اکبر عبدی قاضی جهانی

This research aimed to quantify the structure of juniper and pistachio forest stands. To achieve this, two one-hectare sample plots were randomly selected: Pistacia atlantica in the Eslami Island region and Juniperus excelsa M. Bieb. in the Kaghazkonan region. Quantitative measurements included diameter at breast height (DBH), collar diameter, tree height, and crown diameter for all trees. The spatial pattern of the two stands was analyzed using the distance-azimuth method, and structural diversity was assessed in terms of species mingling, tree dimensions, and spatial position based on the four nearest neighbors method. The results showed that the most abundant species were P. atlantica and Ephedra major in plot 1, and J. excelsa and Cotoneaster nummularioides in plot 2. The average DBH and canopy cover were 22 cm and 569.5 m² in plot 1, and 4 cm and 1195 m² in plot 2, respectively. Species mingling was low in plot 1 (0.31), while plot 2 had higher mingling (0.5). Additionally, crown area differentiation was high, while height differentiation was intermediate in both stands. The mean distances between trees, 7.4 m in plot 1 and 2.8 m in plot 2, indicated sparse and dense stands, respectively. The assessment of structural diversity showed high values for both stands, with plot 2 (0.539) having significantly higher diversity than plot 1 (0.459). This highlights the importance of species mixture in the structural diversity of forest stands. This information serves as an important tool for silvicultural interventions, monitoring, and evaluating forest stand management effectiveness.

Archaeology deploys the scientific method of archaeo-dendrochronology for the absolute dating of wooden works applied in historic architectural heritage. The main question of the current research is to date historic mosque known as Red in Bonāb town of East Azerbaijan province. Despite being registered in the list of national monuments of Iran, the historical authenticity of this mosque has been doubtful. Although the architectural stylistic hypothesis suggests that Bonāb Red Mosque is placed in the group of columned buildings of the Safavid period, such as the Molla Rustam Mosque in Maragheh and the Chehlsotun Palace in Isfahan, there are no inscriptions or historical documents to confirm this hypothesis.After preparing a cross-section from the spruce wooden columns of the Red Mosque, the growth pattern sampled from it has been compared with the growth pattern diagram of juniper trees in the east of the Anatolian plateau by the method of dendrochronology. The pattern of tree growth in Azerbaijan region - Lake Urmia basin - has been prepared by sampling and measuring the width of growth rings of juniper trees in the Shāhi Island area of Lake Urmia; and comparing the resulting graph with the growth curve of juniper and oak trees in the east of the Anatolian plateau, shows the high compatibility of the growth pattern of both neighboring regions; Therefore, for the more far years ago that do not cover the tree growth curve of the Shāhi Island region, the tree curve of the eastern Anatolian Plateau - Lake Van Basin - can be used as a reference.Based on the principle of validity of Terminus post quem after the construction of the wooden work in archaeo-dendrochronology, the date of the last years of the Safavid period and around 1706 AD is suggested for the Red Mosque of Bonāb.

This research was conducted in order to investigate simple correlation coefficients, multiple correlation, regression and causality analysis of morphological traits 12 Elymus tauri populations from northwest Iran in Tabriz Botanical Garden in the form of randomized complete block design in 4 replications in the fall of 2012. Simple and multiple correlation coefficients, downward regression, causality analysis of traits related to performance were calculated. The results showed that there was a high correlation between the dry yield with the total number of tillers, the number of fertile tillers, the number of leaves per tiller, the length of the flag leaf, the dry weight of the plant, the wet weight of the plant, and the wet yield. These traits have a direct relationship with performance and were considered as components of performance. Estimation of step-by-step upward correlation revealed the role of traits of the total number of leaves per plant and the number of leaves per leaf in increasing the yield. In addition, the high balanced multiple correlation coefficient of traits with performance (Radj=0.842) indicated that these traits should be taken into consideration in selecting and improving the superior stands in terms of biological performance.

Wheatgrass Elymus tauri (Boiss & Balansa) is a drought- and cold-resistant species that grows on rocky, stony slopes with steep slopes in Azerbaijan, Alborz and some parts of Zagros, Iran. It is a perennial plant. It has a strong root and is resistant to excessive livestock grazing. It is one of the delicious species of pasture for livestock grazing. The genetic diversity of grasses is affected by various factors such as human activities, the environment, pollination system, genetic drift, and population size. Therefore, ecogeographical factors are also important influencing factors in the populations’ structure and genetic diversity. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of habitat height and ploidy level on the diversity of structural and functional traits of Elymus tauri populations in the northwest of Iran.

 The experimental materials included the seeds of 12 native populations of E. tauri, which were mainly collected from the pastures of East Azerbaijan and Ardabil provinces. At the time of collection, the altitude and geographical coordinates of locations were recorded using GPS. The collected seeds were sown in a research farm using a randomized complete block design in four replications in the northwest of Tabriz city, Iran, at 1350 m above sea level and on the edge of the Aji Chai River. The region’s climate is semi-arid, the texture of the station's soil is light loamy and sandy, and the amount of soil organic matter and chemical elements (NPK) was weak to moderate. The electrical conductivity was measured as EC=6.2 millimos per square centimeter. Soil pH (pH=7.55) was alkaline. Each plot contains four 6m lines. The distance between lines was 40 cm, and the distance between plants on each line was 40 cm. Irrigation was made during the plant growth period. The number of 10 plants from the two middle rows of each plot was randomly selected, and yield and morphological traits were measured and recorded. Genotypes were grouped based on habitat altitude and ploidy levels. A statistical analysis (T-test method) was made between two groups for habitat altitude.

The results of the T-test analysis between the two altitude ranges showed there were significant differences between the two altitudes in terms of the tillers number, the length of the second leaf, the fresh and dry weight of the plant, the number of fertile tillers, the number of infertile tillers, the length of the spike, the length of the flag leaf and number of spikelets (P<0.05). The means of populations in the upper areas were higher than those in the lower areas. Grouping based on altitude showed that populations at altitudes less than 1600 m above sea level were diploid, while populations at altitudes higher than 1700 m were tetraploid. The cluster analysis and principal component analysis (PCA) results confirmed the grouping of populations based on habitat altitude and ploidy levels. Also, the biplot of PC1 vs. PC2 confirmed the grouping of cluster analysis.

This plant had better adaptation in high altitude habitats, so it has grown better in cold conditions than in mild temperate and plain areas. The higher mean values of many traits in the tetraploid populations confirmed the correction of the grouping. Considering that this species grows more in cold regions, it was suggested to use polyploid populations from higher altitude areas to improve breeding varieties.

Damask rose is one of the most valuable and famous medicinal plants worldwide. Its essential oil, rose water, and dried flower buds are exported. Essential oil can be used in the perfumery, cosmetic, and therapeutic industries and is widely used in depression treatment and traditional medicine. In the northwest of the country, in the provinces of East Azarbaijan, West Azarbaijan, Ardabil, Zanjan, and Hamedan, the damask rose is known as Qizil Gul. It has a special place in the lives of the region's people. 10% of the cultivated area of this product in the country is allocated to East Azerbaijan. More than 60% of it is produced in Osko City. Due to the high added value and economic profitability of the rose, it is recommended to develop the cultivation of native varieties of rose in East Azerbaijan province. Also, investing in processing industries leads to new job creation. In addition, rose cultivation with native varieties protects and controls floods. It also prevents soil erosion and preserves and strengthens medicinal and rangeland biodiversity.

From ancient times between people Thymus genus is one of the important and known plant groups as medicinal and edible herbs.E-Azarbayjan province with nearly 7 species belong to Thymus genus with local name(Kahlik Outi) is one of the rich provinces of Iran from this viewpoint. Thymus migricus is one of the species belong to this genus.For determination of essential oil compounds samples were collected from Mishoo and Espiran regions at flowering stage.Geographycal characters were registered by GPS and soil samples were taken from 30cm depth.. Collected plants were transferred to lab and dried on natural and shadow condition. Then they grinned and essential oil extraction was done by hydrodistillation method with Clevenger apparatus (Pharmacopoeia Britanica) for 2.5 hours.Essential oils were dried by sodium sulfate anhydrous. Essential oils compounds were identified by gas chromatography (GC) and coupled gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy instruments(GC/MS).Eleven and nine compounds in Mishoo and Espiran were determined in essential oils respectively. The results show that essential oil yield in Mishoo is (0.93%) and Espiran is (0.38%) with respect to dry weight of samples and major compounds are linalool(65.57- 46.36 %),citronellol(15.63- 0 %) , geraniol(2.79- 26.74 %) geranil acetate(2.83- 6.17%) respectively.Thymus migricus essential oil with high percent of linalool can be used in cosmetic and perfume industries.

Essential oil of Iranian damask rose has a high quality because of the desired climatic and growing conditions.  Plant genotype as well as climatic conditions by affecting the amount of rose water, essential oils and the other by-products increases its economic value. In the present study, a RCBD design was conducted to investigate the morphology and phytochemical characteristics of six damask rose landraces, collected from east Azerbaijan province. Investigated landraces showed a significant difference among morphological traits. According to morphological characteristics landraces were grouped in two distinct classes including, with thorn and without thorn. Qazi Jahan, Nadilu and Kharaju landraces (without thorn) were the most suitable ecotypes in terms of flower yield and growth. Interestingly, the fresh and dry weight of petals, buds and flowers and number of buds per branch as well as essential oil content had a positive and significant correlation with flower yield. Essential oil analysis showed that citronellol, geraniol and n-nonadecane were the major components of rose landraces. The amount of citronellol in genotypes with thorn wild was higher than others. On the other hand, n.nonadecane was the dominant components in genotype without thorn. Our results demonstrated that there are significant differences among two classes of genotypes (with/without thorn) in terms of essential oil quality and flower yield. Among the 16 morphological traits in addition to yield and the percentage of essential oil, petal fresh/dry weigh, flower fresh weight, petal length/width and number of petals were important indices that influenced yield and percentage of essential oil of damask rose. There was a significant difference in odor of thorny landraces with the others without thorn. There was no significant difference in leaf length and width and number of branches per area between different landraces. These differences introduce a new variety of damask rose for breeding program and industry.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the general combining ability of vegetative traits of Pistcia atlantica. For this purpose 10 male trees were crossed with seven female trees in the Islamic island of Lake Urmia in 2003. The hybrid seeds were sown in the Forest and Rangeland Research Institute. Annual growth mean and collar diameter of progenies measured at 2006, 2007 and 2017; the canopy area and trunk wood volume were measured in 2017. Estimation of the general combining ability based on mean annual growth and collar diameter in the offspring of different crosses in 2006, 2007 and 2017 showed that the best combination were F12 × M10, in 2006, F13 × M6, in 2007 and F13 × M12 in 2017. This indicated that the offsprings showed their potential over time. In the 2017, the F13 × M13 hybrid were the best in terms of annual growth mean, but their produced progenies had the lowest amount growth. Female parent 13 and male parent 9 were the best parents for the collar diameter and canopy surface. In addition, their combination produced offspring with the highest average collar diameter and canopy surface. The results indicate the high heterosis in P. atlantica and its possibility in breeding improved varieties to development of reforestation and rehabilitation of habitats with the aim of producing industrial products, medicines or edible oils and Wood production with higher yield.

For studing of edaphical factors effect on Thymus pubescens essential oil soil(0-30 cm)and plant samples at flowers phenology step were collected from five sites in E-Azerbaygan province . Samples essence were taken by hydrodistillation method and soils were analyzed in soil and water lab of East - Azerbaijan Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center . Based on canonical analysis of twenty six essential oil components with 10 soil factors five sampling regions were divided to three groups as follow: (Mishow , Eigdalow) , (Kordedeh,Yuzband) and Sahand.Comparison of the data in two tables of five sites essential oil compounds and physicochemical factors of this soil areas showed that N and C percent have reverse relation with essence quantity. Data from CCA analysis was showed that essence components have relation with soil factors. The results of CCA analysis demonstrate that OC, clay, pH and sand % with axis1, CaCO3 and EC with axis2 have more correlation.

In order to study the grouping of Agropyron tauri populations, 13 populations were investigated in a randomized complete blocks design with three replications. The study was performed in research field of Islamic Azad University of Tabriz in 2010. In this study, a number of traits including plant height, tiller number, leaf number, flag leaf length, first leaf length, second leaf length, first internode length, second internode length, crown cover, fresh yield, dry yield, fresh weight of single plant and dry weight per plant were evaluated. Analysis of variance showed significant differences among populations for all measured traits. Thirteen populations were classified into three clusters by cluster analysis of standardized data, based on Euclidean distance and Ward method. This result was in consistent with the height of geographic regions from which populations were collected. In principal components analysis, four components were introduced, and the traits of fresh and dry yield showed high and positive coefficients in first component. Results of cluster analysis were confirmed by results of principal components analysis.