علی اکبر محمودی

Pulse crops play important role in supplying human food needs. Lentil (Lens culinaris Medik.) is probably the oldest grain legume to be domesticated and one of the most important pulse crops worldwide due its nutritional characteristics. Lentil is an integral part of dryland agriculture, mainly because of its ability to thrive comparatively well under water-limiting environments. As a result, the crop which provides protein-rich food and animal feed is largely grown under rainfed conditions. The major lentil producing countries are India, Canada, Turkey, USA, Nepal, Australia, Syria, China, Bangladesh, Iran, etc. Iran ranked fourth in area after India, Turkey and Canada and ninth in the production. The aim of any breeding program working for unpredictable and rainfed environments is to develop varieties with high and stable yields. Breeders take advantage of the selection for several traits to achieve maximum economic yield. The selection of genotypes based on indices using yield components was used by breeders for a long time. Breeders believe that obtaining a linear function for measurable traits could lead the selection of genotypes with better genetic values, but a need to include economic value and weights in this function express by many researchers. Simultaneous selection using characteristics with important and heritable economic values is more effective. Crop yield is a function of multiple variables inter-related to each other and can not be defined only by a single-variable equation. One of the most effective of these methods is boundary lines. Feiziasl et al (2003 and 2010) used this method for the first time to determine the optimum levels of plant (dryland wheat) characteristics and yield stability analysis. In this paper, “Boundary Lines” and averaging methods and are used to determine optimum levels for some traits of dryland lentil in cold areas.
 
 More than 8300 data for each trait were collected from national and international trials conducted under rainfed conditions in Maragheh, Zanjan, Ardabil and Shirvan (North Khorasan Province) DARI experiment stations 20 years (1996-2016). The traits considered in the analysis were: days to heading, days to physiological maturity, grain filling period, plant height, 100 seed weight and grain yield. The Excel software was used to develop a scatter diagram showing the relationship between each trait with grain yield in each location. Two methods were used to determine the optimum value for a given characteristic. One is based on the boundary lines method where the maximum grain yield and the optimum value for the trait considered coincide with the crossing point of the two boundary lines. “Boundary Lines” method was used to determine the maximum limits of each crop characteristic. The scatter diagram is surrounded by two regression lines, one on the left and the other on the right called boundary lines. Then Maximum yield is obtained at the intersection of both boundary lines. The other approach, called averaging method, is based on subdividing the data into two groups: high and low yielding groups.
 
The boundary lines method allowed the determination of optimum levels for days to flowering, days to physiological maturity, duration of grain filling, plant height and 100 seed weight which were 55.4 days, 92.6 days, 33.8 days, 27.8 centimeters and 5.4 grams, respectively. By averaging of high yielding group method optimums for days to flowering, days to physiological maturity, duration of grain filling, plant height and 100 seed weight characteristics were 62.0 days, 92.6 days, 30.7 days, 23.7 centimeters, 4.9 grams, respectively. These optimums were closely equivalent to those determined using the averaging method for one days to physiological maturity characteristic. But for other plant characteristics there were a lot of difference and boundary line estimated its amplitude on average 3 times wider than the averaging method. Principle component analysis (PCA) show that, the most important traits for selection of lentil varieties were days to flowering and number of days to physiological maturity. These methods could help breeders to determine the optimum and range for characteristics determining the adaptation of genotypes to given environments. Boundary lines method is more suitable for determining of characteristic’s optimum levels in comparison with the averaging method.
 
It can be concluded that, determining the optimum levels of some dryland lentil characteristics were closely equivalent in two boundary lines and averaging methods. However, in some other characteristics, the optimum levels were a lot of difference in estimating of boundary lines and averaging of high yielding groups. Because boundary lines method is considered the data distribution process and gap data in databank, therefore, its estimates in the optimum levels of the characteristics are more accurate and more realistic than the averaging of the high yielding group.

Drought stress not only is one of the most unfavorable factors for plant growth and its productivity but also a serious menace to sustainable crop production and food security under conditions of climate change. In order to, optimum water consumption in agricultural production, appropriate methods should be considered such as changing the planting pattern, cultivation of drought-tolerant plants and some species of medicinal plants. Portulaca oleracea from family Portulacaceae. is a four-carbon compound and  annual plant. Portulaca oleracea has antioxidants and high amount of Omega-3 acids which could strengthens the immune system and deactivate free radicals. Therefore, prevents cardiovascular disease, cancer, asthma, diabetes type 1 and infectious diseases. The main objective of this study is to investigate of drought stress and humic acid spraying effects on some physiological characteristics of Purslane.

A split plot experiment was conducted in a randomized complete block design with three replicate in the research farm of Zabol University (Sistan Dam) during 2016-2017. Drought stress was performed on three levels: (90, 70 and 50) % FC and humic acidic in four levels (0, 25, 50 and 75 mg L-1). During and the end of experiment some traits were measured such as height, number of lateral branches per plant, fresh and dry root weight, leaf chlorophyll index, photosynthetic pigments, carbohydrates and proline. measuring the proline content and Carbon hydrate content of leaves have been done by using the Bates (1973) and Schlegel (1956). methods, respectively. (Analysis of variance was performed by using SAS statistical software version 9.1. Comparison of means was performed by using Duncan's multiple range test at the 5% significance level.

The results showed that the combination of drought stress and humic acid spraying had a significant effect on all studied traits. Maximum plant height was achieved at 70% drought stress and 75 mg L-1 of humic acid, the highest root length was 50% and 50 mg L-1 of humic acid, the highest fresh and dry weight of root were obtained from 90% and 75 mg L-1 of humic acid. The highest amount of carbohydrates and proline were obtained at 50%FC and 50 mg L-1 humic acid. The maximum photosynthetic pigments was observed under combination of 50 %FC and 50 mg L-1 of humic acid.

According to the results of this research, despite of increasing proline and carbohydrates under stress conditions, the highest values of traits were obtained under medium stress 70% FC. Therefore, according to water shortage in the study area, medium stress (70% FC) for Production of Portulaca oleracea can be proposed. The use of humic acid in the cultivation of medicinal plants can reduce the harmful effects of chemical fertilizers and increase the quantity and quality of plant production. In addition, could play an important role in sustainable agriculture.

Lentil is usually sowned in late winter and early spring. In this conditions, flowering and seed filling stage usually coincide with late drought stress and high temperature which reduce seed yield. Therefore, supplemental irrigation at the end of the growth season is necessary to overcome this problem. But since in Iran, lentil is mostly cultivated as a rainfed crop in mountain areas and slopes, supplemental irrigation is impossible. By autumn cultivation, plant maturity could be accelerated and higher efficiency of precipitation use, coincidence of growth stages with favorable weather conditions and finally increasing plant height and yield could be achieved. On the other hand, autumn cultivation exposes the plants to sever winter coldness; so, using freezing tolerant cultivars is necessary. The aim of the present study was to identify the role of antioxidants and physiological parameters in improving the cold tolerance of lentil genotypes in controlled conditions.

The study was conducted in autumn and winter of 2018 in research greenhouse of research center for plant sciences, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran. the experiment was conducted as factorial based on completely randomized design with three replications in controlled conditions. Experimental factors were consisted of 20 lentil genotypes and three freezing temperatures (0, -18 and -20⁰C). Seeds were sown in October and Seedlings were kept in a natural environment for four months and then were transferred to a thermogradiant freezer. Gas exchange parameters (photosynthesis rate, evapotranspiration, substomatal CO2 concentration, stomatal and mesophilic conductance) as well as water use efficiency, relative water content of leaf, photosynthetic pigments, DPPH radical scavenging activity, Anthocyanin, total phenol and soluble carbohydrates were measured before the plants were exposed to freezing temperatures. Survival percentage, plant height, leaf area and plant dry weight were measured four weeks after freezing stress. Lethal temperature 50% of plants according to the survival percentage (LT50su), Reduced temperature 50% of height plant (HT50), Reduced temperature 50% of leaf area (RLAT50) and Reduced temperature 50% of dry matter (RDMT50) were also determined.

Results indicated that in -18⁰C, 14 genotypes had 100% survival while in -20⁰C, all the genotypes were killed. Based on the studied parameters, lentil genotypes were divided in four groups by cluster analysis. Survival percentage in first, second and fourth group was superior compared to the total average. According to the antioxidant activity, metabolites and pigments concentration, plant height, leaf area and dry weight, genotypes in the first (MLC84, MLC407, MLC454) and second (MLC38, MLC303, MLC74, MLC334) groups were relatively superior compared to the other groups. Principal component analysis (PCA) showed that the first component explained 32.77% of changes in water use efficiency, carotenoids, chlorophyll a/b ratio, mesophilic conductance, photosynthesis, survival percentage, plant height, leaf area and dry weight while the second component explained 16.31% of changes in the concentration of chlorophylls a and b, total pigments, soluble carbohydrates, DPPH radical scavenging activity, phenol, anthocyanin, osmotic potential, evapotranspiration and stomatal conduction. Genotypes of MLC74, MLC334, MLC11, MLC84, MLC454 and MLC407 were better in terms of antioxidant capacity and metabolites and MLC303, MLC17, MLC38, MLC286and MLC469 were superior according to the survival percentage and regrowth.

The correlation between concentration of chlorophyll b, carotenoids and photosynthesis rate with survival percentage showed that these traits are suitable indicators for determining cold tolerance of lentil genotypes before exposing to freezing stress. Results of cluster analysis and group mean comparison also indicated the relative superiority of MLC84, MLC407, MLC454 and second MLC38, MLC303, MLC74, MLC334 in most studied parameters. Generally, these genotypes are recommended to be used for complementary studies of freezing tolerance in field conditions in cold regions.

Almost half of non-specific knee pain can be attributed to patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS). There is paucity of information about the effects of different types of combination therapies including exercise and taping and optimizing training variables. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of combination of taping and quadriceps strengthening and hamstring stretching exercises on PFPS.

In a randomized clinical trial, 60 male patients (20-50 years old) with PFPS were randomly divided into four groups: 1) Quadriceps strengthening exercise and taping, 2) Hamstring stretching exercise and taping, 3) Quadriceps strengthening and hamstring stretching exercise, and 4) Quadriceps strengthening, hamstring stretching exercise, and taping. Pain and functional outcomes were assessed before and immediately after treatment using VAS scale, KOOS scale, and 6 MWT test. Data were analyzed in SPSS V20.

Compared to beginning of the study, significant decrease in mean VAS scores (P<0.001) and significant increase in mean KOOS scores and 6 MWT test were found in all groups after treatment (P<0.001). However, the increase in 6MWT test score was not significant in group 4.

Combination of quadriceps strength training and hamstring stretching improved PFPS in all four groups. Lack of significant differences between the groups studied suggests that combination of two treatments has a similar effect to the combination of three treatments.
 
(Clinical Trials Registry Number: IRCT20140708018409N2)

In the present study, 18 lines and cultivars of chickpea were evaluated in three cold dryland stations including Maragheh, Kurdestan and Shirvan for three years (2014-2016). Results showed that the environments, genotypes and genotype × environment interaction effects were significant. Interaction analysis using the AMMI model indicated that the two principal components (IPCAs) significantly accounted for 67.9% of the total variation. However, these two components accounted for about 65% of the changes in the GGE biplot method. Evaluation of genotype yield stability using AMMI statistics were very similar to AMMI2 biplot. This similarity was also partially observed between the AMMI and GGE biplot methods. In both models the environments were subdivided into groups with separate superior genotypes and the behavior of some sites in the selection of genotypes was similar across years, while in some other sites it was different. Therefore, it is concluded that the reproducibility pattern of superior genotypes in each site is challenging under dryland conditions. Control cultivars of Samin, Gazvin and Jam showed good grain yield and stability. Although, the ability to select high yielding and stable genotypes among the lines was poor compared to control cultivars. However, genotypes 1, 3, 6, 12 and 14, due to their high yield, can be used in specific adaptation and suitable genetic sources for introducing drought and cold tolerant cultivars in the studied fields.

In order to evaluate the effects of chitosan spraying and irrigation interval on physiological characteristics and antioxidant enzymes common mallow, a factorial experiment in a completely randomized design with three replications was conducted in 2015 at the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Zabol. The experimental treatments included irrigation interval (Irrigation interval 7 day, Irrigation interval 11 day and irrigation interval 15 day) and foliar chitosan spray (0, 0.5 and 1 mg.l-1). The results of interaction showed that spraying with 1 mg. l -1 chitosan during irrigation increased 27 and 7 % respectively, chlorophyll a and the relative content of leaf water and on the other hand spraying with 1 mg. l -1 chitosan during 15 day irrigation cause increased in total phenol content (79 %),proline (68 %) and Activity of antioxidant enzymes peroxidase (51 %), ascorbate peroxidase (72 %), guaiacol peroxidase (70 %), superoxide dismutase (54 %) and catalase (80 %) relative to the control. The results of correlation showed that proline had significant and positive correlation with RWC, but showed a negative correlation with photosynthetic pigments. Also there was a significant positive correlation between enzyme and non-enzymatic antioxidants.. The results of this study showed that chitisan spraying at the rate of 1 mg. l -1 reduced the lipid peroxidation, through increasing the antioxidant defense system activities of the plant and prevent the relative water content of the leaf through retaining cells’ water balance which, consequently, leads to cells’ structures stability against deficit stress.

Background and The angiogenesis inhibitors and the pro angiogenesis factors are enhanced in diabetic patients; especially those are involved in exercise. The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of endurance training with moderate and high intensities on some angiogenesis factors in renal tissue of diabetic rats. Sixty male rats were divided into 6 groups (n=10 per group): Sedentary control (SC), Sedentary Diabetic (SD), Diabetic Moderate intensity training (DMT), Healthy Moderate intensity training (MT), Diabetic High intensity training (DHT) and Healthy High intensity training (HT). The exercise protocol performed 8 weeks of moderate and high intensity aerobic training, 5 sessions per week and 60 minutes per session. Eight weeks of moderate and high intensity aerobic training significantly reduced blood glucose in diabetic rats, but this decrease was higher in the DMT group. Also, eight weeks of moderate and high intensity aerobic training in both diabetic groups significantly increased VEGF (P = 0.002 and P = 0.000, respectively) compared to the SD, but for VEGFR1 was observed only between DHT compared to SD (P = 0.007). compared to high intensity aerobic training, moderate aerobic training results in a decrease in the levels of glucose and an increase in VEGF.

The results of several studies in Iran and the world indicated that rain-fed autumn and winter sown chickpea yield were superior to conventional spring sown due to increased vegetative and reproductive stage length and increased utilization of soil moisture and precipitation and so change the planting season of the crop is running in many parts of the country. In order to evaluate the possibility of sowing chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) in autumn in North Khorasan, this experiment was conducted with seven cold tolerant chickpea genotypes and a local check cultivar in a randomized complete block design with four replications in two regions, viz. Sisab (in Bojnourd) and Lojali (in Shirvan). The results of the present study revealed that in the field in Lojali the highest seed yield belonged to SEL93TH24460 and FLIP 97-211C lines with 279.8 Kg/ha and 278.3 Kg/ha, respectively and local check in this region had the lowest seed yield (179.1 Kg/ha), in addition to high yield, FLIP 97-211C had the highest plant height and 100-seed weight. In Sisab region the highest seed yield (188 Kg/ha) belonged to FLIP 00-82C and the lowest seed yield (117 Kg/ha) belonged to FLIP 00-75C. It is necessary to point out that the latter line had the highest plant height and it was also the late flowering and maturing line of the present experiment. Low precipitation, extreme cold without snow cover in the region, and eventually severe drought stress and heat in the end of season caused a drop in yield. Relatively good survival of some genotypes in this experiment under mentioned condition, with further studies in incoming years, obtaining genotypes siutable for Autum sowing is promising

Based on recent studies, spring sowing of chickpea is not economical in most dryland regions of Iran due to low yield and high production expenditures. Saeed variety was introduced in cold resistance evaluating nurseries and participated in international, primary, advanced and adaptability trials in 2003 as well as studies on resistance to Fusarium wilt and Ascochyta blight disease at research stations and farmers fields in winter planting in 2015. Saeed average seed yield was 1450 kgha-1, that was superior to checks varieties Jam and local Ghazvin variety with 31 and 12%, respectively. The average seed yield of Jam and Ghazvin were 1115 and 1278 kgha-1,respectively. Saeed could tolerate -24 cold temperature without emergence but with snow covering and -14°C with emergence and without snow covering. The new variety Saeed, is suitable for its seed yield, well plant height (machine harvestable), high 100 seed weight, suitable seed protein and tolerance to Ascochyta blight disease. It was selected and introduced for autumn sowing in semi-cold regions and winter planting for cold dryland areas of Iran.

Large seed size in lentil is one of major factors for high market acceptance. Fusarium wilt (Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. lentis) is a major yield reducer for lentil in Iran. Bilehsevar cultivar (ILL6037) developed from a cross between ILL 4605 and ILL 4349 made at Tel Hadya, the main research station of ICARDA. ILL6037 was evaluated in Lentil International Yield Trial-Large seed size (LIYT-L-96), A-test, Fusrarium wilt evaluation, Adaptation Yield Trial, On-farm, and Joint Extension-Research trials conducted at research station and farmers field in Kermanshah, Lorestan, Moghan, Gachsaran, Maragheh, Ardebil, Qazvin, North Khorasan and Zanjan during 1995-2007 cropping seasons. The result showed that Bilehsevar cultivar was significantly superior with having 6.07 gram of 100-seed weight than improved lentil varieties (Kimiya and Gachsaran) and local check. Nevertheless Bilehsevar cultivar have high market acceptance and high potential yield, also is higher tolerance to fusarium wilt than local variety and Kimiya.

Using landraces and lacking new improved cultivars is one of the most important problems in chickpea rainfed cultivation in Iran. Adel cultivar was selected from International Chickpea Nursery (CIEN-W) in Dryland Agricultural Research Institute (DARI) in 2001-2002. The new cultivar, was evaluated and tested in different yield trials in autumn planting, at different Dryland Agricultural Research Stations (Kermanshah, Ilam, Ghachsaran, Shirvan, Gholestan, Urima and Kordestan). On-farm study results showed that the means of grain yields for Adel and Azad cultivars were 1694 kg/ha and 996 kg/ha respectively. Adel cultivar can be recommended in autumn planting under moderate cold and semi warm rainfed conditions of Iran, because of suitable agronomic traits such as resistance to Ascochyta blight disease, erect plant type (suit for mechanical harvesting) and high 100 seed weight.

Salivary gland tumors are heterogeneous neoplasms with relatively low incidence. Due to uncertainty regarding the role of angiogenesis in malignant salivary gland tumors, the aim of present study was assessment of blood vessel density in two malignant salivary gland tumors. In this descriptive-analytical study, a total of 40 paraffin blocks of adenoid cystic carcinoma and mucoepidermoid carcinoma were removed. Immunohistochemical staining was done for evaluation of blood vessel density with CD34. Tumors were divided into two groups of low and high malignancy. Clinical data of patients were extracted from the patients’ files and vascular density and its association with clinicopathological factors was evaluated by Kruskal-Wallis, Mann Whitney, Wilcaxson and X2 (Chi-Square) test. The means total density of blood vessels, intra tumoral and peri tumoral area in adenoid cystic carcinoma were 16.6±7.4, 11.9±5.9 and 4.8±2.3 and in mucoepidermoid carcinoma were 19.11±6.44, 14.47±5.63 and 4.63±1.73, respectively. Significant differences between mean total density of blood vessels (P=0. 279), central (P=0.171) and peripheral (P=0.734) in two lesions were observed. There was no significant difference in density of blood vessels between high and low grade malignant salivary gland tumors (P=0.21). No significant correlation was seen between microvessel density and age, sex and location. Higher grade malignancy and clinical parameters did not affect the blood vessel density. There were higher microvessel densities in central area than peripheral area of tumor.

Selecting and introducing of cold tolerant chickpea varieties with high yielding potential as well as suitable to autumn sowing has highly importance. Sel93TH24460 is hybrid of a cross, ILC 3470 × ILC 8617 which has done at International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA). This genotype has been sent to Iran in an International cold tolerance nursery in 1999 and evaluated in different trials including international, national, advanced and adaptability yield trials and disease screening as well as on-farm examinations at autumn planting of cold areas during 2000 to 2010. According to the results, Saral (Sel93TH24460) with mean yield of 1.4 tons/hectare had increased performance rather than to the check varieties, Jam, Arman and ILC 482 by 15, 34 and 10 percent, respectively, and fairly tolerated -16°C at farm conditions. At controlled conditions of cold room, the mentioned line had considerable tolerance to below zero temperatures and its superiority has confirmed at on-farm trials. Regards to these results and protein assay trial; Saral has been released as a fall sowing variety for cold dry land regions.

Long term use of fallow in wheat-based cropping system of dry and semi-dry lands can increase erosion and decrease soil fertility. Legumes as substituting crops for fallow could improve sustainability in this area. This study was conducted to evaluate the substituting of some legumes for fallow in a 2-yr wheat rotation at Research Stations in North Khorasan Province (Natural Resources Research Station of North Khorasan، Sisab-Bojnord) from 2002 till 2006. Six cropping systems، follow-wheat، wheat-wheat، chickpea-wheat، lentil-wheat، vicia-wheat and annual medic-wheat، were used on three replications. According to the average data from biomass and yield of substituting crops، wheat biomass was more than the legumes biomass in 2002-03 and 2004-05، and among the legumes، vicia and lentil biomass was more than that from chickpea and annual medic. Also، wheat yield (159. 9 g. m-2) was more than lentil and chickpea yield (86. 8 and 83. 3 g. m-2). Average wheat yield on the two rotation cycles (P)

Development of new cultivars with high seed yield and desirable characteristics are major goals of lentil program for Moderate and Semi Warm Climate of Iran. Kimiya is a new lentil (Lens cultivars Medik) cultivar with high-yield, yield satability and adaptability to rainfed conditions. The Iranian Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization issued registration for Kimiya on 9 August 2009. This cultivar originated from a cross between ILL5582 (origin of Jordan) and ILL 707 (origin of Tunisia) made in ICARDA and received as a pure line (FLIP 92-12L) in 1995. The new line was entered in to A and B test experiments and evaluated for seed yield and agronomic performance in Kermanshah (Sararood), Gonbad, Shirvan, Gachsaran, Koohdashat and Ilam (Shirvan Chardavoul) Stations during 1995-2007. Due to high yield potential and desirable characters, it was selected and forwarded to yield stability traits carried out in Kermanshah, Lorestan, Ilam, Shirvan and Gonbad during 2001-04 under rainfed condition. Line FLIP 92-12L with a mean yield of 1263 kgha-1 in Kermanshah, Lorestan, Ilam, Shirvan and Gonbad produced significantly higher yield than local check. Results of statistical analysis on seed yield, using different methods of stability showed that this line was one of the most stable genotypes. Based on the results of on-farm experiments in five locations in Kermanshah and two locations in Lorestan during 2002-04, the new this line with 1289 kgha-1 produced 50 percent higher yield than local checks. In demonstration fields in four locations of Kermanshah during 2003-07 this line with 1093 kgha-1 produced 47% higher yield than local check.

One of the applications of Non-Parametric methods is determination of genotypes rank in different environments, which is also used as a measuring stability. A stable genotype shows similar ranks across different environments and has minimum rank variance in different environments. Non-Parametric Stability Statistics require no statistical assumptions about the distribution of the phenotypic values and are easy to use. This study was carried out to determine the ranks of 10 Lentil genotypes (Lens culinaris Medikus) across ten environments in 2002-2004, using a randomized complete block design with four replications. Analysis of Thennarasu non-parametric statistics showed that genotypes 8 and 9 had high stability by NP(1) statistic and genotypes 9, 8 and 1 had stable yield in NP(2) method. Result of the NP(3) statistic was similar to NP(1) statistic. NP(4) statistic selected genotypes 9 and 1 as the most stable genotypes and ultimately NP(5) statistic introduced 9 and 1 genotypes as stable genotypes in this experiment. Also analysis of Nassar and Huhn non-parametric statistics revealed that genotypes 1 and 2 were most stable and well adapted across ten environments. In addition, it was concluded that plots obtained by both mean yield (kg ha-1) vs.Si(1) and mean yield (kg ha-1) vs. Si(2) values could enhance visual efficiency of selection based on genotype × environment interaction. According to these configurations, genotypes in section 1 can be considered as stable and well adapted to all environments, having general adaptable ability. For recognition a daptability,Si(1) and  Si(2) take preferred over other non-parametric statistics.

This study was conducted during 2003-2004 and 2004-2005 growing seasons at Shirvan ‎Agricultural Research Station, to evaluate the performance of eight winter chickpea seed lines. ‎The experiment conducted in randomized complete block design with four replications. During ‎the growing season, date of flowering, plant height, number of pod per plant, number of seed ‎per pod and date of maturity were recorded. After harvesting, 100 seed weight and seed yield ‎were measured. There were significant yield differences between genotypes. Combined analyses ‎showed that line SEL 93TH 24477 with 958.4 kg/ha had the highest seed yield mean. The line ‎ILC 8262 with 524.1 kg/ha had the lowest seed yield. ‎

In order to determine optimum seed density and sowing time of lentil (Lens culinaris Medik) in Northern Khorasan, this study was conducted in Shirvan field experiment station in Northern Khorasan in 2002-2004 growing seasons. There were four seed density levels: 50, 100, 200 and 400 seed/m2, and two sowing seasons: Winter (Entezary) and spring, arranged in a factorial experiment in randomized complete block design with three replications. During growing season, agronomic traits such as flowering date, plant height and physiological maturity date were recorded. After harvesting, 100 grain-weight and grain yield were measured and recorded. Results of combined analysis of variance indicated that there was significant differences between the grain yield of the crop in spring and winter (entezary) seasons. The highest grain yield belonged to 200 seed per m2 in Entezary sowing time (812 Kg/ha), that was a significantly different in comparison to the other treatments. These results recommend that in dryland conditions of Northern Khorasan lentil are to be grown as Entezary crop with 200 seed per m2.