javad tabatabaeian

Evaluating the response of various saffron ecotypes regarding physiological and biochemical traits, as well as stigma-related characteristics, is crucial for cultivation in specific regions. Therefore, a study was conducted to assess the physiological, biochemical, and stigma-related traits of five saffron ecotypes (Torqroud: EC1, Natanz: EC2, Kashan: EC3, Qaenat: EC4, and Badroud: EC5) in pots under open field conditions at the Islamic Azad University Research Farm in Ardestan in 2022, following a completely randomized design with three replications. Results indicated significant differences in yield, quality, physiological, and biochemical traits among the examined ecotypes. The EC2 ecotype was significantly superior in yield traits such as stigma diameter (2.09 mm), stigma length (2.43 cm), number of flowers (95.40 per m2), fresh flower yield (47.27 g m-2), and dry stigma yield (0.828 g m-2). The levels of safranal, picrocrocin, and crocin in the EC2, EC3, and EC4 ecotypes were significantly higher compared to other ecotypes, with the highest values of these traits observed in EC2 (53.02, 175.1, and 202.6 E_(1 cm)^(1%), respectively). The content of photosynthetic pigments (chlorophyll a, b, and total) was highest in the EC2 ecotype compared to the others. In terms of antioxidant enzyme activity, EC1 and EC4 ecotypes exhibited the highest activity. Correlation results indicated a positive relationship between yield and quality traits. Overall, this study clearly demonstrates that environmental conditions can significantly impact the quality and yield of saffron, aiding in the selection of the best ecotypes for cultivation in different regions. The EC2 ecotype is recommended for cultivation in the studied area after field trials.

This research was carried out with the aim of studying the effect of zinc and potassium levels as foliar application on quantitative and qualitative traits of saffron (Crocus sativa) in Natanz city (village Badrude) in the second year of agriculture during 2019. The experiment was done as factorial layout based on a randomized complete block design with three replications. Elements such as KNO3 at the levels of control (K1), 5 in thousand (K2) and 10 in thousand (K3) and Zn-EDTA at the levels of control (Z1), 5 in thousand (Z2) and 10 in thousand (Z3) were the treatments. The studied traits included quantitative traits of fresh and dry weight of the girl's corm, fresh and dry weight of mother corm, fresh and dry yield of the flower, fresh dry yield of the stigma, qualitative traits of Crocin, picocrocin and safranal. The results showed that K2 and K3 levels increased the quantitative traits, especially at K3 level. While spraying zinc only at the Z2 level quantitative traits increased and it had no significant effect on qualitative traits. The application of potassium fertilizer at the K3 level along with the Z2 had the greatest effect on increasing the quantitative traits of saffron. Perhaps one of the reasons for increasing flower yield can be attributed to the positive effects of potassium and zinc on the photosynthetic system of the plant. This increase in the amount of photosynthesis and metabolism, in turn, affects the amount of stigma production and increases  dry weight of the stigma. As a result of potassium spraying, amount of crocin and picrocrocin increased from K1 to K3 by 18 and 13 %, and safranal increased from K1 to K2 and K3 increased by 30% and 48%, respectively. In the present study, there was a positive and significant correlation between the amount of Crocin, Picrocrocin and Safranal contents with quantitative characteristics in saffron. It can be said that quality traits are influenced by quantitative traits and yield components of saffron. Therefore, flowering and flower yield of saffron is also effective in improving its quality.

Mountain celery with scientific name of Kelussia odoratissima Mozaff is one of native medicinal plants of Iran that is an endangered species due to illegal removal. Present study was carried out to find the suitable treatment for stimulating germination of seeds this plant. A factorial experiment based on a completely randomized design with four replications was used. Stratification (4 ̊C for 0, 4, and 8 weeks), 500 ppm solutions of Gibberellin (GA), Benzyl adenine (BA), Naphthalene acetic acid (NAA), Indole butyric acid (IBA) and combinations of these hormones as follows: (GA+IBA), (GA+ NAA), (GA+BA), (IBA+NAA), (IBA+BA), (NAA+BA), (GA+ IBA+NAA), (GA+ IBA+BA), (GA+NAA+BA), (IBA+NAA+BA), (GA+ IBA +NAA+BA) were the treatments. The results showed that Stratification or hormonal treatments alone increased germination parameters, however, 8 weeks stratification and GA were the most effective treatments. The highest germination percent and duration were obtained in GA, BA, GA+IBA+IBA and IBA after eight weeks of stratification at 4 ̊C due to treatments interaction suggesting that seeds of this species has physiological dormancy. There was no synergic effect between hormonal treatments. The results showed that mountain celery had physiological dormancy and treatments with the greatest degree of success in breaking dormancy were GA, BA, GA+IBA+BA, BA and IBA under 8 weeks stratification.

To investigate the effect of foliar application of zinc on yield production and seed quality of wheat under water deficit, an experiment was conducted as split factorial based on a randomized complete block design with three replications during 2009 and 2010 growing seasons. The main plot consisted of different water conditions (complete irrigation, halted irrigation after pollination, and after grain milk stage) and sub-plots comprised three wheat genotypes including Mahdavi, Shiraz and Pishtaz and three different concentrations of zinc including 0, 2.5 and 5 mg.kg-1. The results indicated that increasing stress intensity caused decreased grain yield, total dry matter and harvest index, but seed protein increased. Although, by increase water deficit, grain yield was reduced in all cultivars. Pishtaz showed the maximum grain yield (6107 kg/ha) when irrigation halted at pollination phase. However, all varieties, especially Mahdavi, produced higher yield at complete irrigation condition. Zinc sulfate application had a positive and significant effect on the most studied traits, so that application of 2.5 mg/kg zinc sulfate at complete irrigation treatment increased grain yield up to 27%. Besides, zinc concentration of seeds increased as zinc sulfate was applied.

In order to determine the effects of date of planting, phenotype and genotype growth parameters on grain yield formation, and also assess the characteristics of autumn wheat ideal cultivars, a research was performed in the experimental farm of Ardestan Azad University during the 2004 growing season. The experimental design was a split plot with three replicates. The sowing dates were 5th and 20th of November and 5th of December, and the ten cultivars of wheat used were Ghods, Pishtaz, Hirmand, Hamun M-73-18, Roshan, Shiraz, Falat, Chamran and Dez. The date of sowing and cultivars were the main plots and sub-plots, respectively. The sowing date had a significant effect on the length of spike, the length of peduncle, the number of grains per spike, and also on grain yield in such a way that on the 5th of November (first planting date) different cultivars had taller spikes, more grains per spike as well as a maximum cultivar grain yield. The results showed a highly significant impact on all the characteristics, except plant height, in the same way as for individual characteristics, like the spike length, peduncle height, number of grains per unit area, biological yield, grain yield, straw yield, and thousand grain weight. Roshan cultivar was recognized as one of the index cultivars. Regarding the point that Pishtaz cultivar recorded the highest harvest index and the lowest straw yield compared to other cultivars, it is possible to use Roshan as one with two purposes in the production of grass and grain. It is also possible to introduce Pishtaz as a cultivar being adapted to the conditions of Ardestan. The results of the grain yield measurements correlate significantly with those obtained from other characteristics. Therefore, it was concluded that the measurement of grain yield is not only the best measurement method for the evaluation of the effects of sowing date and the most appropriate wheat cultivars but also that there is no need to do any other complementary measurement once this type of measurement is performed.