Azarian Journal of Agriculture
Volume:3 Issue: 1, Feb 2016

Nanocomposite hydrogels based on kappa-carrageenan were synthesized by incorporating natural sodium montmorillonite (Cloisite) nanoclay. Acrylamide (AAm) and methylenebisacrylamide (MBA) were used as a monomer and a crosslinker, respectively. Effects of reaction variables on the swelling kinetics were studied. The results revealed that the rate of swelling for nanocomposites with high content of MBA was higher than those of nanocomposites consisting of low content of MBA. Similar to the effect of MBA, the rate of swelling enhanced as the carrageenan content was decreased. The influence of clay content on swelling rate was not remarkable. The experimental swelling data were evaluated by pseudo-first-order and pseudo-secondorder kinetic models. The swelling data described well by pseudo-second-order kinetic model. Sequestrene Fe 138 (Sq) as an agrochemical was loaded into nanocomposites and releasing of this active agent from nanocomposites was studied. The clay-free hydrogel released the whole loaded Sq; whereas the presence of clay restricted the release of Sq.

Vegetative propagation is the most commonly used method for the multiplication of ornamental, medicinal and aromatic plants mainly due to the low seed germination percentage and rate as well as the prolonged time needed for the plant growth and development. Chrysanthemum morifolium and Rosmarinus officinalis are two major ornamental medicinal plants routinely used in landscape and with pharmaceutical and food industries. Owing to the constant needs for these two species, the mass production of the plants in a given short time is more demanding. For the study of the effects of PGRs; NAA and IBA (0‚1000‚ 2000 and 3000 mgl-1) and different sampling times (July‚ August and September) on cuttings rooting and the subsequent root growth a factorial experiment based on RCBD with three factors (auxin type‚ auxin concentration and sampling time) with three replications was conducted. The results revealed that the highest rooting percentage (with three sampling time) and survival rate for Chrysanthemum morifolium (in August and September) was attained with 3000 mgl-1 NAA. The greatest roots number in September and, root weight in August and September in Chrysanthemum morifolium again were belonged to 3000mgl-1 NAA. Auxin concentration had significant effect on root number‚ root fresh weight and survival rate of rosemary. For both IBA and NAA‚ 3000 mgl-1 had positive effects on root fresh weight and survival rate. In total‚ 3000 mgl-1 auxin and September were defined as the time of choice for rosemary cutting preparation and multiplication.

An inheritance study of the anthocyanin pigmentation in the inter-specific cross of O. sativa × O. rufipogon was conducted in the greenhouse of the Institute of Agriculture and Animal Science (IAAS), Rampur, Chitwan, including the parents, F1 and subsequent F2 segregants in the rice growing season of the year 2012. The study was done in the segregating generation of the inter-specific cross of O. sativa cv. Pokhreli Palele × O. rufipogon. The inheritance of anthocyanin pigmentation pattern in the different plant parts was found to be complicated. The segregation of pigmented: non-pigmented for basal leaf sheath, stigma and leaf apex was digenic with complementary gene action (9: 7). Digenic inheritance of the pigmentation in the awn and lemma and palea was found with the segregation ratio of 11 pigmented: 5 non-pigmented. A tetragenic ratio with inhibitory gene action (81 pigmented: 175 non-pigmented) was observed for the internode colour. A pleiotropic gene action of one of the basal leaf sheath pigmentation with that for the stigma and internode pigmentation was found.

The 40% of endosperm protein of common wheat is composed of Low Molecular Weight (LMW) Glutenin Subunits. To examine variation in the D genome of wheat, 98 accessions from different areas of Iran were studied using the five Glu-D3-specific pair primers. The amplification percentages of all primer pair sets were 80.61%, 92.86%, 79.59%, 90.82% and 67.35%, respectively. In comparison of the four species, the most observed bands of the first primer pair were found in Ae. tauschii samples. For the second primer pair, the most frequency of the amplified product was found in the T. aestivum samples. For the third primer pair, the Ae. cylindrical samples had the most amplified band. For the fourth primer pair, the most amplified band was found in the T. aestivum samples. The Ae. cylindrica samples had the most frequency band for the fifth primer pair. Based on dendrogram analysis, the accessions were divided in to 18 categories; and also 42 accessions had a bond for any PCR reaction. It is hoped that the result will be effective in molecular analysis and breeding of native landrace plants.