مجله علوم و فنون باغبانی ایران
سال بیست و چهارم شماره 4 (زمستان 1402)

The objective of this study was to examine the influence of different gaseous composition inside the packaging atmosphere of black fig variety of Estahban region. Different percentages of oxygen, carbon dioxide and nitrogen (N2) were used as treatments G1 (5% oxygen, 70% carbon dioxide and 25% nitrogen), G2 (5% oxygen, 0% carbon dioxide and 95% nitrogen), G3 (5 percent oxygen, 35% carbon dioxide and 60% nitrogen), G4 (5% oxygen, 0% carbon dioxide and 25% nitrogen, partial vacuum) and control (normal air). Fig fruits were packed and samples were stored at 4°C until the fruit quality and marketability were lost. At the beginning of the experiment and at the end, the amount of acidity, soluble solids, bioactive compounds and antioxidant capacity were determined. Respiration rate, color, firmness and weight changes were measured every three days. Results revealed that the physicochemical characteristics of all treatments decreased with time and fruits became softer and color changed by passage of time. During storage, fruits depending on the package atmosphere and storage time, lost their initial weight as 9-38%. The G3 (60% N2, 35% CO2 and 5% O2) gaseous composition was effective in delaying the occurrence of the respiratory climacteric peak and extending fruits shelf life. After determining the best treatment, the fruits packed in modified atmosphere with G3 treatment and control samples were stored at 4, 10 and 15°C until losing marketability and their weight loss, color and firmness were simultaneously evaluated. This was done to study the kinetics of quality changes during storage. All changes were accelerated at higher temperatures. This trend was observed at higher rates in control samples compared to G3 treatment. Examining the overall acceptance of the samples showed that the average scores given in all treatments decreased during the storage time.

Salinity is among the abiotic stresses restricts citrus growth. In this regard, the selection of appropriate method to improve growth characteristics and antioxidant response under salt stress conditions can be useful. The present pot research was conducted as factorial reperiment in a completely randomized design with three replications in the greenhouse of University of Hormozgan during 2021. The used lime plants were six-month-old seedlings (height about 60 cm) healthy and disease-free. Experimental treatments were included salinity (1.5, 3, 4.5, and 6 dS/m) and potassium phosphite (0, 1.5, and 3 g L-1). The results revealed the 6 dS/m of salt led to a decrease in leaf number, stem length and root volume (25.27, 13.8 and 47.8% respectively) and increased ion leakage and malondialdehyde (50.47 and 34.5%, respectively). Application of potassium phosphite (1.5 g L-1) increased leaf number, stem length, root volume and root length (33.87%, 32.38%, 15.5% and 11.05%, respectively). In addition, the potassium phosphite treatment increased protein content and activity of catalase, superoxide dismutase, phenylalanine ammonialyase, guaiacol peroxidase and ascorbic peroxidase (36.9, 95.97, 69.1, 30.20, 65.7 and 78.5%, respectively) and decreased ion leakage and malondialdehyde (75.7% and 40.6%, respectively). Based on the results, it can be expected that potassium phosphite (1.5 g L-1) by stimulating the antioxidant system and neutralized oxygen free radicals, improves growth characteristics and moderates the harmful effects of salinity stress in lime.

To evaluate the effect of superabsorbent polymer and potassium silicate on improving drought stress resistance and morpho-physiological characteristics of daffodil (Narcissus tazetta L. cv. Shahla), a factorial experiment was conducted with a completely randomized design. The results showed that the effect of superabsorbent at 6 g kg-1 soil and 1 mM potassium silicate treatment, decreased the time to flowering by 13.32 and 9.1 days, respectively. The maximum flowering stem height (30.24 cm) related to the treatment of superabsorbent at 6 g kg-1 soil was 33.26 cm and the treatment of 1 mM potassium silicate. The treatment of superabsorbent 6 g kg-1 soil and 1 mM potassium silicate increased the vase life by 5.04 and 2.44 days, respectively, compared to the control. The highest amount of chlorophyll was 0.183 and 0.180 mg-1 g FW in the treatment of superabsorbent 6 g kg-1 soil and 1 mM potassium silicate, respectively. Simultaneous application of superabsorbent 6 g kg-1 soil and farm capacity (50%), decreased proline by 0.138 µmol g-1 FW and decreased catalase activity by 1.72 Umg-1 FW was compared to the non-treatment of the superabsorbent polymer in the condition of farm capacity (50%). In general, the best results for improving all characteristics of Narcissus tazetta were obtained with the application of 6 g kg-1 soil superabsorbent polymer and 1 mM potassium silicate.

Most molecular genetic tests begin by extracting DNA and RNA. To achieve this, obtaining a suitable, reliable, and repeatable extraction method is of great importance. In this regard, optimization of the extraction of nucleic acids from the Iranian cyclamen plant (Cyclamen coum Miller) and the introduction and expression of housekeeping genes was performed. After collecting plant samples from the three organs of leaf, petal and hypocotyl, modified CTAB and SDS methods were used for DNA isolation and modified Trizol, CTAB-LiCl and RNX-Plus methods were used for RNA isolation. The quality of isolated DNA and RNA was checked by electrophoresis and their concentration was measured with nanodrop. The presence of 18S ribosomal, actin (ACT), tubulin (TUB) and elongation factor (EF-1a) gene fragments was investigated using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Based on the results, the lowest DNA concentration was related to the CTAB method. The DNA concentration and quality of Iranian cyclamen leaf, petal and hypocotyl samples were higher in the modified SDS method than in the CTAB method. The isolation of DNA using the modified SDS method not only had a high purity but also had relatively high performance. According to quality analysis of the RNA isolated from leaf, petal, and hypocotyl samples using Trizol, CTAB-LiCl, and RNX-Plus protocols, all three strategies may be used to isolate RNA from Iranian cyclamen tissues. However, the Trizol method is superior to other methods in terms of high band resolution and RNA concentration. The production of cDNA from RNA isolated from three Iranian cyclamen tissues was successfully performed only by Trizol and RNX-Plus methods. Based on the results, cDNA made from RNA isolated by Trizol method had better quality. To check the efficiency of RNA samples in RT-PCR reaction and the expression of housekeeping genes, RT-PCR test was performed. Based on the results, the presence of the bands related to the housekeeping genes fragment in the electrophoresis stage confirmed the good quality of the produced cDNA and also indicated the high quality of the isolated RNA from the Trizol and RNX-Plus methods. RT-PCR results showed that the expression of actin, EF-1a, 18S and tubulin gene was positive in most Iranian cyclamen organs. Among housekeeping genes, tubulin and 18S genes, had higher band resolution and higher quality in all samples and tissues.

To study the general and specific combining ability and heterosis of six tomato lines, a 6×6 diallel design was used. The parents of the crosses were lines 486 (P1), 208 (P2), 151.6 (P3), Kim (P4), 1010 (P5), and 542 (P6) with different characteristics for yield and other studied traits. All lines were obtained from the Vegetables and Irrigated Pulse Crops Research Department, Seed and Plant Improvement Institute, Karaj, Iran. The parents together with 15 F1 hybrids resulting from their half-diallel crosses (21 genotypes) were planted in a randomized complete block design with three replications in the research farm of Qazvin Agricultural Research Center, in 2019, and fruit yield, number of fruits per plant, fruit weight and total soluble solids (TSS) were measured. The results of the analysis of variance based on second Griffing’s method with the assumption of fixed parents showed that the difference among all genotypes and the difference in general combining ability (GCA) of parents and the specific combining ability (SCA) of hybrids were significant for all studied traits, indicating the role of both additive and non-additive gene effects in the inheritance of traits. Baker's ratio as well as Hung and Holland's ratio for all studied traits were obtained from 0.5 to 1.0, which indicated the role of both additive and non-additive gene effects with the higher contribution of additive effects in controlling all traits. A comparison of parents showed that Kim for fruit yield and number of fruits per plant, line 1010 for fruit weight, and line 468 for TSS had the highest positive and significant GCA. Among the hybrids, hybrid 1010×151.6 for fruit yield and fruit weight, Kim×542 for number of fruits per plant, and Kim×151.6 for TSS had the highest positive and significant SCA. In total, the results of this experiment showed that hybrids 151.6×208 and 151.6×1010 for fruit weight, hybrid 542×1010 for the number of fruits per plant and hybrid 151.6×208 for TSS had the highest positive and significantly better parent heterosis (heterobeltiosis), and were the most valuable hybrids in this experiment, but for fruit weight, only hybrid 468×151.6 had positive and significant mid-parent (standard) heterosis.

Soil and water salinity is one of the serious and developing problems in the world, and large areas of the countrys land are also facing this problem. The use of fungal and bacterial microorganisms, which are considered the most important soil microorganisms, has become a global solution to reduce environmental stresses such as salinity. Therefore, in order to investigate the effect of fungi and bacteria improve the resistance of date palms to salt stress, an experiment was conducted in Shadgan city in Khuzestan province. In order to screen salt-resistant fungal strains, 36 strains fungi isolated from the date palm rhizosphere zone were cultured in concentrations of  zero, 2500, 5000, 7500, 10000, 12500, 15000 mg/liter of sodium salt. The average diameter growth and inhibition percentage showed that the lowest inhibition percentage due to salt salinity was observed in Fusarium solani, Aspergillus niger, Pencillium chrysoyenum, Aspergillus tubingensis. The use of salinity-resistant fungis in the form of elicitors is recommended under salinity stress conditions. However, considering the role of Fusarium solani fungus in Date root rot disease, the application of this fungus needs more extensive studies. Biological screening of bacteria the ACC-Deaminase production evaluation method showed that Bacillus Pumilus and Bacillus safensis bacteria have the ability to produce more enzymes. This enzyme breaks the precursor of ethylene production under stress conditions and prevents the production of ethylene Wich is produced under stress  conditions.

The southern parts of Khorasan-e-Razavi are an important habitat for wild figs that are important in terms of food and breeding improvement. Also, commercial cultivation of figs is common in this province. In the present study, leaf and fruit morphological evaluation was done in domestic and wild figs of South Khorasan-e-Razavi. The plants were selected from fig groves and gardens in Gonabad, Bejestan and Bardskan cities. Also, three samples of globally known figs from Estehban, Fars province,  were selected as index and the data of the present study were compared with them. In examining the morphological characteristics, the international descriptor of IPGRI was used as well as the national guidelines for tests of differentiation, uniformity and stability in figs (Institute of Research, Registration and Certification of Seeds and Seedlings of Iran). Measurements of leaf and fruit traits were made in the middle of the ripening period. The results showed that there is a great diversity in the leaf and fruit traits of the studied figs, and some of these traits are considered important from the edible aspect as well as fig breeding programs. The comparison of average data showed that in the traits of internode length, internode number, terminal bud length, terminal bud width, number of leaves in one-year branch, central lobe length, leaf width, petiole length and petiole thickness, the lowest value was found in the wild figs and the highest value was recorded in cultivated ones. In determining the principal components, three factors (including seven traits in total) explained more than 93% of the variation observed in these figs. In cluster analysis, the studied accesions were placed in two separate groups. The local figs of clusters No. 4, 5, 6, 22, 23, 50 and 53 and the wild figs of clusters No. 10, 12, 51 and 55 have superior traits and are introduced as potential for commercial planting for further investigation.

The purpose of this research was to identify and select superior walnut genotypes based on pomological characteristics, oil percentage and calcium content of walnut kernels in different walnut growing areas of Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad province. In this research, 14 top walnut genotypes in different regions of the province were evaluated. The results showed that different genotypes have significant differences in terms of pomological traits. Among the 14 evaluated genotypes, the highest average walnut fruit is related to Kowkhdan 1 and Delirej1 genotypes with an average of 76.76 and 73.39 g respectively, the highest nut weight is in Kowkhdan 1 genotypes and Setangan 1 and 2 were obtained with an average of 30.26, 28.17 and 27.13 g, respectively. The highest kernel weight was observed in Kowkhdan 1 genotype at the rate of 13.58 g compared to other genotypes. Kowkhdan 1 genotype showed the highest length and diameter of kernel by 36.04 and 36.12 mm, respectively, compared to other genotypes. The kernel % varied from 48.61 to 34.45% in different genotypes. Kowkhdan 1, Delirej 1, Vezag 2, Shahniz, and Kowkhdan 2 genotypes have the highest kernel %, 48.61, 48.45, 47, 45.44, and 45.41 %, respectively, compared to other genotypes. The highest oil % was 63.69% in Vezg 1 genotype and the lowest % oil was 36.71% in Delirej 2 genotype. The ratio of phosphorus to calcium is an important indicator in the quality of walnut kernels. This ratio varied from 0.263 to 0.064, and among the evaluated genotypes, the highest and lowest P/Ca of kernels was observed in Setengan 1 and 2, Shahniz 1 and Delirej 2 genotypes, respectively. Therefore, among the evaluated genotypes, in terms of pomological and nutritional value characteristics, Kowkhdan 1, Setengan 1, 2, Sisakhatt 2 and Vezg 1 genotypes were selected as the best genotypes and these genotypes were recommended in breeding programs.

This study was conducted to investigate pollen germination and morphological chracteristics of 21 male date palms in Khuzestan province in a completely randomized block design with three replications. The percentage of viability of pollen grains was determined by acetocarmine staining test and the percentage of germination was determined using the modified Brewbaker and Kwack (MBK) culture medium. The morphological characteristics of pollen grains, including polar axis (P), equatorial axis (E), P/E ratio and the pattern of exine arrangement were also investigated using scanning electron microscope (SEM). The average viability percentage and pollen germination percentage of the genotypes were between 70.33 to 99% and 11.33 to 96.33 %, respectively. In addition, the results of mean comparison showed that the studied genotypes demonstrate more variation in the germination percentage compared to the viability percentage. The results showed that pollen grains of different genotypes were significantly different in terms of dimensions (polar and equatorial axis), percentage of viability and germination. The study of SEM micrographs showed that the pollen grains in all genotypes were monad, prolate, monosulcate and had reticulate and irregular exine ornamentation. Based on the dendrogram, the studied genotypes were classified into four main clusters, and genotypes with the same name from different regions were not included in the same cluster. This issue indicatess the correctness of the hypothesis of this study that the genotypes with the same name are different and their traditional naming by growers is incorrect. These findings showed that the morphological parameters and pollen germination traits could be used to identify the pollen of different date palm genotypes and to study their relationships.