morphological characters were measured on 8 wild populations of Viola </em>spp collected from Alborz, Hamedan, Kermanshah, Ardebil and Mazandaran province. Correlation analysis showed some positive and negative correlations between characters such as lamina length from the base to maximum width with lamina sinus depth (r=0.911), number of fimbriae with number of glandular fimbriae along both stipule margins (r=0.914), lamina apex angle and colors corolla (r=0.854), lamina sinus angle with lamina length/lamina width (r=0.854), the lamina dentations has correlation with posterior petal length (r=0.736), stipule width with anterior sepal length (r=0.726). Factors analysis of these characteristics set the traits to six operating groups that justify 89.62% of total variance. Cluster analysis at Euclidean distance of 10, divided the populations into three branchesand important factors in cluster separation contain feature of flower color, flower size, shape of stipule and number of fimbriae on stipule. The results showed that violets with larger flowers such as Kermanshah and Chalous populations, violets with long stolons with fertile buds such as Sisangan population and also violets with large leaves in Kermanshah population and Varian can be used for medicinal and decorative purposes.

To evaluate the effect of  deficit  irrigation stress at different growth stages of two Iranian melon accessions  on growth, yield and fruit quality, a split- split plot experiment was conducted based on randomized complete block design with three replications at University of Zanjan. Treatments were consisted of deficit irrigation in three levels (100, 80 and 60% ETc) as main plot, stage of water deficit application in two levels (flowering and 20 days after flowering (fruit development stage) as sub plot and melon accession in two levels (Khatooni and Ivanaki) as sub-sub plot. The results showed that deficit irrigation stress were conducted at two growth stages, reduced growths index and yield. The lowest leaf area, plant height, total plant yield (6.72 kg), marketable plant yield (5.47 kg), fruit flesh percentage (50.7%) and vitamin C (1.48 mg/100 ml were obtained under  60% ETc at flowering stage. The highest value of TSS was obtained in “Khatooni” (12.04%) and “Ivanaki” (11.42%)” by applying 80% ETc at flowering stage. The highest value of water use efficiency (WUE), was achieved in “Ivanaki” and “Khatooni under 80% ETc at flowering and” 20 days after flowering stage, respectively. The Ivanki accession showed higher tolerance to water deficit. According to the results, applying 80% ETc at the flowering stage improved the fruit TSS and resulted in 40% water usage, while reduced 6.61% of fruit yield.