کیوان بهمنی

One of the recent dilemmas of modern governments is the "rights of minorities," which political thinkers have also paid special attention to in recent decades. There are two reasons for this: first, the primary liberal rights that have gradually been organized since the Enlightenment do not meet the demands of new groups; second, the theories of citizenship that have emerged since World War II are also unable to solve these problems in liberal democracies. The emergence of liberal multiculturalism theories is the result of these challenges. Charles Taylor, a great communitarian philosopher, has criticized liberal multiculturalism theories. He believes that it is possible to pursue collective goals in a society while at the same time not harming the basic liberal principles that include individual rights and freedoms. Taylor's emphasis is on "non-assimilation" and "establishing a criterion for identifying rights" so that minority rights can be recognized without "pity." However, Taylor's view also has several major flaws, including: focusing on geographically concentrated minorities and not explaining non-concentrated minorities, failing to provide a suitable criterion for distinguishing between fundamental and non-fundamental rights, and most importantly, national minorities are not seeking "equal value," but rather they are seeking "equal status."

Effects of drought stress on seed yield and yield components in fennel genotypes was evaluated at research field of college of Aburaihan, University of Tehran, Iran during 2013. Experiment was carried out in split plot arrangement based on a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. Normal irrigation and drought stress treatments were assigned to main plots and fennel genotypes including two drought tolerant synthetic cultivars (early and medium maturity synthetic cultivars) and their four elite parents (Fasa, Meshkinshahr, Fozveh and Hashtgerd) were randomized in subplots. Analysis of variance showed that effects of drought stress on number of umbels, number of umbellate, seed yield and biological yield were significant. Drought stress reduced all measured traits and seed yield (40%) was affected the most. Result showed significant differences among the genotypes for all of the studied traits. Mean comparison of the genotypes showed that the highest seed yield belonged to Fozveh (1125 kg/ha) in normal condition and lowest seed yield belonged to Fasa (434 kg/ha) under drought stress. Early and medium maturity synthetic cultivars had the highest seed yield in drought stress conditions. Stress tolerance score (STS) for genotypes were calculated. Early and medium maturity synthetic cultivars with the highest amounts of STS were introduced as the best genotypes with drought tolerant. Finally based on the results, the cultivars in environments with variable climate, especially water shortage, can produce satisfactory yield.

Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) is one of the most important medicinal plants with many usages in medical, food and cosmetic industries. Development method of two early and medium maturity synthetic cultivars of fennel with the aim of drought tolerance is discussed. The synthetic cultivars were assessed along with their elite parents at two separate environments, with normal irrigation and drought stress conditions. Results showed on the two environmental conditions, there were significant differences among the genotypes. Mean comparison of genotypes showed that in non-stress conditions, the most seed yield belonged to parental medium maturity genotypes of Meshkinshahr and Fozveh; and in drought stress conditions belonged to early and medium maturity synthetic cultivars. Independent mean comparison among the synthetic cultivars and the parents in each growth conditions showed that; in stress conditions according to the elite parents the synthetic cultivars had higher seed and essential oil yields. Finally, for enhancement of drought tolerance of fennel species, breeding method of synthetic cultivar is recommended, so that in environments with variable climate, especially water shortage, the mentioned cultivars can produce satisfactory yield.

This experiment was conducted using three synthetic cultivars and their seven parental populations at two different conditions including: non-stress and drought stress. The experiment was carried out using randomized complete block design with three replications at the Research Field of Aboureyhan Campus, University of Tehran, Iran, in 2013. Analysis of variance showed that there were significant differences between genotypes for all traits in two experiments. The highest seed yield in normal irrigation belonged to medium-maturity synthetic cultivar and Meshkinshahr with 2357 and 2208 kg.ha-1, respectively. However, in drought stress condition the highest seed yield obtained from Meshkinshahr and medium-maturity synthetic cultivar with 1091 and 1081.5 kg.ha-1, respectively. Genotypic correlations in non-stress condition between seed yield with umbel diameter (r=0.79**), number of umbels (r=0.94**), number of umbellate (r=0.89**) and number of seed umbel-1 (r=0.89**) were positive and highly significant. In drought stress condition condition also the genotypic correlation between seed yield with umbel diameter (r=0.96**), number of umbels (r=0.77**), number of umbellate (r=0.86**) and stem diameter (r=0.85**) were positive and highly significant. Results of stepwise regression analysis revealed that in non-stress conditions number of umbels, number of umbellate, number of seed umbel-1 and stem diameter, and in drought stress conditions number of umbels, stem diameter and number of nodes were identified as independent variables that explained variations in seed yield. Path analysis for seed yield also indicated that in both non-stress and drought stress conditions number of umbels had the highest direct positive effect. It is concluded that in normal and drought stress conditions, number of umbels is the most important trait for selection of fennel genotypes with high seed yield.

To evaluate drought stress tolerance and identifying of tolerant fennel varities/ecotypes, three synthetic fennel varieties and their seven parents in two separated experiment normal irrigation and post flowering drought stress were carried out in a complete block design with three replications in 2013 in Aburihan campus, university of Tehran, Iran. Analysis of variance showed that there was a significant difference among varities/ecotypes for all the traits in two experiments, which implies genetic variation among the fennel germplasm studied. Mean comparison showed that the highest seed yield in normal irrigation belonged to medium maturity synthetic variety and Meshkinshahr ecotype with 2357 and 2208 kg.ha-1, respectively. In drought stress condition Meshkinshahr ecotype and medium maturity synthetic variety produced 1091 and 1081.5 kg.ha-1, respectively. Considering drought tolerance indices, the highest mean productivity (MP), geometric mean productivity (GMP), yiled index (YI), stress tolerance index (STI) belonged to medium maturity synthetic variety, Meshkinshahr and Moghan ecotypes. Correlation coefficients between drought tolerance indices and seed yield showed that in both normal and drought stress conditions MP, GMP, YI and STI indices had positive and significant relationship with seed yield, and this implies that selection of drought tolerant varieties are possible. In conclusion, development of synthetic varieties of fennel is recommendable and developed varieties may produce better yield in water deficit prone environments.

This study was carried out to investigate the effect of fennel seeds on laying performance and some physical and quality properties of eggs in Japanese quails. One hundred and twelve 42-day old Japanese quails (Coturnix Coturnix japonica) were randomly assigned into 4 treatments with 4 replicates and 7 birds per each replication. A corn-soybean basal diet was supplemented with four levels of fennel seeds (0, 0.4, 0.8 and 1.2 %) to reach the dietary treatments. Eggs were collected daily, and the eggs laid during the last 2 d of every week were weighed. The eggs laid during the last 3 d of week 9 were collected and were used for physical and quality properties assays. Egg weight, egg production percentage, egg mass and feed conversion ratio were significantly affected by the levels of fennel seed (P<0.05). The egg weight, egg production percentage, egg mass and feed conversion ratio in the birds fed diet with the highest level of fennel seeds (1.2 %) were more than those of the control group. Also length, width, surface, volume, geometric mean diameter, Haugh unit (HU) and eggshell thickness significantly increased by increasing the dietary levels of the fennel seeds (P<0.05). The results of this experiment showed that using 1.2 percent of dietary fennel can positively affect laying performance and egg quality in Japanese quails.

Fennel is one of the oldest herbs and possesses appealing flavor and beneficial medicinal effects. Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Mill.) belongs to the Apiaceae family and its essential oil and seeds are used to flavor foods including meats، ice cream، candy، baked goods and condiments. The increasing commercial value of fennel necessitates the need to develop elite ecotypes with high essential oil content and other desired breeding and market traits. In this study fifty ecotypes of fennelfrom different part of Iran were collected and days to 70% pasty seed and essential oil content in two years and essential oil components were studied. The stage of pasty seed is the best time for essential oil extracting with the highest quantity. The results indicated that the ecotypes of Sari، Kaleibar، Qazvin، Chahestan and Haji Abad are late bearing، ecotypes of the Moqan، Kohin، Meshkin Shahr، Alamot، Khalkhal، Damavand، Ardabil، Marvdasht، Kashan، Givi، Khash and Fozve are middle bearing plants، while the remaining ecotypes were early bearing plants. As average of two year، ecotypes with the highest essential oil content (more than 3. 5% per dry mater) were Razan، Fozve، Marvdasht، Kashan، Sari، Kaleibar and Arak (3. 96، 3. 69، 3. 68، 3. 66، 3. 65، 3. 65 and 3. 54%)، respectively. The GC-MASS results showed that maximum value of limonene is observed in the ecotype of Sanandaj، the maximum value of fenchone is observed in the ecotype of Sari، the maximum value of transe-anethole is seen in the ecotype of Khash and the maximum value of methyl chavicole belongs to the ecotypes of Kaleibar.