مجله تولید و فرآوری محصولات زراعی و باغی
سال نهم شماره 4 (زمستان 1398)

The management of soil elements by biological fertilizers is considered as an important attribute of sustainable agriculture. In order to evaluate the interaction effects of Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and redroot pigweed (Amaranthus retroflexus L.) on growth and yield of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) under water stress conditions, a field study was conducted in 2015 at School of Agriculture, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran. Water stress at three levels (60, 80 and 100% FC) as main factor, mycorrhizal fungi at two levels (with and without fungi) and redroot pigweed at two levels (weedy and weed free) were used in three replications based on factorial in sub plots. Results showed that seed yield reduced the by 42% under weedy conditions and applying mycorrhizal fungi compensated the grain yield decrease by 29%. Weed in moderate and severe water stress conditions caused seed yield reductions of 35 and 52%, and applying mycorrhizal fungi compensated grain yield loss by 4 and 51%, respectively. Mean comparisons for severe water stress and weedy treatment interaction showed oil yield, biological yield and harvest index reduced by 57, 36 and 25% and applying mycorrhizal fungi compensated oil yield, biological yield and harvest index decreases by 63, 25 and 20%, respectively. In general, it seems that the application of mycorrhiza can improve growth and yield characteristics of sunflower under water stress and weedy conditions.

Investigating the crop response to the deficit irrigation and evaluating the effect of drought stress on plant is one of the most important issues in crop production. In these circumstances, the use of organic fertilizers can play a mitigative role. Hence, an experiment was laid out as split plot based on randomized complete blocks design with three replications in Research Farm of University of Gonabad, Gonabad, east of Iran. The main factor comprised of full irrigation, temporary interruption of irrigation in the flowering stage, and temporary interruption of irrigation in the seed filling stage, and subfactor levels included of control, chemical fertilizer, manure, compost, and vermicompost. Drought stress led to decreases in grain and biological yield of the millet, and the highest yields were achieved by vermicompost application under full irrigation during the growth period. The forage yield, plant height, leaf number in the main stem, tiller number, and 1000 grain weight were not significantly affected by the drought stress. The forage, biological and grain yield showed the highest increase due to applying vermicompost, while the plant height and harvest index showed the highest increase when exposed to manure. Chemical fertilizer enhanced the tiller number to a greater value as compared to other treatments. The plants that were exposed to drought stress in the grain filling stage showed notable decreases in the harvest index. The water use efficiency of the plants exposed to drought stress in the flowering stage was increased, whereas in those exposed to drought stress in the grain filling stage it was decreased. Vermicompost and compost had the greatest positive influence on the water use efficiency. In general, even though the highest yields were obtained from full irrigation, with utilizing deficit irrigation operation in the flowering stage of millet we can improve the water use efficiency and the harvest index of this crop. In addition, the findings showed the positive effects of organic amendment in comparison with chemical amendment for millet cultivation.

Stability and adaptability of ten common bean cultivars were studied in water stressed and normal conditions, three planting dates (including 5 May, 20 May and 5 June), and two years (2014 and 2016) in Shahrekord, Iran. Combined analysis of variance for yield indicated that the effect of genotype by environment interaction was significant; therefore, more accurate statistical analyses were required to evaluate yield stability of each cultivar. Stability analysis was performed using some univariate methods and a multivariate method (AMMI model). Comparison of univariate and multivariate stability parameters showed that AMMI model is more effective and practical than univariate methods. In AMMI model, graphical discrimination of the genotypes and the environments facilitated the identification of stable and high yielding genotypes. In this regard, Chiti cardinal genotype had high yield and wide adaptability to diverse environments. This genotype had the minimum amount of the first and the second interaction principal components scores (IPC1 and IPC2) in the AMMI model as well as the minimum value of AMMI stability parameters including EV4 and SIPC4; hence this genotype is introduced as a genotype having general stability. In contrast, genotype Akhtar had a high yield potential; however, in biplot graph this genotype was located close to IPC1 and away from IPC2, which implies that Akhtar has specific adaptability to some environments. Biplot graph also showed that among the different environments which were involved in this experiment, year had not fundamental effect on various performance of genotypes. In the second planting date, the genotypes performances were more consistent than the first planting date; moreover, the genotypes responses under moisture stressed conditions were different and unpredictable. In conclusion, sowing of Cardinal genotype in second planting date (20 May) under well-irrigated conditions is recommended for the Shahrekord in central west of Iran.

In order to evaluate the forage quality in grass pea (Lathyrus sativus L.) barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) intercropping with application of mycorrhiza fungus (Glomus intraradices), a field experiment was carried out as a randomized complete blocks design (RCBD) with 10 treatments and 3 replications at the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Maragheh, Iran during 2017 growing season. Treatments included planting patterns (sole planting of grass pea and barley, 75% grass pea+ 25% barley, 50% grass pea+ 50% barley, 25% grass pea+ 75% barley) with and without mycorrhiza inoculation. The highest water soluble carbohydrate (WSC) and crude fiber (CF) were achieved in monoculture of inoculated and no-inoculated barley and 25% grass pea+ 75% barley planting patterns. Also, the highest neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and acid detergent fiber (ADF) belonged to monocultures of barley, while the lowest NDF and ADF related to grass pea sole cropping. Thus, the highest total digestible nutrients (TDN), dry matter intake (DMI), digestible dry matter (DDM) and net energy for lactation (NEL) were obtained in monoculture of inoculated grass pea. In addition, inoculation with Glomus intraradices improved the mixture forage quality by reducing the concentration of ADF and ADF, while DDM, DMI, TDN and RFV were increased. Overall, based on the examined quality indices, inoculated grass pea was found potent to produce a good-quality forage.

This experiment was conducted to study the effects of three identified isolates of Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) on growth, acid phosphatase enzyme activity and phenolic compounds (phenol, flavonoid and anthocyanin) of zinnia plants (Zinnia elegans L.var. Magellan Red) under water stress conditions. A factorial (two factors) experiment was planned based on a completely randomized design (CRD) with six replications at the greenhouse of Vali-e Asr University of Rafsanan, Rafsanjan, Iran. The factors included five AMF inoculation (no mycorrhizae as control, Rhizophagus irregularis, Rhizophagus intraradisces, Funneliformis mosseae, mixture of three species) and four irrigation levels (100% FC as control, 80% FC, 60% FC and 40% FC). Seedlings with four true leaves were transplanted into 1.2 L pots and immediately inoculated with each of the above symbionts. The plans were irrigated with distilled water for 50 days to obtain certain amount of infection, then four irrigation regimes were achieved for four weeks. Vegetative growth traits (leaf number, peduncle diameter, petal length, shoot and root dry weight) were reduced significantly with increasing drought stress level. Drought stress reduced chlorophyll index (SPAD) and phenolic compounds concentration. Inoculation with AMF prominently improved growth, acid phosphatase enzyme activity, chlorophyll index and phenolic compounds under drought stress, so that  under  40% FC,  R. irregularis, R. intraradisces, F. mosseae, and a mixture of them  increased acid phosphatase enzyme activity by 58, 52, 61, 53 percent, respectively, compared to the control. In conclusion, it is suggested that AMF inoculation improves drought tolerance of zinnia plants at least in part through the enhanced uptake of slowly diffusing mineral ions such as phosphorus.

To investigate the effect of humic acid application on agronomic characteristics of canola (Brassica napus L.) genotypes in different plant densities, a factorial split-plot experiment was performed using a randomized complete block design with three replications in the Seed and Plant Improvement Institute, Karaj, Iran. Plant density at three levels of 40, 60 and 80 plants/m2 and humic acid at two levels of 0 (non-application) and application of 0.3% were considered the main plots and canola genotypes including RGS003, Zafar, Julius, Jerry, Zabol10 and Hyola4815 were the sub-plots. The interaction effect of plant density × humic acid × cultivar was statistically significant for seed yield, oil yield, number of seeds per pod, number of pods per plant, biological yield and harvest index. Moreover, the interaction effect of plant density × cultivar was significant for oil percentage, 1000 seed weight, chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b and total chlorophyll. Generally, increased competition at the highest plant density caused an adverse effect on the tested traits of the canola cultivars. The Jerry cultivar with 40 plants/m2 (lowest density) and application of humic acid had the highest numbers of seeds per pod and pods per plant (with an average of 24.6 and 200.7, respectively) and 1000 seed weight (with the average of 4.9 g). Moreover, in the lowest plant density (40 plants/m2) and application of humic acid, the Jerry cultivar had the highest amounts of seed and oil yields (with an average of 5412 and 2196 kg ha-1, respectively). Accordingly, the examined canola cultivars had a positive reaction to the application of humic acid in different plant densities in particular at 40 plants/m2. Jerry cultivar had the maximum seed and oil yield under humic acid application condition when sown at 40 plants/m2.

In order to investigate the effect of planting date and sowing method on ear yield, water use efficiency and some physiological characteristics of sweet corn, an experiment was carried out as a split plot based on a randomized complete block design with three replications in Yasouj, south-west of Iran. Planting date consisted of five levels (4 May, 19 May, 4 June, 19 June, 5 July) and considered as the main plots and three levels of planting methods (seed cultivation, transplanting cultivation [15-days after planting (3-leaf stage)] and [20-days after planting (4-leaf stage)] were assigned to the sub-plots. Planting date and sowing method interaction effects were significant on ear yield and water use efficiency. Transplanting at 3-leaf stage on the 4th of May had the maximum ear yield (16000 kg ha-1) and at 4-leaf stage on the 5th of July had the minimum ear yield (8000 kg ha-1). The highest water use efficiency (2.93 kg m-3) was obtained by transplanting on the 4th of May and 3-leaf stage, which was 66% higher than the water use efficiency of those transplanted on the 5th of July and at 4-leaf stage. The effects of planting date and sowing method were significant on grain protein content. With a delayed planting, the grain protein content was increased so that the maximum of grain protein content (8.7%) was obtained in the 5th of July and the lowest (8%) in the 4th of May transplanting. The grain protein concentration of the transplanting treatments was less than the grain protein of the seed cultivation treatment. The high temperature stress experienced by sowing at the 19th of May until the 19th of June decreased the grain sugar content. Transplanting cultivation led to increase in the amount of total sugar compared to seed cultivation. The best treatment in this study was found to be transplanting at 3-leaf stage on the 4th of May.

Reducing iron solubility in calcareous soils causes iron chlorosis symptoms in the plant. In order to investigate the response of M. scutellata to direct and indirect iron deficiency, a factorial experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design with three replications. The experimental factors included three levels of lime (0, 4 and 8%) and five levels of Fe (0, 5 and 10 mg Fe Kg soil-1 as soil application and 0 and 2.1 µM Fe as foliar spray). Zero Fe concentrations in soil and foliar Fe fertilization was considered as control-S and control-F treatment, respectively. The results showed that the amendment of 8% CaCO3 in control treatments caused typical Fe deficiency symptoms, including decreases in chlorophyll, total and extractable leaf Fe concentration, protein, leaf relative water content, membrane stability index and increases in leaf total phenolic and flavonoid concentration when compared to 0% lime. The soil and foliar Fe fertilisation led to the improvement of Fe chlorosis, increases in chlorophyll, Fe, protein, and decreases in concentration of phenolic compounds in three levels of lime. The foliar Fe fertilization in three levels of lime increased total and extractable leaf Fe content, compared to two soil Fe treatments, but foliar Fe fertilization (in 4 and 8% of lime) yielded progressively lower leaf phenolic compounds. The highest leaf chl concentration in 8% lime was observed in 10 mg Fe Kg soil-1 and foliar Fe fertilization. The presented data indicate that the use of foliar application of Fe (Fe- EDDHA) is potent to reduce the effects of lime induced chlorosis in plants in calcareous soils.

Nasrin plant (Amaryllis) is considered as a valuable bulbous plant. The propagation rate of this ornamental plant in natural condition is low. Therefore, application of modern techniques such as tissue culture is an appropriate way to increase the propagation rate of this ornamental plant. In order to study the effect of explant kind, type and concentration of cytokinin on scale explant regeneration of amaryllis, afctorial experiment was done based on a completely randomized design with 4 replications. Different explants including twin scale with basal plate, single scale with basal plate and single scale without basal plate was used. Explants were cultured on MS basal medium supplemented with different concentration of BA or TDZ (0, 0.5, 1 and 2 mg/l) and 0.1 mg/l NAA, 30 g/l sucrose and 8 g/l agar. Results showed that twin scale explants with basal plate were the best explants for in vitro propagation of amaryllis and produced thicker bulblets. On the other hand, no bulblets were regenerated from single scale without basal plate and these explants became brown over the time. Also cytokinin type had no significant effect on the diameter of regenerated bulblets but in medium containing BA more bulblets were regenerated in comparison to medium supplemented with TDZ. Medium without any hormones produced less and thicker bulblets compared with other treatments. By considering the diameter and number of bulblets, application of twin scale and use of MS medium containing 0.5 mg/l BA in combination with 0.1 mg/l NAA is recommended for in vitro propagation of amaryllis

White mulberry (Morus alba) belongs to the Moraceae family. The aim of this study is to evaluate some important physicochemical characteristics and fruit color of white mulberry grown in West Azarbaijan province of Iran. White mulberry fruits collected from five regions (Urmia, KHoy, Mahabad, Miyandoab and Oshnaviyeh) in West Azarbaijan province, were transferred to the laboratory and some properties such as fruit weight, fruit and leaf length and width, fruit color parameters, fruit volume and pH were measured. The results showed that the highest percentage of variation was observed in Hue and a* traits, hence these traits had the highest diversity among the studied genotypes. The maximum and minimum fruit weight was observed in genotypes kh3 (4.24 g) and O3 (0.71 g), respectively. The fruit length had significant positive correlation with fruit thickness, volume and weight. The five main factors explained 83.86 % of the total variance. Based on the cluster analysis, genotypes were divided into five main groups. In general, the results showed that physical properties of the fruit could be helpful for evaluation and identification of variation in white mulberry germplasm. These results could be valuable and practical in breeding programs and also designing appropriate models and packaging methods for white mulberry fruits.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of leaching on the reduction of soybean (Glycin max), black cumin (Nigella sativa), dill (Anethum graveolens) and dragonhead (Dracocephalum moldavica) residues allelopathy in wheat (Triticum aestivum) cropping. The experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design with three replications in 2017. The factors consisted of four types of previous plants (soybean, black cumin, dragonhead and dill) and three levels of leaching (without leaching, once leaching and twice leaching). The results showed that the previous plant type and leaching levels had no significant effect on wheat emergence. Leaching reduced the effects of deterioration of soybean, black cumin, dragonhead and dill. The highest rate of emergence was observed with 1.73 seedlings per day for wheat cultivated in soil with dill and dragonhead residues plus once leaching. The greatest root length (24.7 cm) was associated with wheat grown in soils with dragonhead residues plus once leaching. The highest leaf area and chlorophyll a and chlorophyll b content observed in the wheat grown in the soil with soybean residues plus once leaching. It was concluded that in agroecosystems where autumn wheat is in rotation, it is necessary to avoid wheat cultivation in the presence of soybean, black cumin, and dragonhead and dill residues and to reduce the inhibitory effects of these plants, one stage of leaching must be done before the cultivation of wheat.

The global trend has shifted towards the reduction of synthetic pesticide application in agriculture in general and in postharvest in particular. Currently there is a growing interest in using natural antifungal compounds, like plant extracts for the preservation of foods. In order to develop fungicide formulation of natural origin as postharvest treatments, this study was conducted on the antifungal activity of pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) extract against Penicillium italicum and P. digitatum. The experiment was set up according to a completely randomized design with 4 replications using ‘Satsuma’ mandarin. The experimental factors included extract concentration (0, 25%, 50%, 75% or 100%) and the effect of treatments (preventive or curative). The fruits were wounded on the outer surface on four locations to a depth of 2 mm and a diameter of 1 mm. Preventive treatments were carried out by dipping wounded fruit into the formulations of extract and thereafter, each wound site was infected by inoculating 20 μL of the inoculum of P. italicum or P. digitatum. For curative treatments, fruits were wounded as above, and then inoculated with P. italicum or P. digitatum (20 μL of inoculum per wound site). The results showed that the 75% or 100% pomegranate extract applied to ʻSatsuma mandarin produced a significant antimicrobal effect, reduced spore or mycelium diameter, decay severity and infection index and increased sporing time and healthly fruit percentage. Our study showed that 100% pomegranate peel extract application could decrease weight loss rate during storage of “Satsuma” mandarin fruit inoculated with spores of P. digitatum or P. italicum. The obtained results showed that the tested pomegranate extract can be effectively utilized for controlling and curing infections caused by P. italicum and P. digitatum.

In order to unravel the potential mitigating effects of seed priming on salt-stressed chickpea (Cicer arietinum), a
4-replicate factorial out-door completely random design pot experiment was conducted on Arman cultivar of chickpea at the research field of the Isfahan University of Technology, Isfahan (Latitude of 32° 38' North, Longitude of 51° 39' East, and an Altitude of 1620 m above sea level), Iran. Irrigation water salinity at four levels (0, 25, 50, and 75 mM NaCl) and seed priming at four levels, including control (non-priming), priming with mannitol (5%), NaCl (0.5%) and KCl (0.5%) were tested. Na+ and K+ concentrations and Na+/K+ were increased, but Ca+2 concentration, days to physiological maturity, seed yield, fertile pods/plant, seeds/pod, above-ground dry mass, and harvest index were decreased with aggravation of salinity. Chickpea seed priming by NaCl and KCl led to increase in yield components and hence seed yield of the salt-stricken plants, compared to non-primed and mannitol-primed plants due, seemingly, to decrease in tissue Na+ concentration. Albeit, priming-associated modifications in Na+ and Ca+2 concentrations, fertile pods/plant, seeds/pod, seed yield, and harvest index varied with the level of salinity. In contrary to the non-primed chickpea, plants receiving priming were able to produce fertile pods, due perhaps to the mitigative effects of the priming on salt-stricken plants. All results, taken together, confirm that the salt-sensitive legume chickpea may be harmed by 50 mM salinity of irrigation water but seed priming by NaCl and KCl may suppress the harmful effects.

Among soil and agronomic factors affecting growth, nutrition and plant density have a great effect on the growth and yield of crops such as Flax (Linum usitatissimum L.). In order to study the effect of different levels of nitrogen and plant density on yield and yield components, oil percentage and yield of Flax, a split plot experiment was conducted in a randomized complete block design with four replicates at the Research Farm of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources University of Khuzestan, Iran in 2016-2017. Experimental factors included different levels of nitrogen (0, 75, 150 and 225 kg/ha) in main plots and four plant densities (50, 100, 150 and 200 plants/m2) in sub plots. Analysis of variance showed that nitrogen, plant density and their interaction effect was significant on all measured traits. The highest grain and oil yields were obtained in 150 kg/ha nitrogen level and the density of 200 plants/m2. The mean comparison of interaction effect showed that the highest grain yield (1348 kg/ha) and oil yield (349 kg/ha) were achieved in 150 kg/ha nitrogen level and the density of 200 plants/m2. The lowest grain yield (570 kg/ha) and oil yields (188 kg/ha) were observed in 0 kg/ha nitrogen level and the density of 150 plants/m2.

In order to study the response of morphology, yield and yield components of spring safflower (Carthamus tinctorious L.) cultivars to different sowing dates, an experiment was carried out using a split-plot design on the basis of a randomized complete block design with four replications, in Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources University of Khouzestan, south-west of Iran at 2016-2017. Experimental factors were four sowing dates (11 November, 2 December, 5 January and 3 February) in main plots and five safflower cultivars (Sina, Goldasht, Soffeh, local Esfahan (Kooseh) and Faraman) in sub plots. The analysis of variance showed that the interaction effect of sowing date and cultivar was significant on all measured traits except plant height and grain oil percent. The mean comparisons showed that the highest grain yield (3722 kg/ha) and oil yield (837 kg/ha) were produced in sowing date of 11 November by Goldasht cultivar, and the lowest grain yield (351 kg/ha) and oil yield (71 kg/ha) were observed in sowing date of 3 February by Faraman cultivar. The highest amount of measured traits were achieved in the first sowing date (November 11) and  delays in sowing date and, hence, occurrence of a terminal heat stress in flowering and grain filling phase decreased the grain yield and oil yield