محسن سعیدی

Thyme (Thymus vulgaris L.) is a perennial plant that belongs to Lamiaceae family, and native to the Mediterranean regions. Thyme is used in the medical, cosmetic and food industries due to its unique aroma and taste. The yield of thyme can be affected by environmental factors and agricultural management. Harvest cutting is one of the important factors determining the quantitative and qualitative characteristics of the thyme. It has also been reported that exogenous application of plant growth regulators at low concentrations has led to yield improvement. Cytokinins (CKs) are one of the five main types of plant growth regulators (PGRs) that affect plant growth and development. In addition to enhancing cell division and growth, CKs also prevent plant aging by inhibiting the breakdown of chlorophyll, nucleic acids, proteins, and other substances. CKs play a role in the transport and accumulation of photosynthesis products and affect the activity of enzymes. CKs also stimulate the growth of lateral branches, too. This study was conducted to investigate the effect of foliar spraying of cytokinin (benzylaminopurine) during harvest cuttings on the essential oil production and growth of thyme plant.

This experiment was carried out at the research farm of Razi University, Kermanshah, Iran (Longitude 47°, 9' east and latitude 34°, 21' north, 1319 m above sea level) during three consecutive years of 2017, 2018 and 2019. The research was conducted as a factorial experiment based on a randomized complete blocks design with three replications. The first factor was the harvest cutting (late June and late September) and the second factor was the concentrations of cytokinin (0, 100, 200 and 400 μM BAP). The measured traits included plant height, stem diameter, number of branches, leaf, stem and total dry weight, percentage and yield of essential oil. The analysis of variances (ANOVA) of data was performed using SAS ver.9 software and the means comparison was done using LSD test at 5% probability level.

The results of analysis of variance showed that the effect of harvest cutting on the traits of plant height, stem diameter, number of branches, leaf, stem and total dry weights and essential oil yield was significant, but its effect on the essential oil percentage was not significant. Also, the effect of foliar spraying of BAP was significant on all the mentioned traits. The interaction effect of harvest cutting × BAP spraying was significant on the number of branches, dry weight of leaves and stems, total dry weight and essential oil yield. A comparison of means showed that the highest plant height, number of sub-branches, leaf dry weight, stem dry weight and total dry weight (4355 kg ha-1) were obtained by foliar spraying of 400 µM BAP. The percentage of essential oil increased with the increase of BAP concentration. The highest essential oil (2.35%) was obtained by foliar spraying of 200 μM BAP. The highest and lowest essential oil percentage were obtained in 2020 and 2018 experiments, respectively. Also, the yields of essential oil were different in different cuttings under the influence of BAP foliar application. The increasing of the essential oil yield in the first harvest was higher compared to the second harvest. Foliar spraying of 400 μM BAP in the first harvest produced the highest essential oil yield (59.95 kg ha-1).

In general, the results of this study indicated that cytokinin spraying during the first harvest significantly influenced on the enhancement of traits such as plant height (16%), number of lateral branches (59%), leaf dry weight (200%), total dry weight (194%), and essential oil production (108-217%) in thyme. Additionally, as the plant aged (in the third year of the experiment), this enhancement in essential oil production was more. To enhance essential oil yield and vegetative growth of thyme, it is recommended to apply 400 µM cytokinin spraying during the first harvest.

 Despite the high importance of corn seeds in various uses like green cobs, baby cobs, sweet corn, and popcorn, the production of oil, starch, dextrose, and syrup, less than ten percent of corn grains consumed in the country is supplied through domestic production. Deficiencies in the absorbable form of iron (Fe) and zinc (Zn) exist in most agricultural lands worldwide. This deficiency severely reduces the quantity and quality of crop yields such as maize. Lack of micronutrients in most agricultural soils of arid and semi-arid regions, such as most farming regions of Iran, is due to low absorbable form of micronutrients, imbalance with NPK fertilizers, high pH and low percentage of organic matters in soil and high bicarbonate content in irrigation water. By eliminating the lack of micronutrients through foliar spraying, it is possible to increase the grain yield of agricultural plants. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effect of traditional and nanoparticle forms of iron and zinc on some single cross-600 popcorn agronomic traits. This research was conducted as a completely randomized block design with three replications in the research farm of Razi University, located in Kermanshah city at 1319 meters above sea level in the crop year 2019-2020. This research investigated popcorn (single cross 600) with maternal line K1533 and paternal line ZK4722AA. In each block, there are 13 foliar treatments, including traditional and nanoparticle forms of iron and zinc (zero, 4, and 8 g lit-1) and combined nanoparticle treatments of iron4 × zinc4, iron4 × zinc8, iron8 × zinc4, and iron8× zinc8. The foliar spraying treatments were applied twice at the beginning of vegetative growth and the beginning of flowering. The data were subjected to analysis of variance by SAS, and means Fisher’s Protected method (LSD 5%) was used for mean separation. The results showed that all fertilizer concentrations and fertilizer groups (traditional iron, nanoparticle iron, traditional zinc, nanoparticle zinc, and combined forms) caused a significant increase in grain yield, dry forage yield, harvest index, the number of cobs per plant, the number of seeds in cobs and the number of rows in cob compared to the control treatment. However, they had no significant effect on the weight of 1000 seeds. The highest increase in grain yield compared to the control treatment (3590 kg ha-1) was related to the two treatment groups of traditional iron and nanoparticle iron×nanoparticle zinc with 81%. The treatment of iron nanoparticle8×zinc nanoparticle4 caused the most significant increase in grain yield (132%) compared to the control treatment. The number of seeds per plant was affected by fertilizer treatments more than the trait of the 1000 seed weight. The 1000 seed weight is probably controlled under the influence of genetic factors. It seems that the foliar application of micronutrients by eliminating their deficiency and their nutritional effect probably increases the balance in the growth and regulation of plant development processes and ultimately causes a significant increase in grain yield. Different concentrations of iron and zinc nanoparticle fertilizers were significantly more effective in increasing grain yield than different concentrations of iron and zinc common fertilizers. This result may be due to the characteristics of shape, size, distribution, and nanoparticle fertilizers compared to common fertilizers. The significant increase in grain yield under the influence of foliar spraying treatments indicated a significant lack of absorbable forms of iron and zinc elements and their critical role in the formation of corn grain yield in similar areas (arid and semiarid regions). Nanoparticle forms of iron and zinc fertilizers increase grain yield more effectively than traditional forms.

Legumes are a vital source of plant-based food, second only to cereals. Among them, Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) holds significant importance, particularly in semi-arid regions such as western Iran, where it is primarily cultivated under rainfed conditions. Chickpea is a valuable dietary component, particularly for low-income populations, as it is rich in protein (18-22%), unsaturated fatty acids (e.g. linoleic acid and oleic acid), and a good source of vitamins, such as riboflavin, niacin, thiamin, and folate (vitamin B9), and beta-carotene (a precursor of vitamin A) and minerals including calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, and potassium. In terms of total grain production in rainfed environments, chickpea ranks as the third most cultivated crop in Iran. Kermanshah province, with approximately 141,000 hectares dedicated to chickpea farming, leads in cultivation area. Despite this, the average yield of rainfed chickpea fields in Iran (480 kg/ha) lags significantly behind the global average (1,057 kg/ha). This disparity is primarily attributed to limited soil moisture and a lack of bioavailable nutrients. This study investigates the potential of iron, zinc, and boron chelates applied in both bulk and nanoparticle forms – to enhance chickpea grain yield and address nutritional deficiencies under rainfed conditions.

The experiment was conducted during the 2018-2019 growing season at the Agriculture and Natural Resources Campus of Razi University under rainfed conditions. A randomized complete block design with three replications was implemented. Fertilizer treatments were applied as foliar sprays in two growth stages: the beginning of vegetative growth and flowering. Treatments included bulk and nanoparticle chelates of iron, zinc, and boron at three concentrations (2, 4, and 8 g/l), their combinations and a control.

Soil analysis revealed deficiencies in bioavailable iron, zinc, and boron. The analysis of variance showed that both the type and concentration of fertilizers significantly affected grain yield and its components. All treatments, except boron fertilizer, caused a significant increase in grain yield compared to the control. The highest yield (814 kg/ha) was observed with the combined application of iron+zinc+boron at 8 g/l, resulting in 1,392 kg/ha grain yield and 3,287 kg/ha biomass.  Other notable results included combinations of iron + zinc + boron (1,196 kg/ha), iron + zinc (1,108 kg / ha), and bulk zinc alone (1,053 kg/ha). Increasing fertilizer concentration positively influenced plant height, the number of pods per plant, grains per pod, total grains per plant, and 100-grain weight. Among all treatments, the concentration of 8 g/l consistently yielded the most significant improvements. While nanoparticle fertilizers performed well, bulk forms of iron and zinc proved equally, if not more, effective in enhancing grain yield. However, bulk fertilizers were superior in increasing plant height.

The study concludes that while both bulk and nanoparticle fertilizers of iron and zinc improve chickpea yield under rainfed conditions, nanoparticle fertilizers did not demonstrate a clear advantage over bulk forms. However, regarding plant height increase, bulk iron and zinc fertilizers were particularly effective. Considering reports of the higher efficiency of nanoparticles in irrigated environments, further research is necessary to determine conditions where nanoparticles may outperform bulk fertilizers in rainfed systems.

Oak trees (Quercus infectoria) are one of the main components of forest communities in western Iran and play a vital role in preserving water and soil in this region. Oak gall wasps (Hymenoptera: Cynipidae) cause gall on different parts of oak trees. This research was conducted to investigate the concentration of some plant metabolites in different tissues of oak trees and some leaf galls formed by gall wasps and their changes during the growing season in the Javanroud region. For this purpose, four types of galls (Neuroterus numismalis Geoffroy, Neuroterus quercusbaccarum L., Cynips divisa Harting, and Cynips quercusfolii L.), leaves containing gall, and healthy leaves were collected as a sampling unit from oak forests in Javanroud city. This study measured the concentration of some food compounds and secondary metabolites, such as soluble and insoluble sugars, total phenol, total tannin, and condensed tannin. The results of the variance analysis of the data showed that the concentration of different metabolites during the season in four different types of gall and the two investigated tissues were significantly different. The results showed that the peak concentration of carbohydrates and starch in all four types of galls and two types of plant tissue occurs in October, while the highest amount of total nitrogen and crude protein is found in September. Because gall tissue is considered the only food source for the gall-producing wasps, the quality of its food seems very important to them.

Plant probiotic bacteria have been found to induce systemic plant defense and affect the interactions between plants and insects across different trophic levels. In this research, the effect of a probiotic bacterium, Bacillus subtilis (strain S) on life table parameters of Brevicoryne brassicae, and its parasitoid wasp, Diaeretiella rapae, on canola was investigated. The results showed that the S strain significantly reduced the intrinsic rate of increase (r) of the cabbage aphid. The values of the intrinsic rate of increase (r) were 0.302 ± 0.012 and 0.237 ± 0.007 (day-1) for control and plant probiotic bacteria-treatments, respectively, while, net reproductive rates (R0) were 16.60 ± 1.90, and 33.71 ± 2.60 (offspring/individual), respectively. The study on the biology of parasitoid wasp showed no significant differences in various life table parameters, except for the mean generation time (T) between control and bacteria-treatments. Additionally, the gas exchange was measured on the control and canola treated with the various strains of B. sabtilis including S, GBO3, INR7, AS, and BS. The results indicated that the highest and lowest photosynthetic rates were calculated in S and AS, with rates of 21.66 and 5.91 µmol (Co2)/m2/S, respectively. Based on our findings, the S strain of B. subtilis, by reducing the aphid's capacity to increase its population, can be used as an effective agent in the integrated management of the cabbage aphid.

The essential oil derived from thyme is very important due to its use in the pharmaceutical, food and cosmetic industries. Numerous factors including nutrition, harvest time and environmental conditions can influence both the quality and yield. In order to investigate the effect of nitrogen levels and harvest time on the quality and yield and chemical composition of thyme essential oil, a factorial experiment was conducted based on RCBD with three replications at Razi University over three years from 2018 to 2020. The first factor included amount of nitrogen fertilizer (0, 50 and 100 kg N ha-1) and the second factor included the time of harvest (mid-June and late September during flowering). The results showed that the quality and yield as well as chemical composition of essential oil were affected by nitrogen, cutting and year. Nitrogen enhanced several characteristics, including plant height, number of lateral branches, leaf, stem and total dry weights, stem diameter, percentage and yield of essential oil (p≤0.01). Also, the amount of these traits in the second cutting was higher than the first cutting. The highest value of all investigated traits was obtained in the interaction treatment of second cutting×100 kg N ha-1×the third year. The most chemical compounds of the essential oil include thymol (41 - 61.25%), γ-terpinene (11.10 - 23.60%), p-cymen (10.63 - 23.07%), carvacrol (3.40 - 4.63%), α-terpinene (1.42 - 3.06%), and α-Phellandrene (1.02 - 1.97%). Nitrogen increased all the chemical compounds of the essential oil. The concentration of carvacrol, α-terpinen and γ-terpinene, p-cymene and α-Phellandrene decreased with increasing nitrogen from 50 to 100 kg ha-1. Overall, the application of nitrogen in the second cutting had a significant effect on increasing the quality and yield. Also, the percentage of chemical compounds in essential oil changed according to the amount of nitrogen and harvest time during the three years.

Stevia is a plant belongs to composite family, and the sweet leaves of this plant contain steviol glycoside, which has no calories, and it can be up to 300 times sweeter than sugar. The stevia plant propagated by seeds, cuttings and tissue culture. The most success method is by tissue culture, in comparison with others. Cuttings may be prepared from stems, roots or leaves. However, the most common method for propagation is taken from stem and use rooting hormones. Auxin compounds such as indole butyric acid (IBA) and naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) are among the most important plant growth regulators, which are widely used on stem cuttings to accelerate the formation of aberrant roots, increase the percentage of rooting and increase the number of roots. Each cutting is used so that some bases that have rooting problems can produce roots with the use of these compounds. The effect of growth regulators IBA and NAA and their combination on rooting and growth in different plants has been proven. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the best planting medium and the concentration of IBA and NAA on rooting characteristics in apical cuttings of Stevia.

This experiment was designed in the agronomy laboratory, Campus of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Razi University, Kermanshah, Iran, as a factorial in the form of a completely randomized design (CRD) in three replications. Factors include: soil + perlite + sand, soil + cocopeat + sand, soil + sawdust + sand, soil + cocopeat + perlite, soil + perlite + sawdust, soil + cocopeat + sawdust and soil + sand + cocopeat + perlite + sawdust and concentration of plant growth regulator: control (distilled water), IBA250 mg lit-1, IBA500 mg lit-1, NAA250 mg lit-1, NAA500 mg lit-1, IBA250 mg lit-1 + NAA250 mg lit-1 and commercial rooting powder (containing 0.2% IBA). The cuttings were taken on July 25, 2016 from the apical part, 10 cm long without branches and flowers, with uniform thickness and 4-6 leaves. A number of 10 cuttings for each pot were dipped in plant growth regulators for five seconds and planted after 10 minutes. Planting in pots were placed inside the germinator under conditions of temperature (between 20 and 22 degrees Celsius), humidity (96%) and controlled light (16 hours of light and 8 hours of darkness) to stimulate rooting. After four weeks, some characteristics of the cuttings including stem length, root number, rooting percentage, maximum root length, total root length per cutting, dry root weight per cutting, number of leaves and length of shoots were checked.

The results of variance analysis of the data showed that there was a simple and interaction effect between planting medium and growth regulators on all investigated traits, including shoot length, root number, maximum root length, root dry weight, total root length, number of leaves, and root percentage. were very significant (at the 1% level). The highest number of roots (55 roots per plant) was obtained in the IBA500 treatment and in the soil + cocopeat + sand substrate. However, the highest percentage of rooted cuttings (100%) was obtained in the NAA250 treatment and in the substrate of soil + sand + cocopeat + perlite + sawdust. The number of roots was obtained by counting the number of misplaced roots coming out of the cuttings, and their length and length were not considered. However, in the percentage of rooted cuttings, having even one root for a cutting and the survival of that cutting is meant in counting. Probably, the reason for the increase in the number of roots for each cutting in this treatment is due to the effect of IBA500 hormone in this substrate. In this condition, the level of IBA hormone was at its maximum level. IBA250 treatment and in soil + sand + cocopeat + perlite + sawdust substrate produced the highest root dry weight (74.7 mg per plant) and the highest total root length (145.8 cm). The highest root height (10.33 cm) was obtained using IBA250+NAA250 and in soil + sand + cocopeat + perlite + sawdust substrate. The traits of dry matter and the total length of the root are related, and it is obvious that the longer the length of the root, the greater the amount of dry matter. But the length or height of the root may not match with these two traits, which was the case in this experiment. The height of the root is the length of the longest root. The maximum shoot length or plant height was 12 cm in the IBA250 treatment and in soil + sand + cocopeat + perlite + sawdust. IBA250 treatment and soil + cocopit + sand had the highest number of leaves, 11.6 leaves per plant. These two traits (shoot length and number of leaves per plant) were at the highest value in two different planting beds in IBA250, which indicates the positive effect of IBA250.

In general, the result of this experiment showed that although the highest number of roots was obtained in the treatment of IBA500 and in soil + cocopeat + sand, but cuttings from the apical of the stevia stem were prepared in a mixture of substrates including soil + sand + cocopeat + perlite + sawdust and the use of NAA250 and IBA250 were successful. These results provide an opportunity to choose appropriate propagation methods for future studies.

When the plant is exposed to abiotic stresses, the cell membrane is the first part of the cell to be affected by stress, and the relationships of the many of physiological and biochemical cell of the plant are disrupted. The effect of three growth hormones (3 indoleacetic acid [IAA], gibberellic acid [GA3] and 6 benzylaminopurine [6 BAP]) with a control (distilled water) was evaluated at booting stage of two wheat cultivars (Rijaw and Azar 2). A factorial experiment using a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications was setup at Campus of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Razi University, Kermanshah, Iran in 2013-14 and 2014-15. Based on the results, the effect of different growth hormones on SPAD, relative water content, Fv/Fm, performance index, leaf cell membrane stability and photosynthetic rate of both cultivars were significant. Among growth hormones, foliar application of Cytokinin and Auxin had the greatest effect on the measured leaf traits and the lowest mean of the traits was obtained in non-spraying treatment (control). Between the two cultivars, Rijaw cultivar was superior to Azar-2. There was also a positive and significant correlation between cell membrane stability and photosynthesis rate, Fv/Fm and performance index. In general, in dryland conditions (water deficiency) with external application of cytokinin in booting stage in superior wheat cultivar (Rijaw) cell membrane stability, relative water content, photosynthetic rate and Fv/Fm were 16, 18, 38 and 45 percent higher than the control, respectively.

The nomadic community of Iran as a social reality is part of the historical, political and cultural structure and an active member of the national community. However, studies show that the nomadic livelihood pattern is in crisis. If this instability continues due to lack of enjoyment, national development will also be jeopardized. The statistical population of the study is nomadic and settled nomads of Gheshlagh village, Abesh Ahmad district, Kalibar city.

The sample population was 290 people according to Cochran sampling method for nomadic tribes and 40 people for settled nomads (Celine) and the questionnaires were randomly distributed among the heads of households. One-way t-test and Pearson correlation were used to analyze the data

Geographical area of research :

The geographical scope of the research is Gheshlagh village, Abesh Ahmad district, Kalibar city.

The results of the one-sample T method showed that the quality of life of nomadic tribes (with an average of 2.97) is lower than the theoretical average (3) and is down to average. Also, the quality of livelihood of the settled nomads (with an average of 3.55) is higher than the theoretical average (3) and is on average rising.

The results of Pearson correlation test also showed a significant relationship between the studied variables with the quality of life of nomadic and settled nomads. According to the obtained results, it can be acknowledged that the living conditions of the settled nomads compared to the nomadic tribes in Gheshlagh village of Abesh Ahmad district of Kalibar city are in a good conditionConclusion  The results of Pearson correlation test also showed a significant relationship between the studied variables with the quality of life of nomadic and settled nomads. According to the obtained results, it can be acknowledged that the living conditions of the settled nomads compared to the nomadic tribes in Gheshlagh village of Abesh Ahmad district of Kalibar city are in a good condition

Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd) is a plant with high nutritional value and has good adaptability to different growing conditions. To investigate the effects of planting date and density on the seed quality of three quinoa genotypes (Q29, Titicaca, and Red Carina), a field experiment was conducted in 2019-2020 at the research field of Agriculture and Natural Resources Campus, Razi University, Kermanshah, Iran. The seeds were sown on three dates (15th March, 15th April, and 15th May) under two planting densities (40 and 60 plants/m2). The experiment was conducted as a split-plot factorial design based on the randomized complete block design with three replications. The results revealed that both sowing date and plant density influenced the nutritional composition of the quinoa genotypes. The grain yield varied between 1642 and 2351 kg/ha, and the amino acids profile varied according to planting date and planting density. The amino acids histidine, glutamic acid, leucine, and lysine increased with delaying sowing date whereas threonine, tyrosine, arginine, methionine, glycine, proline, isoleucine, valine, serine, alanine, aspartic acid, asparagine, cysteine, phenylalanine, and glutamine decreased with delaying the sowing date from 15 March to 15 May. The Titicaca genotype produced maximum grain yield under the third sowing date while in the case of the first sowing date, all studied genotypes were more responsive regarding most amino acids. Also, the most suitable plant density to result in the highest grain yield was 60 plants/m2. The mineral content of the quinoa seeds was not influenced significantly by the sowing date, plant density, genotype, and their interactions, except for calcium which was affected significantly by the genotype. The lowest saponin content was observed in Titicaca under the planting density of 40 plants/m2. These results indicated that both sowing dates and plant densities influence the nutritional composition of quinoa genotypes.

Drought is the most important abiotic stress in Iran, which leads to a significant decrease in plant yield. Crops need a lot of water. ‎Evaporation and transpiration determines the plant's water requirement. Water is one of the rare resources in Iran, which is affected ‎by the amount of rainfall. In Iran, the cultivation of maize has been greatly promoted in recent years, and its use in livestock and ‎poultry feeding and industrial uses has been noticed. Sunflower, as the main source of vegetable oil in the world, is of special ‎importance, which requires a lot of water. Plastic mulch is especially important in reducing water consumption in arid and semi-‎arid areas.‎An experiment was conducted as a randomized complete block design with three replications at the Research Farm, Agricultural ‎and Natural Resources Campus, Razi University, Kermanshah, Iran in 2016. The plants used in this experiment were maize and ‎sunflower. Treatments included plastic mulch between the rows, plastic coating on the plant (only in maize) and control (without ‎plastic). Treatments were applied at the beginning of the experiment and before germination.‎The plastic mulch between rows had the highest growth and yield of maize and sunflower than other treatments. In maize, plastic ‎mulch between the rows had higher biological yield, harvest index, number of seeds per row, ear weight, and 100-seed weight than ‎that of control, but there was no significant difference between plastic mulch between rows and plastic coating on the plant in terms ‎of mentioned traits. There was no significant difference among treatments in terms of number of rows per ear, ear skin weight, and ‎ear length. In sunflower, plastic mulch between rows had higher biological yield, head diameter, head weight, and 100-seed weight ‎than control, and there were no significant differences between treatments in terms of harvest index, and number of seeds per ‎head. ‎The results of this experiment show that by applying plastic mulch, especially ‎between the planting rows and before the seeds ‎germinate, while reducing the ‎length of the growth period and better use of moisture, the seed yield of maize ‎and sunflower can be ‎increased compared to not using plastic mulch by 38 and ‎‎41 percent, respectively. Other possible reasons for increasing grain yield ‎‎under the conditions of using nylon mulch included reducing evaporation and ‎increasing soil temperature at the beginning of the ‎growth period.‎

Among various non-biological stresses, drought stress is the most important factor that has limited production in the agricultural sector of the country (Akhzari and Pessarakli, 2016). Today, the supply of oilseeds for the extraction of vegetable oils needed for various industrial, edible, medicinal and cosmetic uses is one of the basic needs of the current population growth (Beynam, 2015). Balangu (Lallemantia iberica L.) is an annual, herbaceous and drought-resistant plant belonging to the mint family (Lamiaceae). With medicinal-oil properties, it is considered a multi-purpose plant in agriculture (Hendawy et al., 2015). In order to check and predict the phenological stages of the planted plants in an area, the relationship between the phenological stages and the thermal factor should be considered. For this purpose, thermal units of growth degree days (GDD) are used to check the amount of heat needed to pass each growth stage of plants (Kumari et al., 2020). In plants under drought stress, where the absorption of nutrients through the root faces a problem due to the decrease in soil water volume, the absorption of micronutrients such as iron and zinc can be effective through foliar spraying. (Rafique et al., 2015). In the conditions of lack of water resources, like what is happening in our country, it is necessary to change the agricultural pattern towards planting plants adapted to dry land, as well as ways to increase yield per unit area. Therefore, the purpose of this research was to investigate the development of Balangu planting and the role of foliar application of iron and zinc micronutrients on phenology and the adjustment of stress effects.

This research was conducted in the research farm of Razi University of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Kermanshah during two consecutive years (2017-2018 and 2018-2019) as a split-plot-factorial experiment in the form of a basic randomized complete block design with three replications. The experimental treatments include: irrigation (Water deficit after flowering and Normal) in the main plots, foliar spray factors (zero, four and eight per thousand concentrations of iron and zinc sulfate) and foliar application time (at the beginning of the vegetative and reproductive growth stage) were factorially placed in sub-plots. The seeds (native population of Songhor region of Kermanshah province) were planted manually at a depth of two centimeters and with a density of 400 plants per square meter in a row at the first appropriate time in late March of 2017 and 2018. Application of nitrogen, phosphorus and potash fertilizers was based on need. Dehydration stress was applied by stopping irrigation from the time of full flowering (opening of 50% of flowers).

The results showed that, with the application of water stress, the seed yield and oil yield decreased by 24% and 17%, respectively, and the oil percentage increased by 8% compared to the treatment without water stress. Also, water deficit stress reduced the number of days and heat requirement to maturity by 10 days and 275 growth days degree, respectively. The greatest increase in oil yield compared to the treatment without foliar spraying (control) was related to the 4 and 8 per thousand zinc foliar treatments in reproductive stage and under stress conditions, which increased these traits from 339 and 283 respectively in conditions Lack of stress and water deficit stress increased to 539 and 513 kg/ha. The greatest effect of iron and zinc foliar application treatments on increasing plant height and the number of days and heat requirement to maturity stage was related to 4 and 8 per thousand iron and zinc foliar application in the vegetative growth stage.

In the present study, it can be concluded that the Balangu having adaptability, suitable production, relatively short growth period and matching the length of the growth period with the rainfall of the study area, and it can be considered as a common plant for rotation in this region. Foliar application of iron and zinc micronutrient elements should be used by farmers to moderate the effects of water deficit stress, taking into account its small and economical amounts.

Afghanistan's eastern neighbor Iran is witnessing four decades of war and various crises, which have led to the mass immigrant of Afghans to Iran. Considering the sensitive role of adolescents and youth in the development of society, the present study seeks to explore the context and life world of Afghan immigrants in order to understand the conditions for the reproduction of fundamentalism in the development system. In this research, the qualitative methodology of Grand Theory has been used for understanding of the subject. The study focuses on Kerman where 14 Afghan adolescentsand 16 young youths were selected as participants using purposive sampling and theoretical sampling. Semi-structured interviews were carried out to collect the data. Data coding was done in open, axial and selective coding .Also, in order to gain credibility, the evaluation technique by members, audit method and analytical comparison have been used. Deep attachment to ethnic traditions promotes patriarchal patterns and exacerbates deprivation in the immigrant community. Also, migration and confrontation with traditions were among the factors exacerbating the crisis among young people. According to the findings of this study, eight main categories have been formed, which are as follows: widespread deprivation - illiteracy - lack of awareness - isolated relationships -traditionalism in the modern age -the perception of pervasive corruption - multiple identity and ethnic divisions - gender discrimination. According to the results of this study, finally the core category of "the interaction of the challenges of traditionalism, deprivation, identity; the vicious cycle of development" was extracted.

Plant growth regulators are the most important factors that regulate crop production. Hence, this study was conducted to evaluate the effect of some plant growth regulators on physiological traits, gas exchange variables and grain yield quality and quantity of wheat in Razi university, Iran, in 2013-2014 crop year. A factorial experiment based on randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications was used. In this study, the first factor included 10 bread wheat cultivars (Zare, Parsi, Sivand, Pishtaz, Bahar, Azar 2, Bezostaya, Gaspard, Sirvan, and Marvdasht) and also the second factor at four levels included foliar application of 50 μM concentration of cytokinin, auxin, gibberellin and lack of foliar application (control) at flowering and booting stages of the spike. The results showed that there were significant differences among cultivars in terms of agronomic and physiological traits. Sivand and Parsi cultivars had the highest grain yield, biological yield, harvest index, number of grains per spike, thousand grain weight, hectoliter weight, photosynthetic rate and chlorophyll a, but Azar 2 cultivar had the lowest of the above traits. The results showed that application of plant growth regulators increased grain yield, biological yield, harvest index, thousand grain weight, photosynthesis rate, soluble proteins content and crude protein. Among the investigated plant growth regulators, the application of 50 μM of cytokinin caused the highest increase in the rate of plant photosynthesis (18.4%).

 Drought is the most important limiting factor for the yield and quality of products in the world. Fertilizer application can mitigate drought stress in plants. Most farmers prefer to use inorganic (chemical) fertilizers because of their fast impact on plant growth. The reasonable cost of inorganic fertilizers and their availability are the other reasons. However, the long-term effects of organic fertilizers on plant growth and soil fertility has been proved. The grapevines are one of the most important garden products in the world as well as in Iran. It has been reported that the application of biochar has significant effects on soil fertility as well as plant growth. Biochars have properties such as highly porous structure, high specific surface area, higher water holding capacity of the soil, the long-term stability in the soil. In addition, our previous study indicated that it could decrease the hazard of sodium in soil compared with compost. In Iran, the cultivation area of grapevines was the second grade after the pistachio cultivation area in 2019. According to statistical data on agriculture in 2019, the cultivation area of irrigated and rain-fed grapevines in Kermanshah province was 7710 and 1515 ha, respectively. According to this report, the production of irrigated and rain-fed grapevines in Kermanshah province in 2019 was 82718 and 1763 tons, respectively. The effect of application of some inorganic and organic fertilizers under drought stress on yield, water use efficiency, and some biochemical characteristics of the grapevine leaves cultivar Bidane-Ghermez has been previously studied. In this research, the effect of drought stress and the application of potassium sulfate, compost, and biochar on antioxidant activities of the grapevine leaves cultivar Bidane-Ghermez was investigated.
 
A greenhouse study with a factorial experiment based on a block of randomized completely design was conducted with fertilizer treatments including control, potassium sulfate (1250 mg kg-1), compost (5% w/w), and biochar (10% w/w) without and with drought stress conditions (80 and 40% FC, respectively) during 2017-2018. For this research, the biochar was produced from apple tree pruning under low oxygen conditions by slow pyrolysis at 400 ◦C. The compost was purchased from the municipal compost factory of Kermanshah province. To evaluate drought stress and inorganic and organic fertilizers' application on antioxidant enzymes activities, the superoxide dismutase and peroxidase activities and total soluble protein of grapevine leaves were determined. The data were analyzed by ANOVA and the mean of studied characteristics was compared by Duncan’s test at 5% probability level using SAS software.
the results indicated that the interaction effect of fertilizers treatments and drought stress on the superoxide dismutase and peroxidase activities as well as total soluble protein was significant (P<0.01). Under drought stress conditions, among fertilizers’ treatments, the activity of superoxide dismutase for potassium sulfate was significantly lower than compost and biochar treatments (P<0.01). The results also showed that the peroxidase activity for compost was significantly higher than potassium sulfate and biochar treatments (P<0.01). Besides, the highest total soluble protein amount was found for biochar treatment (P<0.01).
 
 according to the results of this study, it can be concluded that the increase of total soluble protein of grapevine leaves under drought stress conditions by biochar application contributed to the increase of superoxide dismutase and peroxidase activities also increasing the bioavailability of macro-and micronutrients. Biochar application increased significantly the potassium concentration of the leaves of the grapevines. Potassium regulates water movement at the plant and also provides a higher relative water content of grapevine leaves. Moreover, potassium decreases the non-stomatal effects are also attributed to stomatal closure during drought stress conditions. Furthermore, potassium contributes to protein synthesis. Biochar application also increased the phosphorus, copper, and magnesium of the leaves of the grapevine. Higher concentration of phosphorus under drought stress conditions caused the grapevine leaves to suffer less from phosphorus deficiency. Copper exists in superoxide dismutase and is considered a key player in superoxide detoxification. Under drought stress conditions, higher manganese concentration by biochar application resulted in more protection of the cellular membrane against Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS). For fertilizer recommendation in order to reduce drought stress effects on some antioxidant enzymes activities of Bidane-Ghermez grapevine leaves, the application of biochar is recommended first then potassium sulfate and compost.

In order to evaluate the phytohormones-like effects of plant-derived smoke on some biochemical characteristics of lemon balm, an experiment was conducted as a split plot in time based on complete randomized block design with three replications in research greenhouse of campus of agricultural and natural resources of Razi University in 2017. The main factor was different levels of leaf foliar application (including four concentrations of smoke-water (i.e., 1:5000, 1:1000, 1:500, and 1:100 (v/v)) accompanied with cytokinin, auxin, and gibberellic acid (each with a concentration of 50 μM), as well as the control) and the sub-factor included two harvest stages. The results indicated that the application of different concentrations of smoke-water and growth phytohormones significantly increased the content of chlorophyll and carotenoids, photosynthesis rate, transpiration rate and stomatal conductance, but reduced the accumulation of soluble carbohydrate content and the percentage of electrolyte leakage. However, chlorophyll fluorescence parameters, anthocyanin content, soluble protein content and activity rate of antioxidant enzymes were not significantly affected by foliar application levels. In general, these findings indicate that plant-derived smoke similar to growth phytohormones has a great potential to improve biochemical efficiency of lemon balm and can be considered as a natural agrochemical.

Wheat ranks first among crops regarding cultivated area and production worldwide and in Iran. Drought stress is the most common abiotic stress that decreases the grain yield of crops. Physiologic characteristics with some traits related to grain yield and its components are used as indices to evaluate wheat cultivars under drought stress conditions. This experiment aimed to study the grain yield components and some physiologic characteristics of the flag leaf and their relationship with grain yield in commercial wheat varieties under post-anthesis drought stress conditions.
This experiment was conducted at Razi University. The experiment was arranged as a split plot basis on a randomized complete block design with three replications. Two moisture treatments (no stress and post-anthesis drought stress) were placed in the main plots and 14 wheat cultivars were considered in the sub-plots. Traits related to grain yield (including biologic, grain and straw yields and harvest index), grain yield components (including number of spikes per square meter, number of grains per spike and 1000-grains weight) and some physiologic characteristics of flag leaf (including flag leaf area, chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, total chlorophyll, chlorophyll a/b ratio and proline content) were measured.
The effect of drought stress on biological yield, grain yield, harvest index, number of grains per spike, 1000-grain weight, flag leaf area, chlorophyll a/b ratio and flag leaf proline content was significant, but on straw yield, number of spikes per square meter, chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, and total chlorophyll was not significant. Wheat cultivars significantly differed in the mentioned characteristics (except for chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b and total chlorophyll). The damage of post-anthesis drought stress on the grain yield reduction was more than straw yield (41 vs. 9% reduction). Among the grain yield components, 1000-grain weight had greater damage than the number of grains per spike (35 vs. 11% reduction) in response to drought stress. Drought stress decreased the amount of chlorophyll but increased the chlorophyll a/b ratio and proline content of the flag leaf. Correlation analysis showed that under normal moisture conditions, harvest index and chlorophyll content in flag leaf had the highest positive correlation with grain yield. While, under post-anthesis drought stress conditions, the highest positive correlation belonged to the proline content of flag leaf and 1000-grain weight.
Some physiologic characteristics of flag leaf (such as proline) with grain yield components (such as 1000-grain weight) could be used to evaluate wheat cultivars under post-anthesis drought stress conditions.Keywords: 1000-grain weight, flag leaf area, harvest index, proline.

In the 20th century, the Middle East region has always been considered as one of the most important strategic regions in the world politics due to its geopolitical location and geo-economics characteristics. In fact, although the Middle East has been very important as the cradle of human civilization and then in the form of Islamic civilization in periods of world history, but in practice, after more than six centuries, in the 20th century, this region was again The heartland of international politics is back. This issue, especially with the exploration and extraction of oil in this region and its increasing importance in the international political economy and the competition of great powers over the world's energy resources, created the ground for the escalation of instability and continuous chaos and conflicts within the region. This article tries to examine the factors affecting the importance of the Middle East in Russia's grand strategy, and to address the main question, what are the most important areas of change and continuity of Russia's political-security strategy in the Middle East after September 11 until now? The hypothesis of this research, which was carried out in the descriptive-analytical method, is based on the fact that Russia's approach in the Middle East originates from several foreign policy priorities and principles, some of which can be understood from Russian doctrine and government statements. In general, Russia's national security strategy seeks to increase energy security, and the goal of Russia's military doctrine is to expand "military-political" and "military-technical" cooperation with foreign countries.

The rapid increase in the world population and the need to increase agricultural production, and on the other hand, the rapid change of climate conditions, are the significant challenges facing the world in the coming years. Wheat, the most important plant in the cereal family, plays a vital role in the world's food security now and in the future. Therefore, producing new cultivars with high yields and carefully selecting cultivars suitable for cultivation in different climatic zones are important future research priorities.

This study investigated the reaction of different bread wheat cultivars regarding yield and its components. It also aimed to study the growing degree days (GDD) and some physiological traits related to cold tolerance in different bread wheat cultivars. This study was conducted as two independent experiments during the 2013-14 cropping year at the research field, Campus of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Razi University, Kermanshah, Iran. The first experiment was a randomized complete block design with three replications. Treatments included 12 bread wheat cultivars (Norstar, Zarin, Kavir, Baz, Sivand, Alvand, Pishgam, Pishtaz, Orum, Shahryar, Bahar, and Parsi). The second experiment was a factorial experiment in a randomized complete block design with three replications. In this experiment, 12 bread wheat cultivars were evaluated as the first factor and sampling times as the second factor in three levels: early January, early February, early March.

The results of this study showed that Sivand and Parsi spring cultivars with the highest plant growth rate in different stages of development, with 5170 and 5100 kg/ha, respectively, and Norstar winter cultivar with the lowest plant growth rate in various stages of development, with 2230 kg/ha, had the lowest value of grain yield. The correlation between grain yield, growing degree days requirement to flowering, and physiological maturity were negatively significant. Cultivars with lower grain yield had higher growing degree day’s requirements. Examination of the growing degree days requirement of cultivars up to the flowering stage showed that, on average, spring cultivars had lower growing degree day requirements than winter cultivars. The accumulation of soluble sugars in the crown of winter and intermediate cultivars during winter was higher than spring cultivars. The accumulation of soluble sugars in the wheat crown was downward during the winter, so at the beginning of winter, the crown had a higher sugar content than in the middle and late winter. Winter and intermediate cultivars, on average, had higher leaf greenness and maximum photochemical efficiency of photosystem II than spring cultivars.

According to the results obtained in the study area, on average, winter and intermediate cultivars were superior to spring cultivars in terms of physiological traits related to cold tolerance. But, due to the obtained seed yield. However, according to the grain yield obtained in this study, spring cultivars are more recommended among cultivated cultivars than the other two growth types in Kermanshah and similar climate zones.

The use of organic and chemical fertilizers as amendments of properties of soil can be one of the strategies to reduce the adverse effects of drought stress. The effect of potassium sulfate, compost, and biochar on leaf dry matter, gaseous exchanges, instantaneous and intrinsic water use efficiency (WUEinst and WUEi, respectively) of grapevines (Vitis vinifera L.) cultivar ‘Bidaneh-Ghermez’ evaluated under two conditions: without water stress condition (field capacity (FC)) and irrigation in 40% FC. The experiment was conducted in a factorial of random complete blocks experiment design in the greenhouse. The results showed that the interaction effect of water stress and fertilizers’ treatments was significant for photosynthesis rate, stomatal conductance, and WUEinst. Drought stress significantly reduced photosynthesis rate, stomatal conductance, and transpiration of grapevines leaf. Fertilizers’ application compensated drought stress. WUEinst was higher in organic treatments compared with chemical treatment. WUEi for fertilizers’ treatment in drought stress conditions was higher than those in unstressed conditions. The highest K+ concentration of grapevines leaf 1.77 and 1.60% was observed in biochar treatment under both unstressed and stressed conditions. The dry matter of grapevines leaf had no significant differences for all experimental treatments under unstressed conditions and potassium sulfate and biochar under stressed conditions. The dry matter of grapevines leaf for compost treatment was significantly lower than the above-mentioned treatments. According to the results of this research, could be concluded that the application of fertilizers especially biochar can be considered to reduce drought stress of grapevines cultivar ‘Bidaneh-Ghermez’.

Wheat is one of the main cereals in cultivated areas and production rate worldwide. This product is the primary source of carbohydrates and protein in the human diet, and almost half of Iran's agricultural land is under wheat cultivation. On the other hand, drought stress stimulates a wide range of plant responses, from physiological and biochemical to molecular, and causes oxidative damage in plants. Plants use antioxidant enzymes to deal with these stresses. Regarding the role and importance of antioxidant enzymes, the activity of these enzymes in irrigation and drought conditions was investigated in some wheat genotypes. In this research, the activity of peroxidase, catalase, superoxide dismutase enzymes and grain yield for 20 advanced bread wheat genotypes under drought stress conditions was carried out. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design with three replications in two conditions, irrigated and rainfed conditions. The present research was carried out in the Research Field of the Department of Plant Production and Genetics, Campus of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Razi university. Based on the simple analysis of variance, genotypes showed significant differences in the activity of all three enzymes, peroxidase, catalase, and superoxide dismutase. The effect of environment, genotype, and the interaction effect of environment × genotype were significant for catalase, peroxidase, and superoxide dismutase enzyme activity, where the data were analyzed in the form of combined analysis. In irrigation conditions, the highest activity of peroxidase enzyme was observed in Genotype 12, catalase in Genotype 10 and superoxide dismutase in Genotype 15. In this condition, the lowest activity of peroxidase enzyme was observed in Genotype 11, catalase in Genotype 11 and superoxide dismutase in Genotype 7. Also, in dryland conditions, the highest level of peroxidase enzyme activity was observed in Genotypes 6, catalase in Genotype 2 and superoxide dismutase in Genotype 15, and the lowest level of peroxidase enzyme activity was observed in Genotypes 4, catalase in Genotype 8 and superoxide dismutase in Genotype 1. In terms of seed yield trait, the highest amount in irrigation conditions is related to Genotypes 10, 7, and 8, and the lowest amount is related to Genotypes 12, 13, and 11. In dryland conditions, the highest yield is related to Genotypes 4, 10, and 17, and the lowest level is related to Genotype 9. The results showed that the activity level of peroxidase, catalase, and superoxide dismutase enzymes is higher in drought environment than in irrigated conditions, and different genotypes show different responses to drought stress. In fact, the activity of antioxidant enzymes increased with drought stress. In fact, plants increase the activity of their antioxidant enzymes to deal with drought stress, eliminate oxygen free radicals, and deal with the oxidative stress that has occurred and affects the grain yield by spending energy. Based on this, knowing more about antioxidant factors and the factors affecting them, valuable solutions can be adopted to deal with drought stress in plants.

 Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd) a member of the Amaranthaceae family is a dicotyledon pseudocereal. Quinoa is a plant that is very resistant to unfavorable environmental conditions and shows high resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses. Quinoa seeds have a higher nutritional value than many cereal grains and contain higher quality protein and large amounts of carbohydrates, fat, vitamins, and minerals, which are used both in human food and for feeding animals. The high adaptability of this product to different weather conditions has increased the yield of its various types in countries outside of South America. The existence of nutritious compounds in quinoa seeds, including the combination of amino acids, minerals, and vitamins, has led to more research on the properties of this plant.

 The field experiment was conducted to study the relationship between agronomic traits (including plant height, panicle length, number of seeds per plant, plant yield, thousand seed weight, seed yield, biological yield, and harvest index) and mineral elements of quinoa seeds (including Zn, Fe, Mn, Na, Ca, K, and P). The experiment was conducted in the 2018-2019 growing season at the faculty of agriculture, Razi University, Kermanshah with a randomized complete blocks design as a split-plot factorial with three replications. The experimental treatments included three planting dates (March 15, April 15, and May 15) as the main factor and the combination of planting densities (40 and 60 plants/m2) with genotypes (Q29, Titicaca, and Red Carina) as subplot factor.

 The results of the experiment showed that the seed yield (2297.5 kg/ha) on the sowing date of April was significantly higher than March and May (1484.5 and 2137.7 kg/ha) sowing dates, respectively. The effect of the studied treatments on the mineral elements of quinoa seed was insignificant. The mean comparison for plant density showed that the density of 60 plants/m2 had a higher seed yield than the density of 40 plants/m2. The results of canonical correlation analysis showed that Wilk's lambda statistic was significant at a 5% probability level in the case of the first function, indicating the existence of a significant correlation between the two groups of the studied traits.

 The results of this evaluation showed that zinc (Zn) and phosphorus (P) had the highest correlation with the corresponding focal function among the mineral elements. Among the agronomical traits, the highest correlation was between the traits of 1000 seed weight and panicle length with the first focal function. Therefore, the plants with higher values of 1000 seeds weight and panicle length, can be used to select seeds with higher amounts of zinc (Zn) and phosphorus (P).

A Study on change and continuity Factors in US political-security strategy in the Middle East(2001-2021)The Middle East has always been one of the most important strategic regions in world politics in the twentieth century due to its geopolitical position and geo-economics characteristics. In fact, the Middle East after more than six centuries, in the twentieth century, again become heartland of international relations. This article seeks to examine the factors influencing the importance of the Middle East in the grand strategy of the United States, to address the main question: what are the most important factors affecting change and continuity of US political-security strategy in the Middle East after 9/11? The hypothesis of this descriptive-analytical study is based on the extent of US dependence on regional energy, the arms trade, the role of lobbies, the policy of producing security and insecurity in the Middle East as a trans-regional hegemony, and the emergence of new governmental and non-governmental actors that challenge US hegemony, and in particular its efforts to contain China and pivot to Asia policy are the most important factors affecting change and continuity in US political-security strategy in the Middle East over the past two decades.

Change in plant physiological relationships especially in photosynthesis under drought stress can affect light absorption and the final yield of the crop. Improving the parameters related to photosynthesis in order to increase or decrease the loss of assimilation under drought stress is one of the ways of crop management. The effect of three growth hormones (3 indoleacetic acid [IAA], gibberellic acid [GA3] and 6 benzylaminopurine [6 BAP]) via control (distilled water) was evaluated at booting stage of two wheat cultivars (Rijaw and Azar 2). A factorial experiment using a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications was setup at the Campus of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Razi University, Kermanshah, Iran during 2014-15 and 2015-16. The results showed that 6-BAP and IAA produced the highest grain yield in the Rijaw cultivar with averages of 1800 and 1700 kg.ha-1, respectively. Also, the highest mean of specific leaf weight (86 mg.cm-2), photosynthesis rate (18.6 μmol CO2.m-2.s-1) and photosynthetic water use efficiency (667 μmol CO2.mol-1H2O) were related to the application of 6-BAP on Rijaw cultivar. The photosynthetic rate had a positive and significant correlation with specific leaf weight (R2= 0.92), photosynthetic pigments content(R2= 0.98) and mesophilic conductivity (R2= 96). Also, the Rijaw cultivar was superior to Azar-2 in all traits. In general, it can be concluded that the external application of various growth hormones in the critical stages of growth and development of wheat improves the photosynthetic capacity of the plant. This will reduce the final grain yield loss under drought stress conditions.