morphological traits

Bell pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) Nirvin variety is one of the most important vegetables in the world because of its high economic value and its valuable food and medicinal compounds, including the antioxidants and vitamins. Though there is a high amount of iron as one of the most essential microelements in soil, iron deficiency is a significant issue in agriculture principally in calcareous soils. However, bioavailability of iron as an essential micronutrient depends on environmental parameters including acidity and redox reactions. Also, iron delivery into plants mainly in alkaline and neutral soils, is an important problem and enormous efforts have been accomplished to appropriately deliver iron ions to plants and overcome the iron deficiency. Foe this purpose, several synthetic Fe-containing fertilizers have been produced to solve the iron deficiency problem in plants and enhance yield and quality of agricultural crops. Many studies have reported effects of HA on enhancement of iron contents in many plants. Besides, application of humic iron chelates in soil is known as an important strategy for iron delivery to plants. Hence, it is expected hat the humic iron chelates will enhance the morphological and micronutrient properties of bell pepper plant including its leaf and fruit.

In order to investigate the effect of differential treatments on the concentration of N, P, and K, and low-use elements, especially Fe, Zn, Cu, and Mn, and some leaf and fruit morphological traits in the red bell pepper plant of Nirvin variety, several experiments were performed in a complete randomized block design with three replications. High consumption elements including nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and low consumption elements including including iron, zic, manganese, and copper were measured in bell pepper plant leaves. For this purpose, samples were thermally treated at 550 C for 3 h to obtain their ash powders. Then, HCl was added to the samples to obtain extracts, which were used for measurement os the existing elements. The elements zinc, copper, iron, and manganese were measured using atomic absorption spectroscopy, phosphorus element was measured using spectrophotometer, potassium was measured by film photometer, and nitrogen was measured by Kjeldahl digestion as as analytical chemistry method. In order to measure fresh and dry weights of leaves, samples were weighted before and after drying at 70 C for 48 h. The length and diameter and fruits were measured using a digital caliper.

The results of analysis of variance showed a significant difference between the treatments in high and low consumption elements and traits of leaf length, leaf width, leaf fresh and dry weight, fruit length and width, fruit fresh and dry weight and pericarp thickness. The highest amounts of N and K, Fe were observed in plants treated with humic iron chelate. The highest and the lowest amounts of low consumption iron element were 258.67 mg/L and 192.67 mg/L, which were obtaoned for the plants treated with humic iron chelate and control, respectively. By comparing the average values, it was found that the highest and the lowest amounts of zinc element were 47 mg/L and 38 mg/L, which were obtaoned for the plants treated with low humic percentage and control, respectively. Moreover, the highest and the lowest amounts of manganese element were 105 mg/L and 74 mg/L, which were obtaoned for the plants treated with humic iron chelate and control, respectively. Furthermore, the characteristics of leaf width and fresh weight, length, fresh and dry weight of fruit showed the highest values in plants treated with humic iron chelate. In the cluster analysis of the control treatments, humic and low percentage humic iron chelate were placed in one group. Leaf width trait with leaf wet weight (r=0.89) and leaf length with fruit dry weight (r=0.87) showed the highest positive and significant correlation among the traits. Plants treated using commercial iron chelate and american humax exhibited the highest amounts of manganese element in bell pepper leaves.

Therefore, according to the result of this research, in order to obtain better performance in bell pepper plant, it is recommended to use humic iron chelate compared to other treatments used. This result was obtained by treatment of bell pepper plant using various micronutrient materials for bell pepper plant, including commercial iron chelate, low humic percentage, high humic percentage, american humax, and humic iron chelate.

Malva sylvestris, commonly known as the common mallow, is a flowering plant species in the genus Malva. It is native to Europe, North Africa, and Western Asia, and has been introduced to other parts of the world. The plant has been known since ancient times and is considered the "type-species" for the genus. The leaves are edible and the plant (and seeds) are used as herbal remedies. Malva sylvestris is either a perennial or biennial plant. It spreads readily from seed and can self-seed prolifically. The seeds resemble small wheels or discs. The plant is known to be susceptible to a virus called Malva vein clearing potyvirus, which is transmitted by aphids. It also contains compounds such as malvin, malonylmalvin, and the naphthoquinone malvone A. The aim of this article is to evaluate the various (nine) ecotypes of Iranian Malva sylvestris L. by analyzing their morphological and physiological characteristics. By employing a step-by-step regression approach, the study seeks to identify significant traits that differentiate these ecotypes. The research intends to enhance understanding of the adaptive strategies of Malva sylvestris in diverse environmental conditions. Ultimately, the findings aim to contribute valuable insights for conservation efforts and the potential use of these ecotypes in horticulture and agriculture. This comprehensive evaluation will also provide a foundation for future studies on the species' ecological adaptability. In this study, 9 ecotypes of Malva sylvestris were collected in 2017 from different habitats in Iran (Mashhad, Torbat-e Heydariyeh, Fariman, Zabol, Zarand, Jiroft, Rudbar, Bandar Abbas and Khorramdasht) (Table 1) and identified in the Herbarium of Torbat-e Heydariyeh University. They were then cultivated in a completely randomized design with three replications in late February 2018 in the greenhouse of the Agricultural Research Institute of the University of Zabol and evaluated in May 2019. The seeds of each ecotype were planted in 5-liter pots (after germination and thinning, five plants of each ecotype were kept in each pot) in a growing medium consisting of an equal mixture of agricultural soil, coco peat, perlite, and well-rotted animal manure. Irrigation was calculated based on the temperature conditions in Sistan and the greenhouse, as well as the field capacity of the pot mixture, and was carried out regularly until flowering. At full flowering, the stem diameter and length of three plants from each pot were randomly measured and their means were considered for each treatment. At this stage, the number of flowers with seeds and the number of leaves of each plant were counted. Fresh and dry weights of root, stem and whole plant were measured with a digital scale (0.01 g accuracy). For dry weight measurement, fresh samples were placed in an oven at 70°C for 48 hours. Chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b and carotenoid contents were determined. The absorbance of the samples for chlorophyll a and b and carotenoids was measured at wavelengths of 663, 645 and 470 nm, respectively, using a spectrophotometer. Proline, soluble carbohydrates, and protein were measured. Pearson correlation coefficients were used to calculate simple correlation coefficients between morphological traits. Statistical analysis of traits was performed using SAS Ver. 9 and Excel software, and means were compared by Duncan's method at 1% and 5% probability levels. The highest stem diameter (9.58 mm), root length (61.22 cm), root weight (18.86 g), root dry weight (4.84 g), and proline content (0.614) belonged to Mashhad ecotype. The number of leaves had a negative and significant correlation with the fresh weight of the plant, while it had a positive and significant correlation with plant height and shoot dry weight. Other traits did not show a significant correlation with the number of leaves per plant. The highest correlation was observed between morphological traits between fresh weight and leaf dry weight (P<0.01) and in phytochemical traits between carotenoid and chlorophyll b (P<0.05). Based on stepwise regression in the presented models, root weight and plant dry weight had the most positive effect on root length, but stem diameter and plant weight had the most negative effect. Chlorophyll b had the most negative and direct effect on proline yield, but chlorophyll a, carotenoids, carbohydrates, and total protein had the most positive effects, respectively. The variance analysis results indicated significant differences among the various ecotypes of Malva sylvestris regarding morphological and phytochemical traits (P<0.01) (Tables 2 and 3). Mean comparisons revealed that the Mashhad ecotype excelled in stem diameter, root length, and fresh and dry root weight, while the Rudbar ecotype showed the highest fresh weight in aerial parts. The Bandar Abbas ecotype had superior fresh and dry weights of aerial parts, leaf count, flower count, and seed count, and the Torbat-e Heydariyeh ecotype was notable for flower and seed counts per plant (Table 4). The tallest stem (40.55 cm) was recorded in the Jiroft ecotype, while the shortest (1.81 cm) was from Mashhad. The greatest stem diameter (9.58 mm) belonged to the Mashhad ecotype, and the smallest (3.54 mm) was found in Zabol. Root length also varied, with the Mashhad ecotype having the longest (61.22 cm) and Rudbar the shortest (9.55 cm) (Table 4). The highest fresh and dry root weights were observed in the Mashhad ecotype, while the Jiroft ecotype had the lowest. In the results of step-wise correlation and regression analysis of the medicinal plant Malva sylvestris L., the highest positive regression coefficients for yield were related to the traits of proline content, root fresh weight, and plant dry weight, which indicates their more fundamental role in increasing yield and their potential for improvement. Overall, the present study showed that root-related traits had an important effect on the final yield in the Mashhad population of Malva sylvestris L., and the Mashhad ecotype also showed the most desirable performance in terms of the evaluated traits. Due to its high performance in these traits, the Mashhad ecotype is recommended for researchers, universities, and private sectors involved in the cultivation and domestication of medicinal plants.

Wheat's economic significance and contribution to human and animal nutrition are indisputable. This makes it the third most important crop in terms of global production. The rising global demand for wheat is due to its ability to produce specialized foods. In particular, the unique properties of the gluten protein allow wheat to be processed into bread. Wheat contains and consists of numerous healthful components. Therefore, plant breeders should be able to select for both increased crop yield and improved health benefits. Wheat landrace genotypes are more genetically diverse than the majority of breeding programs, and this diversity includes adaptation to a variety of local conditions. Wheat breeders face the challenge of maximizing genetic productivity gains while minimizing yield gaps and ensuring environmental sustainability.Wheat's efficiency and utility in plant breeding programs are determined by its genetic diversity. Improving grain yield is regarded as the most important objective of wheat breeding and the most efficient method of increasing production. The estimation of genetic variation in crops is indispensable for breeding programs and the conservation of genetic resources. Hybridization and subsequent selection is one of the most essential wheat breeding techniques. Selecting the parents is the first step in a hybridization-based plant breeding program. The purpose of this research is to identify wheat genotypes with superior agronomic traits, classify them using cluster analysis, and reduce the measured traits using principal component analysis.

To evaluation of genetic diversity of rain-fed wheat genotypes, an experiment was carried out in a randomized complete block design with 24 genotypes and four replications in Research Station of Dryland Agricultural Research Institute (Maragheh) at 2015-2016. This study evaluated plant height, grain filling period, days to physiological maturity, days to spike emergence, vigor, grain yield, straw yield, number of spikes per m2, weight per 1000 grains, number of grains per spike, spike weight, number of spikelet per spike, spike length, biological yield, and harvest index. Before conducting an analysis of variance, assumptions were examined. Analysis of variance and comparison of means (Least Significant Difference) was performed. The relationship between the studied traits was determined using Pearson's coefficient of correlation. Principal component analysis (PCA) was utilized to reduce the data, and cluster analysis based on the Euclidean distance coefficient and Ward's algorithm was employed to classify the genotypes under study. The SPSS software was utilized for data analysis.

Difference between rain-fed wheat genotypes were significant for the majority of traits, indicating a high degree of genetic diversity. The genotypes 1 and 23 have the highest and lowest grain yield values, respectively. Positive and significant correlation exists between grain yield and vigor, straw yield, harvest index, number of spikelets per spike, spike weight, and number of grains per spike. Cluster analysis categorizes 24 genotypes into four groups based on their evaluated traits. The first cluster contains genotypes 22, 24, 1, 15, 7, 13, 3, 21 and 17. The second group included genotypes 2, 6, 20, 11, and 19. The third group consisted of the genotypes 9, 18, 14, 10, 8, and 16. The fourth group consists of extra genotypes. In principal components analysis, five main components account for 83.80% of the variation. High positive coefficients were observed for grain yield (0.702), harvest index (0.714), and vigor (0.797) in the first component. The initial component can be identified as the grain yield component.

Based on the results, the yield component was determined to be the first principal component. These genotypes are appropriate for selection and breeding programs and objectives in rain-fed environments, and can be used to boost wheat grain yield.

Vinasse is one of the by-products of alcohol and yeast companies that use molasses as a raw material. The production of this substance is very high in the industry and the release of Vinasse in nature has environmental damage due to the large amounts of organic and inorganic materials. Today, the possibility of using this substance in low concentrations as organic fertilizer in agriculture has been proposed. Using Vinasse as an organic fertilizer is a simplest and most practical way to reduce waste.

In this regard, this experiment was conducted with the aim of investigating the use of Vinasse as fertigation on the growth traits of cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) in a completely randomized design with four replications. Cucumber seeds of hybrid cultivar (super max F1) with 99% purity were used. In order to seed germination and seedling production, seeds were cultured in cocopeat+perlite (1:1) and placed in the growth chamber. After seven days from seed sowing, experimental treatments were applied. Treatments included 1) hogland fertilizer, 2) diluted Vinasse, 3) hogland fertilizer+diluted Vinasse, 4) ½ hogland fertilizer+½ diluted Vinasse. After 7 weeks, plants were collected and growth parameters were measured. The investigated morphological traits included the number of leaves, fresh and dry weight of leaves, fresh and dry weight of roots, fresh and dry weight of stems, volume of roots, length and diameter of stems, as well as leaf surface. The plant leaf area was measured using ImageJ 1.52v software. Also, physiological traits such as relative water content (Barrs & Weatherley, 1962), electrolyte leakage (Marcum, 1998), pigment content (chlorophyll index, chlorophyll a, b, total chlorophyll and carotenoid) (Dere et al., 1998), protein (Bradford, 1976), proline (Bathes et al., 1973) and leaf nitrogen were measured by kjeldahl method (Page et al., 1982). Statistical analysis of data was done using JMP-8 software and mean comparison was done using LSD test.

The use of Hoagland nutrient solution alone led to an increase in the number of leaves in the plant compared to other fertilizer treatments and recorded the highest leaf fresh weight (4.52 grams) and leaf dry weight (0.35 grams). Meanwhile, the combined use of Vinasse and Hoagland nutrient solution in full concentration was able to increase the leaf area in the plant and the highest amount of leaf area (29.21 cubic centimeters) was recorded in this treatment. Root fresh weight was affected by the combined treatment of Vinasse and Hoagland nutrient solution in half concentration and it increased significantly (1.89 grams) compared to other treatments. The application of Vinasse alone could only lead to the production of the highest dry weight of the stem (0.23 grams) compared to other experimental treatments. Although the complete Hoagland fertilizer treatment showed good results in the development of the root system, the use of the combination of Hoagland and Vinasse nutrient solution in half concentration showed a more appropriate response. Results showed that plants treated with Vinasse entered the reproductive phase faster than other experimental treatments. Vinasse contains significant amounts of potassium and organic matter (Kusumaningtyas et al., 2017). The rapid flowering of Vinasse-treated plants is probably due to the high potassium content of this organic fertilizer and the reduction in nitrogen content. The use of Vinasse as a fertigation in plants leads to the enrichment of microelements in the substrate (Kogani et al., 2018), and due to the abundance of organic matter in Vinasse, it is an important source of nutrients that is suitable for plant growth (Madejon et al., 2001). However, according to the results of this experiment, it was determined that application of Vinasse alone is not able to meet the nutritional needs of the cucumber plant. The use of hogland fertilizer + diluted Vinasse improves the growth traits of the plant such as leaf number, root fresh weight, root dry weight, leaf dry weight and leaf area. The use of diluted Vinasse reduced the chlorophyll content and increased the proline.

In general, Vinasse is not a complete fertilizer because of the low nitrogen content. So it needs to be combined with other nitrogen fertilizers. However, this fertilizer can be used in the reproductive growth stage when the plant needs lower amounts of nitrogen.

In order to evaluate the effect of drought stress on grain yield and yield components in some winter cereals, a factorial experiment in completely randomized with 3 replications was conducted in greenhouse at Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Gonbad Kavoos University. The treatments were winter cereals with 6 levels included bread wheat cultivar Kohdasht, durum wheat cultivar Seimareh, six-row barley cultivar Sahra, two-row barley cultivar Khorram, and hull less barley Line 17 and triticale cultivar Javaniloo and drought stress with 3 levels i.e., full irrigation as the control (-0.4 bar), slight water stress (-1 bar) and intensive water stress (-4 bar). Drought stress was imposed in flowering stage. The results showed that the effect of species and drought had a significant effect on all the studied traits while interaction on all studied were not significant. The results of mean comparison showed that the range of grain yield changes between species varied from 1.25 to 2.58 g per plant. The results showed that grain yield in triticale is  more than durum wheat (73%). Also, the comparison between different levels of drought stress showed that with increasing drought stress, all measured traits decreased in the studied species. The results showed that grain yield, biological yield and harvest index decreased by about 32, 72 and 45%, respectively in severe stress conditions compared to the control. The results of this study showed that high biological yield and high harvest index can be considered as important criteria in breeding cultivars of plant species.

To evaluate the morphological diversity of some almond cultivars and genotypes, an experiment was carried out on 35 Iranian and foreign almond genotypes. Thirty-eight quantitative and qualitative characteristics of nuts and kernels of almond trees were evaluated. Analysis of variance and means comparisons showed that all of the characteristics in examined cultivars were significant, showing high variability in these cultivars and their characteristics. Results of simple correlation analysis indicated the existence of significant, positive and negative correlations among some important traits. Cluster analysis showed that, in Euclidean distance of 15, all cultivars and genotypes divided in to 2 main branches. With decrease in Euclidean distance from 25 to 5, the cultivars and genotypes were divided to 8 main subclusters. Cluster analysis showed that nut length, kernel length, kernel weight, nut weight, shell thickness and hardness, dispermous kernel percentage, patterns of outer shell and suture opening of shell were the main characteristics that separated the genotypes. According to results, ‘Shahrood 13’ ,‘Shahrood 21,‘Shahrood 6’, ‘Sefied’, ‘Premorski’, ‘Yalda’, ‘Shahrood 10’, ‘Shahrood 12’, ‘Mamaei’, ‘Shahrood  7’, cultivars, and also ‘AIM2’, ‘AIM1’, ‘GM1‘, AHN2’,‘AHN1’, and ‘AHYU’ genotypes were better than other cultivars and genotypes.

This research was conducted to determine the characteristics and germplasm grouping of different genotypes of apples grown in Sistan and Baluchestan province. 25 apple genotypes were collected from four regions of Hamoon, Bonjar, Imamieh and Zahedan and morphological and pomological traits were evaluated. Comparison of means of data showed that there was a genetic diversity between the genotypes in terms of quantitative traits, especially the annual shoot diameter, leaf blade length, width of the eye socket and pedicel cavity, pedicel thickness and length, and fruit length and width. The means for these traits were higher in Zahedan genotype than that of Zabol genotypes. In terms of pomological traits, the genotypes had a considerable diversity. Correlation analysis between traits showed a positive and significant correlation between pedicel thickness with pedicel length (0.65), fruit width (0.76), fruit weight (0.48) and also between annual shoots diameter (0.61) with the width of the eye socket (0.83), depth of eye basin (0.84) and fruit length (0.72).

In order to study biomass yield in flowing stage and morphological traits, 12 populations M. pulegium were evaluated in a field experiment in the Alborz research station, Karaj Iran in 2014. Seeds of  the accessions were sown as spaced planet using complete randomized block in two replications. Each plot contains 20 spaced plants with 50×50 cm distance. The drip irrigation system was used for irrigation. In The first year, due to poor establishment no data were collrvted. In the second year, data were collected for fresh and dry matter yield, plant height, stems number, flower number per plant, the canopy diameter and infloescence length. Result showed significant differences between accessions for all of the traits (p < 0.01). Mean comparisons between populations showed that, Marivan and, 22381-Arak with values of 824 and 375.6 g/p had the highest aerial fresh and dry weight. In terms of plant height, the populations of 22381 and 22391-Arak with average values of 82.6 and 81.8 cm had the highest stem length, respectively. The highest inflorescence length with average values of 11.6 and 10.7 cm were observed in 22391-Arak and Gorgan, respectively. For flower number, Miandoab with 60 flowers per plant had the highest number. Using cluster analysis, the populations were split into two groups with 8 and 4 populations in cluster 1 and 2, respectively. The overall mean values in populations of cluster 1 were higher than cluster 2. It was concluded that the populations of Marivan and 22381-Arak had the highest aerial fresh and dry weight and can be used for improved breeding varieties.

Evaluation of genetic diversity among populations, cultivars and genotypes is the first step in breeding programs. For this reason, identification and introducing the superior genotypes is very important in development of improved walnut gardens. In the present study genetic diversity of 33 seed- genotype of walnut located in the Agriculture Research Station of Malayer University were evaluated using some morphological and pomological traits for identifying superior genotypes. Based on the results, a significant difference was found among different genotypes regarding the studied traits. Time of leaf bud burst in MKG112, MKG65 and MKG105 genotypes were later than other genotypes. The highest kernel percentage and kernel weight with 67.51% and 5.94 g were found in MSG15. The lowest shell weight with 3 g was observed in MKG82 genotype. Also, MKG105 genotype had the highest nut weight with 33.80 g. The highest (72.95%) and lowest (51.93%) oil percentage was related to MSG15 and MKG46 genotypes, respectively. Simple correlation coefficients between traits indicated the existence of significant, positive as well as negative correlations among some important vegetative, nut and kernel traits. Cluster analysis at Euclidean distance of 5, divided all genotypes into five main branches. Factor analysis reduced the assessed traits to 11 main factors justifying 71.01 % of total variation. Based on the results, genotypes including; MKG11, MKG12, MSG15, MKG16, MKG36, MKG41, MKG44, MKG45, MKG55, MKG65, MKG105, MKG111, MKG112 and MKG114 for some of the important traits such as nut and kernel characters, were better than other genotypes. These desirable genotypes can be used in walnut breeding programs.

Genetic diversity is important for long time survival of poplar cultivations and will increase their adaptation against environment changes. Therefore, in order to adopt strategies for conservation and development, it is necessary to estimate the amount and distribution of genetic diversity in existing populations of poplar. In this study, for estimating genetic diversity between and within 7 stands of Populus alba established in Esfehan and Zanjan provinces, morphological traits were measured. In order to assimilate environmental conditions, cuttings were planted under randomized complete blocks design with 3 replications. In the middle of growing season, 17 morphological traits were measured and data were analyzed using analysis of variance, t-test and cluster. Results showed significant differences observed between stands. By using cluster analysis, stands were classified in 2 groups on the base of 2 different provinces. Results showed that in homogeneous conditions, morphological traits could reveal diversity and similarity in poplar stands.

In this study, the effect of geographical variation on the morphological and anatomical characteristics of beech (Fagus orientalis Lipsky) in Guilan province were investigated. To meet this objective, five watershed include of Astara, Asalem, Fuman, Chere, Shenrud were selected Forty fully expanded leaves (sunned leaves from the middle part of tree crown) were collected from 40 healthy trees in each populations. Some leaf morphological traits including leaf length, leaf width, petiole length, leaf area, leaf dry mass per unit leaf area, leaf thickness, leaf density, stomatal density, and stomatal pore lenght were measured. The results showed that all measured leaf traits were remarkably different among the populations excluding distance between veins at P<0.05. A hierarchical classification (SPSS Version 16) was led to the formation of three major groups: (i) Fuman (ii) Astara & Asalem, and (iii) Chere & Shenrud. Leaf dissimilarities are possibly attributed to the geographical variation, since the majority of the studied leaf traits were statistically (P<0.05) related to the latitude and edafic factors of the studied populations.