مجله علوم و فنون باغبانی ایران
سال نوزدهم شماره 4 (زمستان 1397)

The efficient use of water resources, soil, and climate parameters as the main pillars of plant sustainable production requires land suitability evaluation for each crop and area. This research was conducted to evaluate land suitability for walnut cultivation in Iran using geographic information system (GIS). For this purpose, the climate data obtained from 375 synoptic stations of Iran, the geographical data obtained from ASTER satellite with a precision of 150 m (5 seconds) and the edaphic data obtained from a database prepared by Iran's Water Resources Management were used. In this regard, the initial maps (layers) were obtained based on the studied parameters including geographic coordinates, temperature, chilling requirement, electrical conductivity of soil and water, relative humidity, and land slope. Finally, the final mapping of suitable areas for walnut cultivation was presented as land suitability classification by combining these layers. The results showed that around 582844 km2 (35.36%) of Iran is suitable (to fairly suitable) for walnut cultivation. In the other hands, 9.13, 16.70, and 9.54% of Iran’s area are best, suitable, and fairly suitable for walnut cultivation, respectively. Also, 1065351 km2 (64.64%) of Iran is not recommended for walnut cultivation. Based on the obtained maps, the suitable areas for walnut cultivation in Iran are northern strip and northwestern and western provinces of Iran. Also, parts of Kerman, Fars, Isfahan, and Yazd provinces are considered as suitable areas for walnut cultivation.

Strawberry is one of the most popular and beneficial fruits in viewpoint of nutritional value which its production is increasing in greenhouse. In this study the effects of two culture media (perlite + cocopeat with 1:1 ratio or Pumice) and three concentrations of humic acid (0, 300, and 600 mg L-1) as fertigation method, on yield, number of fruit per plant, fruit weight and some of biochemical characteristics of Fragaria ×ananassa Duch. cv. Aromas were evaluated. The experiment was conducted as factorial based on completely randomized design. The highest number of fruit (18.42), single fruit weight (17.39 g) and yield (320.9 g) was observed in plants that were grown in cocopeat media. The highest content of soluble carbohydrate of leaf (36.7 mg/g fresh weight) and soluble protein of crown were observed in plants which grown in perlite + cocopeat media and received 600 and 300 mg L-1 humic acid, respectively. The effect of culture media and humic acid on the amount of leaf nutrients was very different depend on nutrient type. In general, to obtain the highest fruit yield in strawberry (cv. Aromas), cocopeat media and the highest concentration of humic acid (600 mg L-1) is recommended.

Kinnow is one of the most important cultivars of mandarin with a special economic importance in Iran. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of preharvest applications of salicylic acid and gibberellic acid on the storage quality of Citrus reticulate Blanco cv. Kinnow fruit. A factorial experiment was conducted in a randomized complete block design with 3 replications in 2017. The six-year-old trees of mandarin were sprayed in two stages before harvest and fruits were harvested at the end of February and kept at 5 °C and 85% relative humidity for 60 days. Based on the results obtained, at the end of the storage, the lowest levels of acidity were observed at 50 mg L-1 gibberellic acid plus 1 mM salicylic acid. The highest and the lowest TSS levels were observed in non-treated fruits along with 50 mg L-1 gibberellic acid plus 1 mM salicylic acid. All treatments, with the exception of salicylic acid 2 mM, showed a significant role in preventing weight loss.Gibberellic acid treatment has a significant role in preserving the vitamin C of the fruit. The highest L* value (lightness) was observed in gibberellic acid treatment with 50 mg L-1 with 1 mM salicylic acid. The highest a* (21.9) (redness) was observed in salicylic acid 2 mM.

Lime fruits has including economic and nutritional value but the fresh consumption of this fruit compare to processing methods is less, because of its low storage capacity. This research has been designed for study the effects of different concentrations of salicylic acid (0, 1, 2 and 3 mM) on quantitative and qualitative characteristics of lime fruit in storage period (0, 20, 40 and 60 days). This research based factorial on completely randomized design with four replications (10 fruit per replication). Each treatment was immersed in salicylic acid for 5 minutes and after drying, were packed in disposable containers and transferred in storage at temperature of 4±1 ° C with relative humidity 85 ± 5 ° C. The results showed during storage, fruit acidity and aroma were decreased and fruit bitterness was increased. 60 days after storage, salicylic acid 3 and 2 mM, compare to the control recorded the highest fruit acidity (60%). At the end of storage salicylic acid 1 mM compare to the control had the lowest fruit bitterness (20%), flavedo browning and malondialdehyde. After 60-day storage, the lowest chilling percentage and decay and highest acidity and phenolic compound (66%) related to salicylic acid 3 mM compare to control. Salicylic acid had protected fruit acidity and antioxidant activity and prevented decay, chilling injury, browning and malondialdehyde. It seems that the use of salicylic acid 2 and 1 mM can maintain some qualitative and quantitative properties of lime fruit during 60 days of storage at 4 ± 1 °C.

An experiment was designed to investigate the effect of grafting Cucumis sativus var. Super daminos on Cucurbita moschata (Rs) and Lagenaria siceraria (Lg)which is comparing with non-grafting of Cucumis sativus var. Super daminos (Rn) and self-grafting (Rc). The experiment carried out as a factorial experiment based on complete randomized design (CRD) with 4 replicates in two temperature treatments in the greenhouse of Isfahan University of Technology. Treatments were temperature included optimum temperature (27±2°C) and cold temperature (15±2°C). The results showed that concentrations of N, P, K, Ca, and Mg decreased in low temperature and Na concentration was increased. Nutrient use efficiency of N, P, K, and Na was increased with decreasing temperature and the concentrations of Ca and Mg was decreased. Generally, endemic rootstock could improve the grafting cucumber nutrient absorbtion so the result of this experiment showed that Lagenaria siceraria compare with other rootstock improved the N, P, K and Mg absorption.

Nutrition management in growth season has a main effect on production and accumulation of secondary metabolites in grapevine berries. In this research the effects of foliar application of potassium sulfate (K; 0, 1.5, and 3%) and iron chelate (Fe; 0, 0.5, and 1%) on accumulation of resveratrol and viniferin and antioxidant capacity of ‘Bidaneh Sefid’ grape berries was evaluated. This study was carried out as a factorial experiment based on completely randomized block design in commercial vineyard located in Malayer city during 2016-2017. The fruits were harvested based on maturity index. Some characteristics of berries such as flavonoids, total phenols, anthocyanin, vitamin C, resveratrol, viniferin, antioxidant capacity, catalase, guaiacol peroxidase, and ascorbate peroxidase were measured. Based on the results, the highest berry total anthocyanin and vitamin C was related to sprayed vines with 1% Fe- EDDHA and 1.5% potassium sulfate in solely respectively. The highest total phenol observed in vines sprayed with 1.5% potassium sulfate in combination with 1% Fe- EDDHA. However, the lowest total phenol content was found in control vines. The highest berries resveratrol and viniferin concentration was observed in vines sprayed with moderate doses of both fertilizers. Moreover, berry antioxidant capacity of vines treated with moderate doses of both fertilizers was found to be highest. Nutrient -treated vines with both fertilizers at third level showed the higher guaiacol peroxidase in compared to others plants. The highest catalase activity of berries was related to vines treated with 3% potassium sulfate in combination with 0.5% Fe- EDDHA. However, the maximum ascorbate peroxidase was obtained with 1.5% potassium sulfate in combination with Fe-EDDHA at 0.5% concentrations. The lowest activity of all enzymes was obtained in control un-treated vines.

Bioactive components play an important role in human health. In general, bioactive compounds of fruits decline during storage.  Therefore, maintaining fruits bioactive compounds during storage is very important. In this study, effects of pre-harvest CaCl2 sprays (0, 1, 2, and 4%) at different fruit development stages (120, 140, and 160 days after full bloom) on maintaining fruit quality of three citrus cultivars (Citrus sinensis cvs Thomson, Moro and Citrus reticulata cv Page) during storage were investigated. After harvest, fruits were stored at 5˚C and 85% relative humidity for 60 days. Then, some biochemical characteristics of the fruits peels and pulps were determined at 0, 30, and 60 days of storage. Results showed that, total ascorbic acid, total phenol, total flavonoid and antioxidant capacity in peels and pulps of CaCl2 treated fruits were significantly higher (especially those treated with 2 and 4 % CaCl2) than control in each storage period. Results also showed that naringin (in ‘Thomson’), hesperidin (in ‘Thomson’ and ‘Page’), neohesperidin and quercetin (in ‘Thomson’ and ‘Moro’) of CaCl2 treated fruits pulps were higher (especially those treated with 2 and 4 % CaCl2) than control. Based on the findings of this study it could be suggested that 4% CaCl2 pre-treatment is a useful strategy to maintain or increase bioactive compounds and antioxidant capacity of citrus fruits (‘Thomson’, ‘Moro’, and ‘Page’) during storage.

Kiwifruit is a fast-growing deciduous woody vine that can be propagated in several ways. Nevertheless, seedlings have a strong and widespread system of roots than cuttings. The aim of this study was to find a simple and practical method for farmers to increase the germination percentage of kiwifruit seeds. This study was performed in a completely randomized design with five treatments of Cold Stratification (2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 weeks) at 4 ° C with three replications in the Citrus and Subtropical Fruit Research Center. The results showed that vegetative traits of seedlings such as stem length, seedling length, and number of seedlings with one true leaf were significantly different among stratification treatments. In the tetrazolium test, the average percentage of viable seeds was 72.22%. In non-stratified seeds, no germination was observed until the end of the experimental period, but the chilling stratified seeds showed 16.00 to 39.78% germination in different treatments. The highest germination rate (2.67%), seed germination index (18.96), seed vigor index (1935.52), mean daily germination (1.17 Seed per day), germination value (1.58), and peak value (1.13) were observed in 4 weeks Cold Stratification at 4±0.5 ˚C. Therefore, Hayward kiwifruit seeds need 4 weeks of Cold Stratification at 4±0.5 ˚C to break the dormancy and reach maximum germination.

Purslane (Portulaca oleracea L.) contains valuable ingredients such as dopamine, noradrinalin and omega-3. The increase of secondary metabolites by elicitors is widely used in tissue culture of medicinal plants. The aim of this study was to assess effect of plant growth regulators on callus induction and amount of dopamine in callus tissue of purslane under the influence of methyl jasmonate as an elicitor. For this purpose, in the first experiment the interaction effects of different concentrations of BAP (0, 1, and 2 mg L-1) and 2,4-D (0, 0.5, and 1.5 mg L-1) on two kinds of explants (leaf and meristem) was examined. The best callogenesis was obtained in the leaf explants with maximum callus induction (100%), fresh weight (121 mg), and callus diameter (5.1 mm) by combined application of 2 mg L-1 BAP and 0.5 mg L-1 2,4-D. In the second experiment the effects of methyl jasmonate application (0, 100, and 200 µM) on dopamine production of calluses during 2, 4, and 6 days of treatment were investigated. After extract preparation of different treatments, the amount of dopamine was determined by HPLC. The highest amount of dopamine (0.685 mg L-1) was obtained in concentrations of 200 µM after two days of treatment. Application of methyl jasmonate enhanced dopamine content in all treatments compared to the control. Therefore, methyl jasmonate which is an effective elicitor to increase secondary metabolite in purslane.

Wilting disease caused by Fusarium oxysporum f.sp lycopersici is one of the most important tomato diseases. Regarding to the destructive effects of overuse of chemical pesticides in the environment, applying of nonchemical compounds for plant disease control is unavoidable. Therefore the goal of this research was producing of green silver nanoparticles and understanding of their fungicide effects on F1 and F16 strains of F.o.f.sp.lycopersici. For this reason, fungicide effects of Ag NPs that were made under dark and lighting conditions, investigated by factorial method under CRD examination with three replications for each treatments. All experiments were done under in vitro and in vivo conditions. Treatments were distilled water as negative control, 25, 75, 100 and 120 mg L-1 concentrations of Ag NPs suspension and aqueous sour orange extract. More effectively treatments regarding to their capability for highest inhibitory effects on fungal growth under in vitro condition were selected and used for in vivo experiments. These treatments were 50, 100, 200 and 300 mg L-1 concentrations of Ag NPs (were made under dark and lightening conditions) that were applying as pre and post treatments on diseased tomato plants by F.o.f.sp.lycopersici. Morphological properties, disease incidence (DI) and disease severity (DS) were evaluated in this section. Finally the results of this research show that, 120 mg L-1 concentration of Ag NPs (were made under dark condition) had the highest inhibitory effects on F1 and F16 strains of F.o.f.sp.lycopersici under in vitro condition. Also under in vivo condition, 300 mg L-1 concentration of Ag-NPs (were made under dark condition) was more effectively than other concentrations and it could be reducing DI and DS. But yield of tomato with 300 mg L-1 concentration of Ag-NPs was reduced regarding to Ag NPs toxicity effects.