نشریه تولیدات گیاهی
سال سی و ششم شماره 4 (زمستان 1392)

This research explored the priming effect on dry matter yield and two hybrid maize qualitative characteristics (S.C.640 and S.C.704). This Study was carried out with a factorial experiment in randomized completely block design with four replications in 2010- 2011 in Agricultural and Natural Resources Research Center Qaemshahr (Qarakheil). Treatments involved two type corn seeds (S.C.640 and S.C.704) and seven priming solutions which contain polyethilen glycol (PEG) with 5 and 10 percent densities, potassium nitrat (KNO3) with 0.5 and 1 percent densities, chloride potassium with 1 and 2 percent densities, hydro priming (soaking in water) and control (with out priming). Results showed that the maximum dry matter yield in hectar was obtained by priming with polyethilen glycol solution by 5 and 10 percent densities which respectively equals 9556 and 8979 kg/ha. The Maximum dry weight of stem to whole and the range of dry weight in ear to stem and leaf were respectively achieved by priming with polyethilen glycol solution in 5 and 10 percent densities. Also, the maximum rate of fiber, protein, sugar and ash was jointly obtained by polyethilen glycol priming with 10 percent densities which respectively equal 33.40, 15.26, 26.03 and 7.02 percent and the minimum rate of protein and ash was achieved by polyethilen glycol priming with 5 percent (7.21 and 4.41 percent). The maximum rate of protein, sugar and ash were under the influence of interaction varieties × priming with polyethilen glycol by 10 percent under (S.C.640) percent densities which respectively equal 32, 25.83 and 7.73 percent achieved. Among the seeds tested, S.C.640 represented the best seeds under simulated drought conditions. We can claim that these seeds are suitable for drought situations with other growth stages tested in field experiments.

Narcissus tazetta is one of the most important ornamental bulbous species endemic to Iran. Micropropagation of Narcissus tazetta is an important method for rapid propagation and disease elimination of these plants. The aim of this research was to determine the optimal conditions for micropropagation of this plant using leaf explant. To conduct the experiment the sterile leaf explants were cultured on MS media containing BA with IBA or NAA at different concentrations. All media were supplemented with 30 gl־¹ Sucrose and gl־¹ Agar. Results showed that the highest number of shoots (3) with elongated stems (24 mm lenght) were obtained in media containing 2 mgl ¹ BA with 1 mgl ¹ IBA and 4 mgl ¹ BA with 0. 25 mgl ¹ NAA. In this media, the regeneration rate of explants was 100%. In the shoot proliferation stage, shoots were cultured on MS media supplemented with different concentrations of BA and IBA or BA and NAA. The best results were obtaind in the media containing 2 mgl ¹ BA and 1 mgl ¹ IBA in which 100% of explants produced shoots. In this medium, the highest number of shoots per explant (mean 3) and the highest shoots (mean 20 mm lenght) were produced.

This study was carried out at the research farm of Agriculture Faculty, Bu- Ali Sina university, in 2009, to evaluate the effect of winter cereals as cover crops on weed control, improving soil fertility, yield and yield components of potato. The experiment was a randomized complete block design with three replications. The trial including seven treatments consisted of no cover crop, rye, barley and triticale, each with common and triple plant density. The results showed that rye and barley with triple plant density produced 1503.5 and 1392.2 g/m2, respectively. Rye, barley, triticale with triple and rye with common plant density reduced winter weeds biomass 97, 96, 93 and 89 percent respectively, compared to control. Cover crop treatments showed different abilities to weed control in potato growth period (15, 45 and 75 Day After Germination) compared to the control treatment. The treatments, of rye and barley with triple and rye with common plant density had the most inhibition effects on summer weeds. Soil physical properties were affected significantly by cover crops, so rye, barley and triticale with triple and rye with common plant density, increased organic carbon 26, 25, 21 and 25 percent, respectively compared with the control treatment. Rye and barley with triple and rye with common plant density, decreased soil specific weight 6.6, 7.5 and 7.4 percent, respectively compared with the control treatment. There was a significant correlation between weeds plant population and the dry matter of potato, organic carbon percentage, soil specific weight and number of large potato tubers with potato tuber yield. Rye with common and triple plant density and barley with triple plant density compared to control increased tuber yield of potato 50, 33 and 35 percent, respectively. These treatments increased the number of large potato tuber 42, 33 and 27 percent, respectively compared with control.

Anise hyssop (Agastache foeniculum Kuntze) is a prennial herb plant belonging to the Lamiaceae family. The Essential oil form this plant is used in food, pharmaceutical, cosmetics industries, and flavoring liqueurs. To evaluate the effect of drought treatments on essential oil content and composition of anise hyssop, an experiment was conducted in a Randomized Complete Blocks Design (RCBD) with seven water stress treatments and three replications in two field and greenhouse conditions. The treatments were 100% of field capacity (FC), 85% of FC, 70% of FC, 55% of FC, 100-85% of FC (100% at vegetative and 85% at reproductive period), 100-70% of FC (100% at vegetative and 70% at reproductive stage), 85-100 % of FC (85% at vegetative and 100% at reproductive phase). A Clevenger-type apparatus (hydro distillation) was used to extract the essential oils from the plants foliage. Essential oil components were analyzed and recognized by GC and GC/MS. The result showed that the highest (2.30%) and lowest (1.64%) amounts of essential oil content were observed at 55% FC and 100-70% FC in the field condition, respectively. Water stress also caused increase in the essential oil content in the greenhouse condition. Accordingly, the essential oil content was increased from 1.12 in 100% FC to 1.62 in 55% FC. Herbal yield and essential oil yield were significantly decreased with the progressing level of water deficit in both field and greenhouse conditions. Methyl chavicol was the main composition of essential oil in the two conditions and unaffected by water stress. In total, 85-100 % FC and 100 % FC were recommended to field and greenhouse conditions, respectively.

This experiment was carried out to determine the adaptation ability of 12 olive cultivars in the dry-warm climate of Kermanshah province, Sarpol-e-Zehab Dallaho olive station from 2007 until 2009. A randomized complete block design with three replications was used. Vegetative and reproductive traits were evaluated according to I.P.G.R.I. and I.O.O.C. descriptors. Flora emergence was significantly different over years and between cultivars. Mastoidis, the late ripening cultivar, produces small fruits (1.2 gr/ fruit) with highest level of oil per fresh matter (12.8%). Jolt was early ripening cultivar and showed the highest single fruit weight (5.4 gr/ fruit) and the lowest content oil per fresh matter (4.9%). Frangivento and Mavi cultivars had the highest (3360 kg/ha) and the lowest (873 kg/ha) yields respectively. Finally, Jolt, the table olive in early ripening cultivar and Mastoidis, the oil olive in late ripening cultivar were better than others. Temperature played a major role in delay of flowering by affecting phonological state and development of flowers. Oil content in olive was affected by environmental conditions and genetic backgrounds of cultivars.

Consumers all over the world increasingly prefer seedless table grapes. Hence grape breeding programmes have been aimed at developing new seedless varieties having better fruit quality, larger berry size and higher yields. In this research, the effect of pre bloom sprays of benzyladenine (BA) and different concentrations of indole acetic acid (IAA) in culture medium was evaluated on embryo rescue of Askari × Ruby Seedless hybrid cultivar. The first and second sprays of BA (0 and 30 mg/l) were 14 and 7 days prior to emasculation of Askari cultivar flowers respectively. Forty days after flower opening hybrid ovules of Askari × Ruby Seedless were dissected out, they were cultured in Nitsch and Nitsch medium containing 0.35 mg/l GA3, 2 g/l activated charcoal, 30 g/l sucrose, 8 g/l agar and different concentrations of IAA (1, 1.75 and 3 mg/l). Evaluated characteristics were callused and germinated ovules. The results showed that different concentrations of IAA were significant on callus formation of ovules and the highest callus formation were observed in 3 mg/l of IAA concentration. Based on the obtained results the interaction of different concentrations of IAA and BA was effective on the percentage of ovule germination in such a way that the highest percentage of germinated ovules (10.55 %) was obtained in 1 mg/l of IAA with 30 mg/l BA sprays at parrot green stage of panicles.

In order to compare the antioxidant capacity, total phenolic content and physico-chemical characteristics of commercial peach cultivars, an experiment based on randomized complete design (RCD) with 6 treatments and 6 replications was conducted. The treatments included six cultivars of white peach, Fig peach, Green peach, Elberta, Redhaven and GHHale collected from Shahd Iran commercial Orchard in Mashhad. The analyzed parameters included fruit and stone weight, length and width fruit, soluble solids, titratable acidity, pH, color variables like as L, a, and b, vitamin C, total phenolics compounds and total antioxidant activity in skin and pulp. The results showed that the heaviest and the lightest fruits in weight were produced by GHHale and Elberta, respectively. Total antioxidant activity and total phenol content varied up to 13-48 mg.ml-1 and 47-209 mg GA.100g-1 fresh weight, respectively. The antioxidant capacity of skin was higher than that of pulp. The best quality fruit in terms of highest vitamin c, total phenolics, total antioxidant activity and soluble solids was produced by green peach. White peach cultivar was suitable in terms of vitamin c, soluble solids and fruit weight, whereas its total phenolics and total antioxidant activity were the lowest. Some color parameters are usable in selecting fruit with high vitamin c and total antioxidant activity.

Nowadays, seed priming technique is used as an improvement factor for germination and seedling emergence under typical and untypical conditions. To determine the effect of the best pre-treatment material and time priming on seed germination characteristics (germination percentage, germination mean time, radicle length) of chicory’s ecotypes, an experiment was conducted using a randomized complete block design with factorial arrangement with three replications. The factors included four ecotypes (Arak, Isfahan, Shiraz and Tehran), nine pre-treatments solution: GA3 (25 and 250μM), KNO3 (50 and 150 µM), methyl jasmonate MJ (50 and 500μM), polyethylene glycol PEG6000 (-9 and -17 bar) and hydropriming H2O (0 bar) and three priming time (4, 8 and 12 hour) along with control. This experiment combination was examined in two different temperatures separately (10 and 25°C). The results from evaluation of seed priming of chicory’s ecotypes at 10°C showed the maximum percentage of germination and the minimum of germination mean time in ecotypes of Arak, Isfahan, Shiraz and Tehran using H2O and KNO350. In all of the ecotypes, the minimum percentage of germination and the maximum germination mean time using PEG17. H2O and KNO350 treatments had the maximum percentage of germination and the minimum germination mean time at 12- hour time priming. The length of radicle was maximum by using 12- hour time hydropriming but by using 12- hour time MJ500, the length of radicle decreased extremely. At 25°C, pre-treatment of seed chicory’s ecotypes had a significant effect only on germination mean time (p

This experiment was carried out to elucidate the importance of leaves on vase life of three greenhouse rose cultivars in Khorramabad, Iran, during 2010. Keeping leaves on cut stem or defoliation and inclusion of 0 or 4% sucrose in vase water in three rose cultivars (Coffee Break, Polar Star and Full House) were arranged factorially based on a randomized complete blocks design. Results showed that defoliation significantly increased water balance, relative fresh weight and vase life. Inclusion of 4% sucrose in vase water of cut stems having leaves caused leaf damage and decreased water uptake and water loss so that the trends of water uptake and water loss of these stems were the same as defoliated cut stems. Inclusion of sucrose while increasing total soluble solid in petals did not show any positive effect on vase life. Defoliated flower stems in vase water with 0% sucrose showed maximum vase life (11.33 d), following defoliated stems stored in 4% sucrose (10.27 d). Cut stems having leaves with 0 and 4% sucrose (8.87 and 9.07 d, respectively) showed minimum vase life.

Castor bean Rininus Communis L. is one of the most important industrial plants in energy and medicine. In order to study the density and sulfur fertilizer effects on yield and yield components of four Iranian castor beans varieties for biofuel and medicine production an experiment was conducted in 2009 and 2010 in Eizeh city Farm. The experimental design was split split-plot based on randomized complete block with 3 replications. The Studied factors included four castor beans varieties as main plots (Taj bakhsh, Ebrahim, Mousavie and Ghobadian) and three planting distance on row as sub plots (50, 60 and 70 cm) and three levels of sulphor as sub-sub plots (0, 75 and 150kg net S per hectare). The results showed that traits such as grain yield and yield components were affected by experimental factors and they were different. According to the results of this experiment, the highest and the lowest grain yields were obtained from Mousavie (11735.28 kg/ha) and Ghobadian (7172.08 kg/ha) genotypes, 70 cm (10209.1 kg/ha) and 50 cm (8126.83 kg/ha) distance and 150kg (9868.38 kg/ha) and 0kg (7950.63 kg/ha) net S per hectare respectively.

The green manure crops are one of the most important organic sources of nitrogen in agronomy. In order to evaluate of the influence of nitrogen rates and green manure crops by nitrogen efficiency indices a field experiment was conducted in Agricultural Faculty of Shahid Chamran University in 2010-2011. The experimental design was split-plot based on randomized complete block with 3 replications. The main plot included 4 nitrogen rates (i.e. 0, 50, 100 and 150 kgN.ha-1) and the sub-plot included 6 green manure crops (i.e. fallow, millet, sesbania, amaranth, cowpea and mung bean). Our results showed that, green manure crops had a significant effect on wheat grain yield. This effect was different between legume and non-legume green manure crops. But, the effect of green manure crops decreased by increasing indices in nitrogen rates. At nitrogen points of view, the best indices for evaluation of nitrogen effect were nitrogen balance, nitrogen reliance and nitrogen use efficiency indices, respectively. Also, at the green manure point of view, the best indices for evaluation of green manure crops were nitrogen balance index, nitrogen uptake and nitrogen utilization indices, respectively. In addition, the nitrogen reliance index had the highest positive correlation with grain yield. Over all, it seems that attention to traditional production criteria (i.e. grain yield) is not adequate and other eco-physiological criteria’s such as nitrogen efficiency indices must be taken into account.