محمدحسین فتوکیان

Wheat, as the most important product in the food basket of Iranians, providing more than 40 percent of the daily energy of each person, is an irreplaceable and plays important role in cultivation pattern. Due to the position of this crop in food security, investigating the effects of various factors affecting the yield as well as estimating the potential yield and yield gap can significantly help the planning ability of agricultural sector managers. 

In this research, World Food Studies (WOFOST) model was used to estimate the potential yield of irrigated wheat in Qazvin Plain of Iran. The meteorological statistics were converted into the standard unit required by the model using mathematical models, and the field observations were used to calculate yield gap, and also ARCGIS was used for yield gap and actual yield maps generation. 

The model performance was statistically evaluated using coefficient of determination (R2) t-test, Root Mean Square Error (RMSE), Normalized Root Mean Square Error (NRMSE/RMSEn), Maximum Error (ME) and coefficient of Efficiency (E). The results showed that the WOFOST model had a sufficient efficiency for predicting the concerned indicators. The average potential yield of irrigated wheat in the studied area (2013-2022) was about 8.6 tons per hectare and the yield gap was 51 percent.

Finally, the WOFOST model was evaluated to be accurate and efficient for estimating the potential yield of irrigated wheat in the studied area, and among the known influencing factors on yield, annual rainfall and soil quality effect on potential yield achievement significantly, also the production gap reducing. Therefore, in the future breeding programs for wheat, focusing on cultivars with higher water use efficiency and higher fertilizer use efficiency can ensure a sustainable food security in Iran.

One of the important challenges in the agricultural sector is the low use efficiency of chemical fertilizers, especially nitrogen fertilizers, as well as the competition of weeds with crops. In this regard, it is important to use management solutions to reduce the use of chemical inputs. To increase the quality level of food used by humans while reducing environmental pollution. One of the management solutions is the use of controlled-release fertilizers. Considering the desire to increase the quantity and quality of the coriander plant and also to identify the best-studied genotype, research was conducted in this field to investigate the effect of different sources of nitrogen fertilizer and the competition of weeds in the region on the agricultural and medicinal properties of different genotypes of coriander. 

The experiment was carried out in factorial form based on a randomized complete block design with three replications in the teaching and research farm of the Faculty of Agriculture Shahed University of Tehran in the 2019 season. An experimental treatment consisted of three factors including: 1) nitrogen fertilizer sources (Control treatment: without nitrogen fertilizer; SCU: with rate of N, 70 kg ha-1, and urea: with rate of N, 70 kg ha-1), 2) genotypes (Nahavandi, Pishgam and, Ethiopia), and 3) weeding (weedy and weeding by hand). The experimental plot size was 2×2 m2 dimensions with a plant spacing of 25 cm ×10 cm. A space of 1.5 m between plots and 2 m between blocks were maintained. At the end of the growth period, coriander plants of 1 m2 per plot were harvested, and fruit yield per plot was measured. Also, in the plots under weed competition, the competition index was evaluated. Sampling of weeds was done in two stages (in the growing stage of the main plant and another in the ripening stage of the seeds) using quadrats of 30 x 30 cm and the abundance and biomass of each plot was calculated. To evaluate the percentage of the essential oil of coriander seeds, the Clevenger device was used with the steam distillation method to identify and determine the essential oil compounds extracted from the gas chromatography device.

Related to the competitive indices, results showed that, the Pishgam genotype had the highest ability to withstand competition (%), and the lowest yield loss (%), and, the Nahandi genotype had the lowest ability to withstand competition (%) and the highest yield loss (%). It seems that the Pishgam genotype was more successful in competing with weeds due to its early maturity and higher germination rate. So, it has a higher ability to tolerate weed competition than other genotypes. Regarding fruit yield, the findings of this experiment revealed a significant increase in yield with the application of nitrogen fertilizer in the weeded plots. Additionally, the Ethiopian genotype exhibited the highest fruit yield among the weeded plots. However, the fruit yield of genotypes did not show significant differences in the un-weeded plots. This suggests that weed competition significantly limited fruit yield compared to the inherent characteristics of the genotypes assessed in this trial. Ethiopian genotype showed the highest percentage of essential oil in all nitrogen fertilizer sources. In the Pishgam genotype, the most essential oil was obtained in the sulfur-coated urea treatment but, in the Nahavandi genotype, the most essential oil belonged to the control fertilizer treatment. Due to the difference in the genetic structure of genotypes, various results have been observed, which can be due to the difference in the fertility of different genotypes. Also, the results of this experiment showed that the main composition of coriander essential oil is linalool.

The results showed that N fertilizer and weeding significantly increased seed yield. And the Ethiopian genotype had the highest seed yield and essential oil in weeded plots. Also, the Pishgam genotype had the highest Ability to withstand competition (%) and the lowest Yield loss (%).

Mutation induction is an important method for generating genetic diversity. Purslane (Portulaca oleracea L.) has unique medicinal uses due to its high content of beneficial antioxidants and omega-3 fatty acids. In this study, the genetic diversity of 24 mutant lines of fourth-generation (M4) purslane obtained from dimethyl sulfate treatment together with the control was investigated in a randomized complete block design with 3 replicates. The differences among the lines were significant in traits including plant height, leaf length, leaf width, stem dry weight, and leaf chlorophyll in the 30-day-old plant. The principal coordinates and cluster analyses divided the lines into two separate clusters. The lines in cluster 1 had a significant advantage over the lines in cluster 2 for most traits such as stem fresh weight, leaf fresh weight, and number of capsules per plant. The number of leaves was significantly correlated with stem fresh weight, leaf fresh weight, plant fresh weight, number of capsules per plant and the ratio of plant dry weight to plant fresh weight. In sequential path analysis, stem fresh weight in the first order was the only trait affecting number of capsules per plant, and in the second-order, leaf fresh weight and plant height were the most important traits that had an effect on number of capsules per plant through the direct effect of stem fresh weight. L18 mutant line had a significant advantage over the control in some agronomic traits such as plant height, leaf length and number of capsules per plant, that can be used for future research, especially for cultivation, commercialization and extensive planting for uses as vegetables, oil extraction, and medicinal applications.

Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum) is an annual plant belong to Fabaceae and is one of the traditional medicinal plants worldwide. It can provide seed and protein suitable for human's nutrition as well as animals. Water scarcity is a key threat in twenty-first century. On average, 40% of the world land surface are drylands, while this surface area is 90% in Iran. Supplying water requirement of Fenugreek through irrigation is an important factor affecting its growth and yield.

The experiment was conducted as split plots based on randomized complete block design with three replications at the Research Farm, Faculty of Agriculture of shahed university, Iran, in 2014 and 2016. The main-plot was three levels of drought stress, included severe drought stress (20% field capacity), moderate drought stress (40% field capacity), mild drought stress (60% field capacity) and non-drought stress (80% field capacity) as control. Sub plots were nine Fenugreek ecotypes including Neyshabur, Shirvan, Mashhad, Tabriz, Roudsar, Isfahan, Hamadan, Ardestan and Shiraz. At maturity, and the plants were harvested from the soil surface and the plant height and number of lateral branches, number of pod per plant, number of seed per pod, 1000 seed weight, seed yield and aboveground biological yield were measured in the lab. Statistical analysis carried out using SPSS version 16 software. Significant difference was set at p ≤ 0.05 by using Duncan’s multiple range test.

Results of stepwise regression showed that the traits including biomass, harvest index, branch length and number of pods per plant explained 96.7% of grain yield variation, respectively. Factor analysis for morphologic, yield and component yield traits showed the first three independent factors explained 93.48% of total variance in all genotypes. Days to maturity with 36.47% of total variance had the highest amount in the first factor, while, number of seeds per plant and seed yield with 29.74% and 27.07% of total variance were ranked as second and third factors, respectively. Cluster analysis by Ward’s minimum variance, clustered ecotypes into three groups including 1- Isfahan, Ardestan, Hamedan and Shiraz 2- Mashhad and Tabriz 3- Shirvan, Rudsar and Neyshabur. The results showed that, the plant height, Internode length, number of pod and seed per plant, 1000 seed weight, biological and seed yield and harvest index significantly affected by drought stress and ecotypes. The highest plant height, number of pods, 1000 seed weight, biomass, seed yield and harvest index was recorded in Shirvan ecotype while, the longest day to maturity and height of first pod were observed in Neyshabur ecotype at 80% FC. The highest plant height, the first formed pod, 1000 seed weight, seed yield and harvest index in Shirvan ecotype were observed in the 40% FC.ConclusionDrought stress reduced all studied traits in all Fenugreek ecotypes in this experiment. For seed yield, the performance of shirvan ecotype was the best compare to other ectypes in control and mild and moderate stress condition. The highest distance of the first pod from the soil surface in the control condition was observed in the Neyshabur ecotype but in the moderate stress condition in Shirvan ecotype, this trait is important for the mechanized cultivation. Based on the results, there is a reliable variation amongst different Iranian Fenugreek ecotypes and they could use for breeding programs against drought stress. It also seems that Shirvan ecotype of Fenugreek can be considered for stable seed and biomass production under moderate drought stress and normal conditions.

This study was performed to evaluate the morphological diversity in 16 Plantago ovata ecotypes in a randomized complete block design with three replications using 22 morphological traits. In cluster analysis using standardized data, the distances between the ecotypes were estimated with the square Euclidean distance method and the dendrogram was plotted by Ward’s method. Factor analysis was performed by Verimax method. The mean squares of ecotypes were significant for all traits, except the amount and percentage of mucilage. The results of cluster analysis grouped the ecotypes into three clusters. The accuracy of the results of clustering was confirmed by discriminant function analysis. In factor analysis, five factors were extracted that explained 86.77% of the variance among traits. The most important effective traits in determining the variance were plant height, inflorescence tail length, spike length, harvest index and 1000-seed weight, which were in the first factor. Morphological diversity among the ecotypes was significant for most traits and PO12, PO15, and PO6 ecotypes were superior to the other ecotypes in terms of mean grain yield and mucilage content.

Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) is a plant that is commonly grown for its edible seeds but is also used as fodder. To study the relationship between 21 morphological traits of 70 quinoa genotypes, an experiment was conducted in the form of the randomized complete block design with three replications in the research farm of the faculty of agriculture of Shahed University. The results of multiple variance analysis showed a significant difference among the studied genotypes. The mean squares were significant for stem wet weight (SWW), number of leaves1 (54 days after seed sowing) (NL1), leaf dry weight (LDW), thousand-grain weight (TGW), number of leaves2 (harvest time) (NL2), plant height2 (harvest time) (PH2), and leaf chlorophyll content1 (54 days after seed sowing). The mean squares were significant for SWW, NL1, LDW, TGW, and PH2. The results of the mean comparison with Duncan's test showed that the G117 genotype had the highest SWW (33.35 g), NL1 (74.16) and the LDW (5.62 g). The highest TGW was estimated in genotype G83 with 2.70 g. The results of path analysis using raw data (with replications) were different from data with the mean data (mean of replications). In both cases, the panicle dry weight had the greatest direct effect on the grain dry weight and the plant dry weight. Due to the average traits associated with grain and leaf yield, the G117 genotype is introduced as the superior genotype.

Given the importance of estimating combinability, heritability, genetic variance components and gene performance in designing breeding programs, an experiment based on the line×tester method with fifteen hybrids of oilseed rape derived from crosses of five average yielding cultivars includes SPN3, SPN9, SPN36, SPN30, DH4, with three spring and high yielding testers (SPN34, RGS003, SPN1) was performed using a randomized complete blocks design with two replications. The differences between hybrids for all traits, except flowering time, were significant. In the genetic control of traits, the importance of addictive effect of genes for all studied traits were estimated except for stem diameter and grain yield. The general heritability of the traits was very high and was estimate from 86.03% for stem diameter to 98.53% for the days to end of flowering. Minimum and maximum of the private heritability were also moderately high for the studied traits were56.83% and 91.63% for stem diameter and number of branches, respectively. Among the studied genotypes, SPN1 as a tester and DH4 and SPN30 as lines had the most combinability. Due to the superiority of DH4×RGS003، RGS003×SPN36 and SPN30×RGS003 hybrids, they can be recommended for hybrid cultivars production in the future breeding programs.

To evaluate the tolerance to low irrigation stress in advanced forage-grain sorghum lines, an experiment was performed as split plots in randomized complete block design with three replications in Seed and Plant Improvement Institute (SPII), Karaj, Iran. In this experiment, low irrigation regimes as the main factor at two levels (120- and 240-mm evaporation from the surface of the Class A evaporation pan) and sorghum lines as sub-plot at 8 levels (KDFGS1, KDFGS6, KDFGS9, KGFGS10, KDFFGSD, KDFGS14, KDFGS16) were evaluated. There was a significant difference among the studied sorghum lines in terms of all traits except stem diameter and 1000-seed weight. The effect of the interaction of irrigation regimes and lines was significant at plant height and dry forage weight and was not significant in others. The correlation between panicle weight and forage yield was not significant in both irrigation regimes.  In both irrigation regimes, although the lines KDFGS1, KDFGS6, KDFGS9, KGFGS10, KDFGS12, KDFGS13, KDFGS14, KDFGS16 were grouped in the first cluster and the KDFGS14 line alone was arranged in the second cluster, but the genetic distance among lines was different in irrigation conditions.  In factor analysis, although, the studied traits were reduced to three factors in both irrigation regimes, in irrigation 120 mm panicle weight, forage weight and stem diameter, and in irrigation 240 mm panicle weight, harvest index, forage weight, and amount of stem and panicle were determined the most effective traits. KDFGS14 sorghum line is recommended as a superior line due to its superiority in traits related to yield.

The negative impact of contaminated soil with heavy metals on plant and human health is an important global concern. To evaluate the effect of lead (Pb(NOз)2) stress (0, 25, 75, 100, and 150 µM) on the germination, growth, physiological, and biochemical of sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum L.), a pot experiment based on completely randomized design (CRD) with three replicates was conducted at the Department of Horticultural Science, Shahed University of Tehran, in 2018. The contaminated soil with Pb had a negative impact on germination indices (percentage and rate), growth and morphological parameters (shoot and root length and dry weight), and physiological parameters (LAI, photosynthetic pigments, and number of leaf secretory glands). Pb stress (150 µM) led to a reduction in the average of germination percentage (43.33%), germination rate (62.92%), shoot and root dry weight (60.22 and 77.43%, respectively), LAI (64.68%), total chlorophyll content (73.10%), and number of leaf secretory glands (33.3%) in compared to the control treatment (without Pb), while increased peroxidase activity (62.3%), proline content (70.14%), and the root and shoot Pbcontent (92.10 and 97.6%,respectively). On the Other hand, Pb stress led to a change in the content of essential oil compounds. In general, low levels of Pb (25 µM) appear to increase the predominance of oil compounds. In conclusion, common basil cultivation in the Pb contaminated soil could cause undesirable effects on the germination indices, growth and morphological traits, and physiological attributes but might behave a positive influence under low level (25 µM) on the essential oil composition.

Purslane (Portulaca oleracea) is one of the most widely used medicinal plants in the world that has many medicinal properties.To investigate the genetic variation in the second generation (M2) of purslane lines, a nested experimental design with two replication was conducted at the research farm of Shahed University, Faculty of Agriculture during 2017-8. Experimental treatments included M2 lines treated with dimethyl sulfate (DMS) at concentrations of 0, 0.08, 0.1, 0.12 and 0.14 %. The studied traits included plant height, number of branched stem, stem diameter (SD), stem fresh weight (SFW), stem dry weight (SDW), SDW/SFW, leaf fresh weight (LFW), leaf dry weight (LDW),  LDW/LFW, plant fresh weight (PFW), plant dry weight (PDW), PDW/PFW, leaf length, leaf width, leaf shape (LS), number of capsules (NC), chlorophyll content, leaf area, hectoliters. The differences among concentrations od DMS were significant at the level of 1%. The maximum amount for traits such as SD, SFW, SDW, NC, LDW/LFW, PFW and LS was observed at the concentration of 1%. Among the 190 incomplete correlation coefficients, 28 were significant (15%) while this value was 58% in the Pearson correlation coefficient. In factor analysis, 19 variables were reduced to 6 factors, which explained 71.86% of the data variation. In path analysis with repeated data, the direct effect of SFW on PFW was higher than the indirect effect, while this trend was reversed on LFW. In path analysis with mean of replications, the maximum indirect effect on PFW was from LFW and  LDW/LFW through SFW.

IntroductionDrought is one of the most important environmental stresses that influence various growth steps of the plant including germination, plantlet establishment, and production all over the world (Bacilar et al., 2007; Ben Ahmad et al., 2009). Drought stress has significantly increased in recent years because of changes in climate and increasing CO2 levels. Therefore, identification of the resistant plant varieties against drought stress in a necessity. Investigation the enabling mechanisms of plants to adapt to drought stress and protect their growth in that condition can help to select the resistant plants against drought stress to be cultivated in dry and semi-dry regions. Identification of the physiological mechanisms Lentil with the scientific name of Lens culinaris is from leguminous, one-year, long-day, self- pollinated, and diploid family (2n=14) with mean 5.28% protein. Lens culinaris is resistant to drought. Materials and methods12 Lens culinaris genotypes (Table 1) were examined in rainfed and deficit irrigation conditions in 2015-2016 agricultural years as the split spots based on randomized complete block designs with three repetitions whose main irrigation factor was in 2 levels (rainfed and deficit) and the secondary factor of genotypes in two individual Ardabil agriculture research stations and central part of Germi city in different conditions and climates to evaluate the genetic varieties of Lens culinaris cultivars, screening the quantitative indexes of resistance against drought, and identification of the resistant cultivars against drought. All plots were simultaneously irrigated in two steps of flowering and pot filling in 10ml in deficit irrigation treatment in each region and weren’t irrigated in stress treatment or rainfed and just raining was used up to the end of harvest. Each test unit was made of 4 cultivation line with 4m length, 30cm row distance, and 133 bushes in each row. Hand weeding was done in several steps to fight with weeds. Each genotype is harvested in proportion to its physiological consideration. In this step, two edge lines and 0.5m of two middle lines end were omitted to remove edge effect. Harvest was with hand. Seed performance was determined after threshing and separating the seeds from the straw based on seed weight (gr). Physiological characteristics were measured after the plant sheathing in both rainfed and deficit irrigation typesResults and discussionTable of the combined variance analysis (Table 1) showed that the significant difference was observed among proline, chlorophyll a and chlorophyll b and peroxidase enzyme values of two cultivation methods, the comparison of the mean chlorophyll a and chlorophyll b (ml/gr) of wet weight in Germi region was 0.22 and 0.079 with the significant difference from Ardabil region. The reaction of chlorophyll a and chlorophyll b to drought stress may be resulted by the plant metabolism tolerance in addition to the genetic differences against drought, and lack of the significant reaction between chlorophyll to stress can be attributed to the growth reduction in leaf. There was a significant difference in proline (μm/gr of wet weight) in Germi and Ardabil, but the amount of enzyme peroxidase (μgr of enzyme/gr of leaf) was higher in Ardabil. Proline accumulation is a popular physiological response of plants to the extensive range of bio and non-bio stresses (Geravandi et al., 2011). The maximum imposed damage by drought stress was for proline of Germi; as though, stress increased 23% of proline than Ardebil condition. In Gunes et al. (2008) research, drought stress after pollination significantly increased proline. There was a significant difference between rainfed and deficit irrigation conditions based on variance analysis. Bilesavar cultivar was considered as a control sample with the maximum peroxidase enzyme. ConclusionsThe results of this test show that in rainfed cultivation (drought stress) enzyme activity of the antioxidant and peroxidase, ascorbate peroxidas, proline and some characteristics for resistance plant against drought stress are increase.

Favorable pollen transition on the stigma and pollen tube penetration is the most important for fruit setting in the apple. Boron is the main factor for pollen tube growth. A probable responsibility for boron in pollen tube growth may include vesicle making, transportation, fusion or the successive formation of the pollen cell wall. Pollen tube cell walls are rich in polypeptides, glycoprotein, polysaccharides and arabino furanosyl which are known to form physically potent complexes with boron. Maximum cell boron content is located in the cell wall where it is associated with pectin compounds. However, under definite field conditions, foliar applications of boron have been resulted to raise fruit set by as much as 100% in many researches.

In this study effects of acid boric by 0 (as a control), 1000 and 2000 ppm concentrations was studied on the pollen tube penetration percentage to style and ovary in six crosses among four apple cultivars including "Fuji", "Gala", "Goldn delicious" and "Red delicious' by florescence microscopy method, 72 and 120 hours after pollination. All of the trees were 12 year old on EM126 rootstocks and foliar sprayed by H3BO3 as the boron source (0, 1000 and 2000 mg.L) in the October. Crosses among the cultivars were programmed as ♀Red delicious × Golden delicious ♂, ♂ ♀Gala× Fuji, ♀Red delicious × Fuji♂, ♀Red delicious × Gala ♂, ♂ ♀Golden delicious × Fuji and ♀Golden delicious × Gala ♂. For each cross four repeats in all direction of the tree were regarded and in each repeat at least two branches with 60 – 100 were labeled in winter. Selected female cultivar's flower buds at ‘D’ stage were bagged to prevent the entrance of foreign pollens on the closed pistils. Pollens collected from the male cultivar flower buds and maintained in freezer until using in the field pollination time. Pollen germination was tested in an in vitro medium before field application on the pistils. Selected female cultivar's flowers were pollinated with selected male parent pollen when the pistils were acceptable for pollens and repeated after 24 hours. Determination of pollen germination percentage and tube growth on the pistil and different parts of the styles was studied by the florescence microscopy method 72 and 120 hours after pollination healthy pistils were separated from the branches and fixed in FAA solution and prepared for fluorescence microscopy observation as indicated in Ortega and Dicenta (2006). In each pistil the number of germinated pollen grains on the stigma, the number of pollen tubes in the first, second and third section and so, in the ovary were determined by a fluorescent microscope. Because of the five partitions of the apple flower stigma and style; the mean of the five parts was evaluated for each of them. The experiment was carried out as a factorial based on completely randomized design with three factors including B in three levels (0, 1000 and 2000 mg.L), time (0, 72 and 120 hr after pollination) andsix crosses in five replications (at least 10 style per cross). Data was analyzed following SAS (26) software. Mean values were analyzed by Duncan’s multiple range test.

Results showed that all of the boron concentrations, time after pollination and crosses were significantly affected pollen germination percentage on the stigma and tube penetration to different parts of the style and ovary at P<.01 level. Maximum pollen germination percentage on the stigma (33%) was observed in ♀Goldn delicious × Gala ♂ cross which treated by 1000 ppm boron 120 hr after pollination. Also, maximum pollen tube penetration to ovary was observed in ♀Red delicious × Golden delicious ♂ cross (32.06%). However, best compatibility between them and boron effects on the pollen germination percentage and tube growth in the style. It was revealed that in all of the crosses pollen germination percentage and tube growth in the style was increased by boron treatments.

However, boron is one of the main growth elements by its role in the cytokinin biosynthesis which is the most important hormone affects pollen tube growth and penetration. In this research the foliar application of boron increased pollen germination and pollen tube growth in all of the studied four apple cultivars crosses. However, increasing the boron concentration led to increased pollen germination and pollen tube growth linearly.

Induced mutation is an appropriate method for increasing genetic diversity. In this study, some morphological traits of 33 mutant lines of M3 generation in medicinal plant Lallemantia royleana, derived from gamma irradiation of seeds at doses of 50, 100, 150, 250, 350, 450 and 700 Gy and control, were investigated through a completely randomized design with 5 repetition. Traits under the study included: the number of days to maturity, plant height, number of branches, inflorescence height, number of flower cycle per plant, number of flower cycle in the main branch and side branch, number of nut in flower cycle and plant, number of grains per nut, seed yield, biological yield, 100 seed weight and harvest index. The differences among mutant lines were statistically significant for all traits with exception of the number of nut in the flower cycle. Mutant line No. 11 that derived from dose 700 Gy, had the highest amount in traits such as inflorescence length, number of flowers per plant cycle, nut number per plant, seed yield per plant and biological yield. The cluster analysis based on the square Euclidean distance and Ward method divided the mutant lines into four clusters where the mutant line No. 11 alone was in a single group.

In order to study of variation and correlation between yields and yield components in oilseed rape, an experiment was designed using line×tester method. Fifteen hybrid derived from crosses of three spring type and high yielding testers (SPN34, RGS003, SPN1) with five spring lines with moderate yield (SPN3, SPN9, SPN36, SPN30, DH4) were tested using a randomized complete blocks design with two replications in Seed and Plant Improvement Institute during 2014-15. Totally 21 traits were studied. Mean squares for all 21 traits except flowering time were significant at 5% to 1% levels. Grain yield positively correlated with, oil yield (0.999), biological yield (0.868), first pod height from ground level (0.627), the number of seeds per pod (0.546) and the pod length (0.523). According to the results of path analysis, oil yield (1.016) and oil percent (0.379) had the most direct and indirect effects on grain yield, respectively. Cluster analysis based on the square Euclidean distance and Ward's method, classified crosses in three clusters and the accuracy of the results of clustering was confirmed by discriminant analysis. Six independently principal components were identified in the analysis of principal components, and this component could explain 89.20% of the total variation. In general, the most important affecting traits was grain yield, which can be used to for direct selection of grain yield in segregating generations.

In order to study the effect of terminal drought stress on agronomic and qualitative traits of canola genotypes in the application of ammonium sulfate condition, an experiment was performed during two years of 2015-2016 and 2016-2017. This study was conducted as a factorial split-plot design based on completely randomized block design with three replicates at the research farm of the Seed and Plant Improvement Institute (SPII). At the pod formation stage, irrigation factors were included two levels, normal and restricted, and at the elongation stage, ammonium sulfate was included two levels of 0 and 150 kg per hectare, as factorial was set in the main plots and cultivars including BAL111, BAL119, BAL121, BAL128, and Nima were set in subplots. The results showed that among the genotypes examined, line BAL128 had the highest grain yield (3904 kg/ha), which increased 28% compared with the control treatment. The highest amount of grain oil (45.53 percent) was obtained in the second year of experiment and under normal irrigation conditions. By application of ammonium sulfate, the amount of oil increased by 2.5 percent in comparison with normal condition. The BAL128 line had the highest percentage of grain oil (44.29%). in normal irrigation condition, the use of ammonium sulfate resulted in decreasing the amount of glucosinolate to 22.88%. However, in restricted irrigation condition, the amount of glucosinolate decreased to 17.25 percent. In the irrigation and fertilizer treatments of this experiment, among the lines studied, The BAL128 line is recommended for similar experimental conditions.

In order to evaluate the effects of foliar application of osmolytes on the quantitative and qualitative yield of German chamomile (Chamomilla recutita L.) in drought stress conditions, a split-plot experiment was conducted based on randomized complete block design with three replications at Research Center of Medicinal Plants, Shahed University. The treatments included irrigation as the main factor in three levels [(irrigation after 50 (without stress), 100 (moderate stress) and 150 mm evaporation from the class A pan (severe stress)] and foliar application of osmolytes as sub-plots in seven levels [(without Spraying (NS), distilled water (W), methyl jasmonate (MJ= 75mM), salicylic acid (SA= 2mM), humic acid (HA= 2.5lit/1000), glycine betaine (GB= 5mM), and g- aminobutyric acid (GABA= 50mM). The electrical conductivity of the irrigation water was 4.8 dS/m. Mean comparisons showed that GABA combined with severe stress had the highest essential oil yield (3.7 kg ha-1). In plants treated with GABA under severe stress, essential oil harvest index was increased by 60 and 58%, respectively, compared to W and NS treatments. The highest and lowest capitol harvest index with 70.81% and 23.28% were respectively obtained from GB combined without stress and W with severe stress. SA, GB, and GABA increased the capitol yield in severe stress compared with the moderate stress. Severe stress caused a significant increase in essential oil content from 0.66 to 1.13%, a 35% reduction in seed harvest index compared to control treatment, and a significant reduction in biomass yield rather than moderate stress. MJ and SA increased seed yield compared with NS in moderate stress.

In order to study the application of humic acid and different irrigation regimes on quantitative and qualitative characteristics of three accession of cumin (Cuminum cyminum L.), an experiment was conducted at the Research Farm of Medicinal Plants, Faculty of Agriculture, Shahed University in 2016. This experiment was a factorial split plot based on randomized complete block design with three replications. Experimental factors included three irrigation regimes (full irrigation, irrigation after flowering stage and irrigation after grain filling stage), foliar application of humic acid with two levels (0 and 200 mg/lit) and three cumin accessions (Esfahan, Kashan and Sabzevar). The results of analysis of variance showed that the interaction effect of irrigation regime*humic acid*accession had significant effect on single plant dry weight, grain yield, harvest index, chlorophyll a and total. The results showed that the highest single plant dry weight and grain yield were obtained in complete irrigation and humic acid application. Kashan accession had the highest branch number per plant, dry weight per plant, number of seeds per umbrella, grain yield and biological yield. The highest percentage of essential oil yield was observed in Sabzevar accession. The highest grain yield (533.3 kg/ha) was obtained in complete irrigation with the use of humic acid in Kashan accession. The highest average dry matter yield (230 kg/ha) was obtained in complete irrigation with the use of humic acid for Sabzevar accession. The highest amount of chlorophyll a and total was observed in irrigation after flowering stage and lack of application of humic acid in Sabzevar accession. The application of humic acid was not significant on the traits evaluated. The most efficiency of humic acid was obtained in full irrigation. According to the results of this experiment, it can be stated that full irrigation and application of humic acid can increase the yield of Kashan accession in similar experimental conditions.

In order to graphical analysis and estimation of genetic parameters for yield and its components, a one-way diallel cross was applied with seven bread wheat genotypes. In this study, 21 hybrids along with their parents were evaluated in a randomized complete block design with three replications. The results of variance analysis showed significant difference among genotypes for plant height, peduncle length, spike length, the number of seeds per plant, plant grain yield, and 1000-grain weight. The results of Jinks and Hayman primary test showed that assumptions for the number of seed per plants and plan grain yield were authentic, but it was true for spike length, peduncle length, and 1000-grain weight after eliminating one parent and for plant height by eliminating two parents. The results of Hayman analysis showed the role of additive and non-additive effects of genes on the control of traits. Maximum and minimum of narrow-sense heritability were obtained for plant height (0.47) and the number of seeds per plant (0.21), respectively. According to the average degree of dominance and the results of the graphical analysis, the gene action for grain yield and plant height was additive effects, while it was over-dominance for peduncle length, the number of seeds per plant, spike length and 1000-grain weight.

The grains of cultivars Rapeseed Sarigol and RGS003 were irradiated with gamma rays at doses 0, 800, 1000 and 1200 Gary (GY). For M2 generation, the grain of each plant was cultivated in a separate row and all plants were individually investigated during cultivation. According to the observed changes in agronomic traits such as pod length, the number of pods and flowering during M2 generation, 18 and 12 candidate mutant lines were obtained from Sarigol and RGSOO3, respectively. The differences among gamma rays doses were not statistically significant for seed sterility, while they were significant for pollen sterility at the level of 1%. Maximum pollen sterility was observed in 800 GY. Induced mutations in RGS003 and Sariglo cultivars were mostly obtained in 1200 and 800 GY, respectively. The M3 mutant lines in both Rapeseed cultivars contained a variation on traits such as the number of pod per the main stem, the number of pod per plant, pod length, the number of grain per pod, grain weight and flowering duration.

This research was carried out to study the effect of terminal drought stress on characteristics of seed germination and growth parameters of seeds maternal of five durum wheat genotypes. An experiment was conducted in a factorial based on completely randomized design with three replications at Seed Technology Laboratory of Agriculture Faculty of Shahed University in 2016. The factors included irrigation regimes in two levels of seeds produced under optimal irrigation conditions and terminal drought stress on mother plants of durum wheat genotypes including five genotypes: Rabat Arak (domestic), Aria (commercial), Karkheh (commercial), Yavarus (commercial) and Dena (commercial). Results showed that drought stress had significant effects on the studied traits. Seed germination of Aria commercial genotype produced in drought stress was 100%, while declined in other genotypes. Mean comparison of seedling vigor index length and weight in genotypes and drought interactions showed that the highest seedling vigor index length was in seeds of Aria commercial genotypes under normal irrigation (with 432.83) and seeds of Robat Arak domestic genotype under drought stress (with 328.15). Robat Arak domestic genotype (7.23) and Aria commercial (7.33) genotype produced the highest weighted index seedling vigor. Dena commercial genotype in both conditions was the lowest weighted index vigor. In general, it can be concluded that drought stress on mother plant characteristics of studied genotypes reduced germination, seedling growth and seed quality.

Drought stress is the most important factor of yield reduction of crops such as chickpea and a change in the amount of some internal components in plant. However, research has shown that chickpea has well respond to irrigation. Surfactants, as agronomical factors, are used in the water system to adjust the amount of irrigation. So, the aim of present experiment was evaluated the effect of irrigation concomitant with surfactants solution on yield and morphological characteristics of four chickpea genotypes, at Shahed University research farm in 2012-13.
an experiment was conducted as a randomized complete block design with factorial treatment structure with three replications, Treatments included of three irrigation levels (100, 200, 300 mm) evaporation of class A pan, two levels of surfactant solution (with and without application) and four chickpea genotypes Arman, Azad, Bionij and the Greet. Seeds genotypes tested were prepared from Kermanshah Sararood Dryland Research Center. The seeds after disinfection with fungicides Benomyl (2 per thousand), was done at a depth of approximately five centimeter. Surfactantsolution used for the testing of non- Ionic surfactant brand was Irrigaid Gold that it amount was fixed for all treatments and after the establishment of the plantlets, as water-soluble, were used.
The results showed that the highest growth period, the number of branches per plant, number of pods per plant, number of fertile pods and seed obtained weight at 100 mm evaporation of class A with the use of surfactant. Azad and Arman had the highest and Bionij genotype had the lowest plant height and the highest grain yield (kg ha 9/1541) with irrigation at 100 mm evaporation achieved by the use of surfactant on Greet genotype. The highest average of dry matter (1189 kg per hectare) was obtained by irrigation at 100 mm evaporation with the use of surfactant for Azad genotypes.

Essential oil has a special position in world trade. Optimal nutrition without any environmental stresses has significant effect on the quantity and quality of it. This experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design with three replications under greenhouse conditions in the spring and summer of 2014. Treatments including the use of superabsorbent polymer in three levels (0, 0.5 and 1 g per kg of soil) and Thiobacillus (using and dont-using conditions) were applicated on two species of thyme (T. vulgaris and T. daenensis). Measured characteristics were: fresh and dry weight of aerial parts, fresh and dry weight of root, leaf area and essential oil content. The highest fresh and dry weight of plants (95.5 and 35.5 g, respectively) and leaf area (835.25 mm2) were obtained in the treatment of 1 g superabsorbent polymer per 1 kg of soil, but the highest essential oil content (2.3%) was measured in the treatment of Thiobacillus with 0.5 g of superabsorbent polymer per kg of soil. The effected Thiobacillus alone on agronomic traits and essential oil content was not significant, but interaction effect of Thiobacillus and superabsorbent on oil percentage was significat. T. daenensis showed the highest thymol content (51.18%) compared to T. vulgaris. It seems that superabsorbent polymer with Thiobacillus application can be used in T. vulgaris and T. daenensis production with the desired quality and quantity of the active ingredients.

Grain yield is the result of interaction among its components. This trait is influenced by genetic and environmental factors. Therefore, yield improvement through plant breeding, especially in early generations is difficult. Selection can be effective if it did base on yield components. In order to study mode of genes action and heritability of grain yield and some of its related traits in bread wheat, generations of cross Gasspard × DN-11 including F1, F2, BC1 and BC2 along with parents (P1and P2) were studied in the research field of Tehran Agricultural and Natural Resources, in a randomized complete block design with three replications. The results of the Generation Mean Analysis showed that in most cases, a digenic model including additive, dominance, and epistasis effects was appropriate to explain the variation of generations mean, so that the six parameters model including mean (m), additive (d), dominance (h), and epistasis additive × additive (i), additive × dominance (j), and dominance × dominance (l) were effective in controlling of traits under study. The epistasis effects including additive × additive, dominance × dominance were distinguished as the most important effects in controlling plant height, number of grain per spikelet, number of sterile spikelets, and grain yield, as well as additive and dominant effects of genes for 1000-grains weight and grain weight per spike, and also the epistasis effects of additive × dominance, and dominance × dominance for traits including spike length, peduncle length, and days to flowering. Thus, it should be considerate the mode of gene action for population improvement, as well as choosing an appropriate breeding method.

Balango (Lallemantia royleana), as a medicinal plant, contains a significant amount of effective ingredients. Balango seed has several properties: it is anti-bloating, constipation, dry cough, and asthma to name only a few. With regard to the importance of genetic diversity in plant breeding, induced mutation has been used for diversification. This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of gamma rays  doses  (0, 50, 100, 150, 250, 350, 450, 550, 700, and 900 Gy)  on traits related to grains of Balango Shirazi, and also to determine the suitable dose of gamma rays for induced mutation through completely randomized design with four replications. On the basis of variance analysis results, the differences among gamma rays doses were statistically significant for traits such as shoot dry weight, root fresh weight, mean germination time, germination rate, germination variances, germination homogeneity, root length and shoot length. The correlation of germination percentage with traits included germination rate, germination variance, root fresh weight, shoot dry weight. The shoot dry weight was positively significant at 1% probability level. Meanwhile, the correlation of germination percentage with shoot length and root length was not significant. As a conclution, gamma dose of 250 Gy was chosen as a suitable dose in mutation breeding experiment of Balango.