International Journal of Horticultural Science and Technology
Volume:2 Issue: 2, Autumn 2015

Ornamental geophytes (ornamental flower bulbs) are international and national heritage considering their contribution to people's life quality around the world. Iranian habitats support about 8000 species of flowering plants (belonging to 167 families and 100 genera) of which almost 1700 are endemic. Iran is a rich country in terms of distribution of bulbous plants. More than 200 species of bulbous species from different plant families naturally grow in Iran and play an important role in the colorful display of flowers in the plains, mountains, and forests. Unfortunately, some flower bulbs are at the risk of eradication in Iran due to some factors, including inappropriate herboviry and overgrazing, land use change, illegal bulb and flower harvesting, road construction, mining activities, drought, etc. The establishment of protected areas, efficient propagation methods such as micropropagation, gathering the species at the risk of extinction in Botanical Gardens and Research Centers, highlighting the decisive role of Non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and improving tourism are some approaches suggested for better conservation. Meanwhile, under the current situation, national and international protecting rules and regulations should be assigned and fulfilled to save this invaluable natural heritage.

Nowadays, organic fertilizers play an important role in agriculture. They are progressively substituting chemical fertilizers to prevent their harmful impact on human health and the environment. They provide high yield, better quality products and a shorter period of harvesting crops. In this study, the mineral elements: primary macronutrient (N, PO3- and K+), secondary macronutrient: (Ca2+, Mg2+ and SO2-), micronutrient (Na+ and Cl-), alkalinity (HCO3-) and other elements (NO2- and NO-), of three seaweeds were determined: chlorophytae (Ulva lactuca, Ulva linza) and phaeophytae (Padina pavonica). The nitrogen content was the most abundant element in the three Mediterranean seaweeds [79.85 - 57.16 - 126.09 [×10³ mg L-1], respectively, with a maximum to the chlorophytae U. lactuca. This is true also for other macroelements (K and P); their values are higher in green seaweed than the brown Padina pavonica. Secondary elements (Ca and Mg) also show higher values in green algae, with a maximum value in Ulva lactuca. There is no significant difference concerning the values of microelements Na+ and Cl- between green and brown algae. The values of nitrite and nitrate are equivalent for the two green algae, while these items are virtually nonexistent in the brown algae. In conclusion, interesting values of the green alga Ulva lactuca could suggest the use of aqueous extract of this alga such as biofertilizant.

In order to determine aqueous extract effects of cool-season turfgrass mixture clipping on germination and seedling growth of four weed species, laboratory and outdoor pot experiments were done at the experimental laboratory and greenhouse of the Doroud Parks and Landscape Organization, located in Doroud, Lorestan, Iran. The first factor was the concentration of sport turfgrass clipping extract (5, 10, 15, 20, 25% and 10, 25, 50, 75% (w/v) at laboratory and outdoor pot experiments, respectively) and the second factor was the type of weeds [dandelion (Taraxacum officinale), plantain (Plantago major), prostrate pigweed (Amaranthus blitoides) and common bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon)]. A. blitoides was the most sensitive in both experiments. In both of the experiments, roots were more susceptible than shoots. For identifying phenolic acids, gas chromatography mass analysis displayed that this extract contained trans-cinnamic acid, 3,4,5-trimethoxybenzoic acid, syringic acid, p-coumaric acid, caffeic acid, gentisic acid, protocatechuic acid and ferulic acid. The results demonstrated that sport turfgrass clipping extracts have an inhibitory property on germination and initial seedling growth of noxious weed species and could be potentially used as preemergence bioherbicide.

This study was conducted to determine the combined effects of salicylic acid (SA) and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) (Glomus mosseae) symbiosis on the growth of pistachio seedlings (Pistacia vera ‘Abareqi’) grown in the greenhouse under different drought stress (DS) levels. The arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) colonization or exogenous SA treatment could increase ‘Abareqi’ pistachio seedlings tolerance to DS. Application of SA on AMF-inoculated seedlings further promoted drought tolerance, as indicated by an alleviated plant biomass and water relations compared to the respective treatments. The analysis of proline and soluble carbohydrates showed that the increased drought tolerance in the treated plants may be associated, at least in part, with increasing of proline accumulation in the leaves of stressed plants.

The fruit of date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) is an important horticultural product in the Middle East and North Africa. Among more than 400 reported date palm cultivars in Iran, around 20 cultivars are more important due to having better eating quality and trading values. In this study, the fruit of nine commercially important date cultivars including ‘Barhee’, ‘Breim’, ‘Deiri’, ‘Fersi’, ‘Gantar’, ‘Khadravi’, ‘Sayer’, ‘Shakar’ and ‘Zahidi’ were evaluated for certain quality and biochemical properties during the last three stages of ripening (i.e., Khalal, Rutab and Tamar). The results showed that the highest levels of total soluble solids (TSS) and titratable acidity were recorded at Tamar stage for all studied cultivars. Maximum TSS was recorded for ‘Deiri’ (77 %) and ‘Zahidi’ (75.3%) which are considered as dry dates. By a similar pattern, the mean amount of soluble proteins, flesh darkening and peroxidase activity (POX) increased to 5587 μg g-1, 0.76 A410 and 5220 Ug-1 tissue, respectively. Fruit at Khalal stage showed an incredible amount of phenolic compounds and antioxidant capacity, but these parameters of nutritional value reduced to their lowest level in almost all studied cultivars at Tamar stage. Flesh darkening as an index of appearance quality increased greatly by turning Rutab into Tamar for almost all cultivars.

The effects of three Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF) species (Glomus versiforme, Claroideoglomus etunicatum and Rhizophagus intraradices) were studied on the growth parameters and nutrient uptake of three apple rootstocks (M.9, M.7 and MM.106). The soil medium contained a high level of calcium carbonate (38.65%). The results showed that AMF inoculation could increase almost all growth parameters. Plants inoculated with G. versiforme had the highest shoot height, stem diameter, leaf size, and biomass compared to other AMF species. Rootstocks also varied substantially in their growth. MM.106 exhibited the highest growth in general, whereas the M.9 had the lowest. Plants inoculated with mycorrhizal fungi contained more N, P, Ca, Mg, Zn, and Fe compared to those of Non Mycorhizal (NM) control plants. However, AMF inoculation did not influence concentrations of K, Cu, and Mn in the leaf. Rootstocks exhibited various nutrient concentrations in their leaves and the highest concentrations of K, Ca, Mg, and Zn were measured in MM.106. The highest leaf concentration of N, Fe, Mn, and Cu occurred in M.9, while the M.7 accumulated the highest amount of P in its leaves. Here we demonstrate the beneficial effects of symbiosis between apple rootstocks and AMF species in calcareous soil with a very high level of lime concentration.

Mahaleb (Prunus mahaleb L.) is an important rootstock for P. avium and P. cerasus cultivars. The present study has compared the phenolic contents and antioxidant activity of the methanolic extracts of the barks, leaves and fruits of ten selected mahaleb genotypes. The total phenolic content (5.11-131.77 mg GA g-1) in barks and the total flavonoid (54.06-180.6 mg QE g-1) and proanthocyanidin (8.89-25.33 mg CA g-1) contents in fruits were greater than the other parts of the plants. The maximum contents of total phenol and total proanthocyanidin were in the stem bark and fruit of the genotype '249' (131.77 mg GA g-1, 25.33 mg CA g-1, respectively), while the maximum contents of flavonoid, and anthocyanin were in the fruits of genotype 271 (180.6 mg QE g-1 and 260.81 mg CY g-1, respectively). Antioxidant activity of the samples was determined using the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and reducing power assay (RPA). The antioxidant activity was the highest with the genotype '249', which showed 80.9% and 89.3% in DPPH and RPA assays, respectively. This study showed that total phenolic, flavonoid, proanthocyanidin, and anthocyanin contents were affected by mahaleb genotypes. This information may be of assistance in the production of mahaleb genotypes with maximum levels of desired phenolic.

Tuberose (Polianthes tuberosa L.) is one of the most important cut flowers in Iran. This research was conducted to investigate the effects of spraying a mixture of amino acids on the physiological and morphological characteristics of tuberose. The experiment was carried out in two successive years (2009 and 2010) using two tuberose cultivars ‘Dezfuli’ and ‘Mahallati’. The experiment was arranged as a factorial on a completely randomized design with 4 replications. Treatments were 0, 0.25, 0.5, and 0.75 mg L-1 of amino acids. The results showed that applying amino acids improved all growth and flowering characteristics of tuberose cultivars. Concentration of 0.75 mg L-1 amino acids enhanced the floral stem, inflorescence, and stem diameters. The fresh weight of floral stem increased about 22% as a result of spraying with 0.25 mg L-1 amino acid mixture. Total protein and nitrogen contents of the ‘Dezfuli’ cultivar showed about 60% enhancement when using a 0.5 mg L-1 mixture of amino acid. In general, the effects of amino acids on ‘Dezfuli’ were greater than the ‘Mahallati’ cultivar.

Plant cell cultures could be used as an important tool for biochemical production, ranging from natural pigments to pharmaceutical products. Anthocyanin is affected by a variety of factors. Light, an important plant environmental factor, influences the anthocyanin production in vegetative plant tissues. Here, we have investigated the influence of the blue laser-diode (BLD) and red laser-He Ne (RLHN) irradiation on the ability of apple cells in producing anthocyanin in suspension culture. Callus was induced from young leaf of apple and cell suspension cultures were subsequently formed from calluses. The normal cell suspension into L-shape tube test exposed to RLHN (6.46, 4.82, 1.54 mWcm-2 and 666.66 μWcm-2) and BLD(67.09, 32.74, 30.4, 13.73 mWcm-2) laser radiation for 20 min. Results showed that theanthocyanin production was enhanced significantly by both RLHN and BRD compared withdarkness and fluorescent light cells (P<0.05). The cell cultures exposed to 67.09 BLD and6.46 RLHN indicated highest total anthocyanin (TA) and total monomeric anthocyanin(TMA) contents, while cell cultures exposed to darkness and fluorescent light revealed lowestTA and TAM content, respectively. In addition, we have found that RLHN nearly increasedTA content as well as BLD. However, the BLD laser was more effective on TAM contentthan RLHN laser. At the minimum intensity, the RLHN laser could enhance TA contentwhereas scarcely affecting TMA content. Nevertheless, the BLD laser improved both TA andTMA contents. These results suggest that TAM production is impressed by quantity morethan quality by laser irradiation.

Date bunch fading disorder (DBFD) has been one of the major issues facing date palm growers in recent decades. This order has caused high and non-compensable losses to date palm product. Despite numerous studies, predominantly focusing on the causes and mitigation methods of this disorder, no precise influencing factors have been established and practices which can completely control it are not available. Increased temperature and low RH have been mentioned as factors responsible for inducing this disorder, other probable factors are biotic stresses, especially fungal infections. Present research was carried out to determine the effects of climatic factors on DBFD occurrence. For this purpose, ten orchards of ‘Kabkab’ cultivar of date palm with a history of previous symptoms of DBFD were selected in Bushehr province during 2012-13. 20 trees in each orchard were selected and 100 fruits on each tree were chosen. Numbers of faded and non-faded fruits were counted and disorder percentage was calculated. The daily meteorological data at meteorological stations near the experimental locations were recorded. Results showed that the damage rate was higher in the first year compared to the second one. Furthermore, in 2013, there was a decrease in temperature and concomitant increase in relative humidity from 2012. This condition leads to excess surface evaporation from the fruits and causes fruit wilting, which is referred to as DBFD.