gh. davarynejad

Pyrus communis L. cv. Natanz is a popular pear cultivar in Iran because of its customer-friendly attribute due to its excellent characteristics. Pear own-rooted plants has better traits such as high vigorous in growth, low levels on tree losses and damaging by insects rather than grafted plants. Meristem culture widely used for micropropagation, in vitro germplasm preservation, and virus eradication purposes in pear. As pear is belonged to difficult-to-root fruit tree cultivars perhaps the rooting stage is the most important stage in propagation process, yet most difficult phase during the in vitro propagation procedure. In vitro rooting of micro-cuts was varied by genotypes (cultivars), type and concentration of auxin, the method of root induction and formation, different additional materials such as PVP, polyamines, and so on. This study was aimed to investigate the effect of different levels of BAP and Fe-EDDHA on shoot proliferation, BAP and GA3 on meristem establishment, and IBA and NAA on micro-cut rooting of pear cv. Natanz in in vitro condition.

Vegetative buds were taken from current growth shoots of Pyrus communis cv. Natanz from Pear collection orchard (25.36 E, 58.54 N, and ASL altitude 1380 m) of Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Centre of Semnan Province (Shahrood city). In the first experiment, new shoots of active buds after 4 weeks grown in PMI medium (MS ×1.5 CaCl2. 2H2O, KH2PO4 and MgSO4. 7H2O) + 1 mg.l-1 BAP were transferred to PMI medium containing different levels of BAP (0.5, 1, 1.5 mg.l-1) and Fe-EDDHA (0, 100, 150 and 200 mg.l-1). In the second experiment, meristems (containing two newest leaf primordia) was excited from in vitro shoots and incubation on MS media containing BAP (0.5, 1, and 1.5 mg.l-1) and GA3 (0.1 and 0.5 mg.l-1) + 0.1 mg.l-1 IBA. Meristems were kept in dark for 4 days then were transferred to growth chamber with photoperiod 16/8 hrs. light/dark. Different concentrations and combinations of two auxins were used for root induction of micro-cuts in third experiment. 1000, 2000, 3000, and 4000 mg.l-1 of IBA or NAA and two combination solutions of them (1000 IBA+1000 NAA, and 2000 IBA+2000 NAA, mg.l-1). Shoots were immersing dip in solutions for 5 seconds then transfer to PGRs-free PMI medium and kept them to growth chamber. Data of all experiments were analyzed according by completely randomized design (CRD) with five replications. BAP (3 levels) and Fe-EDDHA (4 levels) for experiment 1; BAP (3 levels) and GA3 (2 levels) for experiment 2 were considered as factorial. SAS (v. 9.1) was used for analysis and means were compared with LSD test at 5% of probability level.

Proliferated shoot number was affected by BAP (p≤0.01) and Fe-EDDHA (p≤0.05) concentrations and also interaction of them (p≤0.05), while BAP (p≤0.01) was caused elongation of proliferated shoots and Fe-EDDHA had no effect. BAP (p≤0.05), Fe-EDDHA (p≤0.01) concentrations and BAP×Fe-EDDHA (p≤0.01) interaction had significant effect on leaf production. Shoot tip necrosis was shown in shoots grown in all media based on BAP concentration with different intensities (p≤0.05). Vegetative growth was counted as a power index of medium that in our experiment was under influence of BAP concentrations (p≤0.01), Fe-EDDHA (p≤0.05) and BAP×Fe-EDDHA interaction (p≤0.05). Shoots were proliferated (5.50 shoot.explant-1) and elongated in PMI medium containing 1.5 mg.l-1 BAP with no Fe-NaEDDHA while the lower concentrations of both BAP and Fe-NaEDDHA caused the higher mature leaf production. PMI media containing 1 mg.l-1 BAP + 150 mg.l-1 Fe-NaEDDHA is recommended for Natanz shoot proliferation because of the highest vegetative growth and highest quality in proliferated shoots. MS medium with 0.5 mg.l-1 BAP+ 0.5 mg.l-1 GA3 (81%) and 1 mg.l-1 BAP + 0.1 mg.l-1 GA3 (63%) had the highest meristem establishment, respectively. The established meristems naturally grown in medium supplement with 0.5 mg.l-1 BAP + 0.5 mg.l-1 GA3+0.1 mg.l-1 IBA. Different types of auxin and their concentrations had significantly effect on Natanz pear cultivar micro-cut rooting (p≤0.05). NAA induced rooting in lower concentrations while IBA had positive effect on rooting with concentration increasing. Micro-cuts were rooted via quick dip in 1000+1000 mg.l-1 (IBA+NAA) solution followed by incubation in PMI medium. The rooted shoots well adapted to environmental condition.

Important steps of in vitro propagation of pear is optimized in this experiment. MS medium containing 0.5 mg.l-1 BAP+0.5 mg.l-1 GA3+0.1 mg.l-1 IBA had suitable for meristem establishment. To produce in vitro healthy proliferated shoots of pear cv. Natanz using PMI medium supplement with 1 mg.l-1 BAP+150 mg.l-1 Fe-NaEDDHA is recommended. Micro-cuts were rooted easily by quick immersion of the end of micro-cuts in 1000+1000 mg.l-1 (IBA+NAA) solution for 5 seconds then incubation in PGRs-free medium.

Nigella sativa L. is one of the herbs that has a variety of uses and has been used in Iran’s traditional medicine since old times. Today this plant is considered as one of the most important kinds of medicine. Almost all the metabolic activities of plant cells, including the construction of active ingredients in medicinal plants, depend on lack of absorbable water by plants can lead to the morphological, physiological and biochemical changes, including decrease of cell swelling and growth and thus reduction of leaf area and plant height, stomatal closure and photosynthesis restriction, increase of soluble compounds for regulating the osmotic pressure, reduction of nutrient absorption and ultimately reduction of crop production. The use of anti-transpiration compounds is considered as a promising tool for the regulation of transpiration in respect of water conservation at an optimal level, where the strategies such as the use of anti-transpiration compounds have the potential for transpiration regulation. The aim of the present study is to improve the yield and yield components of medicinal plant N. sativa by anti-transpiration compounds under drought stress conditions.

The research was done using a split plot experiment on a randomized complete block design with three replications. The irrigation intervals (8 and 16 days) in main plots and anti-transpiration compounds of chitosan (0.25, 0.5 and 1 %), Plantago psyllium mucilage (0.5, 1 and 1.5 %) and arabic gum (0.25, 0.5 and 0.75 %) were put in subplots with three replications. Also, the distance between the main plots in each block and distance between the two blocks were assigned as 100 cm and 200 cm, respectively; so that the moisture content of a plot had no effect on the adjacent plots. Planting date was April 16 and planting was performed by hand in 0.5cm-deep furrows. Anti-transpiration compounds were sprayed simultaneously with applying drought stress till the flowering stage once a week at sunset. Plant height, leaf area index, irrigation water efficiency index, leaf temperature and stomatal conductance were measured.

The results showed that there were significant differences between treatments in all studied traits. The best rate of the measured traits was observed at 8-day irrigation interval and chitosan treatment. Providing plant favorite conditions such as reducing plant temperature, increasing morphological traits comparing to rainfed at 16-day irrigation interval. Applying arabic gum did not improve growth but acted as a growth inhibitor. Anti-transpiration compounds led to significant changes in all the studied traits compared to the control, indicating the effectiveness of these natural compounds. Chitosan stimulating abscisic acid synthesis in the treated plant would result in stomatal closure, reduction of stomatal conductance, transpiration rate and water content. It also pointed out that the anti-transpiration effect of chitosan was because of its stimulatory effect in increasing abscisic acid concentration in the treated leaves of bean plant. As the above compounds are natural and biodegradable, as well as safer and less expensive than other chemical anti-transpiration compounds, they can serve as a good alternative to the chemical compounds. Cognition and expertise in water relations of plant and drought stress tolerance is considered as the main program in agriculture and the ability to withstand this stress is of great economic importance.

The important processes, including nutrition, photosynthes is, stomatal opening and closure and growth are all influenced by water. In this study, it was observed canopy temperature and stomatal conductance would increase at 16-day irrigation interval, where the increase is considered as a drought tolerance mechanism. Also, the anti-transpiration compounds led to significant changes in terms of all the studied traits compared to the control, indicating the effectiveness of theses natural compounds. Providing the appropriate conditions, 1% chitosan treatment can enhance the yield under drought stress. Spraying by arabic gum did not improve the growth conditions. According to this experiment, 1% chitosan treatment and 1.5% Plantago psyllium mucilage is considered the most appropriate strategy to enhance the yield of Nigella sativa under drought stress.

In order to select new rootstocks for resistance to water stress and the identification of biochemical markers associated with this conditions the effect of water stress and Effective microorganism on the biochemical properties of almond rootstocks were investigated. Effects of two concentrations of EM (0 and 1%) and three irrigation levels {normal irrigation and irrigation after depletion of 33 and 66% of available soil water},and four rootstocks of Almond( natural hybrid of peach × almond (H1and H2), GF677 and Juvan cultivar were evaluated. This experiment was arranged as a factorial experiments based on a randomized complete blocks design with four replications. The measured traits were seedling survival, chlorophyll A, B and total,soluble sugars, starch, protein and proline content in leaves and roots. Analysis of variance showed that effect of rootstock and irrigation levels in all the studied traits were significant at the %1 level. The results showed that effect of Effective microorganisms on starch, protein and proline content in leaves and roots and chlorophyll A were significant 1% level and chlorophyll B was significantly different at 5% level. Consumption of Em, reduced proline and starch in the leaves and roots compared to control but protein was increased at 5% level. Chlorophyll content was different with type of chlorophyll and treatment. According to the results, the characteristics of proline, soluble sugars and proteins of leaves are suitable markers for evaluation of water stress in almond and the H1 rootstock (natural hybrid of peach × almond) was identified as resistant to drought.

The present research was done to evaluate proline, proteins and sugars of flower buds of pistachio trees during phonological stages. This study was conducted using a split-plot design with three replications considered time as main factor (5 Stages) and cultivars (Ahmad-aghaee, Ouhadi, Kaleh-ghochi and Akbari) as secondary factor. The experiment was conducted at Ferdowsi University of Mashhad and Institute of Pistachio Research of Iran (PRI). The Studied Variables included proline, soluble sugars and total protein which were assessed during rest (winter), flowering (beginning of spring) and after spring frost. The highest (27.36 mili mol/gram weight of fresh flower bud) and lowest (7.86 mili mol/gram weight of fresh flower bud) rates of proline were found in Ahmad-aghaee after chilling injury and bud swelling, respectively. The highest rate of total protein was shown by Akbari (70.79%) and Ouhadi (71.25%) at flower burst, and the lowest amount was obtained at bud swelling of Ouhadi (25.39%). Results indicated that sugars accumulated during winter and reduced by beginning of spring. Amount of proline increased during flowering and after spring frost. overall proteins were fixed and low after falling leaves (autumn) to bud dormancy (winter), but its amounts increased after bud dormancy till after flowering and spring frost.

Chilling injury of vegetative and generative buds, bark and wood during fall and winter seasons are mainly limiting factors for productivity of fruits. Selecting and expanding cultivars for more yield and quality without attention to the rate of their frost resistance are impossible. In this research, the rate of relative resistance of some peach and nectarine cultivars at a sudden downfall of temperature was analyzed in vivo weather conditions during the 2008 winter season in Mashhad. The meteorology station of the studied area (Golmakan station) registered -22°C for the minimum temperature of this year on 13th January, which was a little different from the weather of Mashhad. This test is performed as factorials in the form of a randomized complete block design with three replications. Relative ionic leakage is used on reproductive and vegetative buds, annual and biennial wood in peach cultivars (J.H.Hale, Elberta, Redhaven, Mashhad Sorkhosepfide and Mashhad Ghermez) and nectarine cultivars (Indipendens, Qiuota, Nectared 6 and Stargold). Between studied peach and nectarine cultivars, Mashhad Sorkhosephid and Mashhad Ghermez cultivars, which are cultivars native to Iran, were the most resistant reproductive buds that did not have a significant difference in comparison with other peach and nectarine cultivars with the exclusion of Indipendense cultivar. The most sensitive reproductive buds were nectarine Indipendense cultivar and the most resistant vegetative buds were Mashhad Sorkhosephid and Redhaven in peach cultivars and Nectared 6 and Qiuta cultivars in nectarine cultivars. The relative ionic leakage of annual wood in peach cultivars was more than nectarine cultivars. But the relative ionic leakage between peach cultivars was not significant and Nectared 6 cultivar did not have any difference compared to peach cultivars. The "Sorkhosephid" peach cultivar of Mashhad had more solution carbohydrates in generative buds and annual wood (93.33 and 136.50 mg/lit, respectively) than other studied cultivars. Results of sugar rate followed relative ionic leakage and visual observations and showed increasing sugar and decreasing ionic leakage in organ caused lower their susceptibility to cold.

Sour cherry (Prunus cerasus L.) is an important Iranian-native fruit, considered highly perishable commodity which cannot be stored for any length of time. On this study, effect of three gas compositions (ambient, 5% O2+5% CO2+90% N2 and 10% O2+15% CO2+75% N2) and two storage temperatures (0 and 5 °C) on two sour cherry cultivars namely Erdy jubileum and Erdy Botermo was studied in a CRD (completely randomized design) based on factorial design with three replications. Fruits were examined, 42 days after packaging, in case of such different qualitative factors as weight loss, tissue firmness, total soluble solids (TSS), titrable acidity (TA), pH, and colour. The results indicate a better preservation of qualitative properties such as weight loss, tissue firmness and colour in the modified atmosphere; in 5% O2+5% CO2+90% N2 the lowest weight loss and the highest firmness was defected. In Erdy jubileum at 5°C titrable acidity was the lowest and the favourable impact of the 5 °C temperature treatment on qualitative properties, compared to that of 0 °C.