مجله تغذیه گیاهان باغی
سال دوم شماره 2 (پیاپی 4، پاییز و زمستان 1398)

Zinc (Zn) is an essential micronutrient in plants and has a vital role in cell division, nucleic acid metabolism, protein synthesis, photosynthesis, carbohydrate metabolism, and phytohormones regulation (Sharafi, 2019). Zn directly contributes in the biological synthesis of auxin (IAA) and gibberellin (GA3) which have utmost roles in the plant growth, pollination, fertilization and fruit set in fruit trees (Broadley et al. 2007). Also, Zinc plays a major role as a cofactor in the structure and function of more than 300 enzymes in plants, such as Cu/Zn superoxide (Cu/Zn-SOD), carbonic anhydrase (CA), and sorbitol dehydrogenase (SDH). Zinc toxicity in plants is far less widespread than Zn deficiency (Radunić., et al., 207). The most important goal for fruit growers is to achieve high yields in orchards. The amount of nutrients in the plant and its nutrition are the most important determinants of plant performance. Among micronutrients, zinc plays an important role in pollination, fruit set and function of fruit trees and is one of the influencing factors in germination and growth of pollen tube (Sharafi, 2019).

In this study, the effects of zinc foliar application at three concentrations of 0, 3000 and 5000 mg / l on flower buds of two cultivars of Beigi and Shahroodi apricots were investigated. After foliar application two weeks before flowering, the effect of foliar application on germination percentage, pollen tube growth, primary and final fruit set were evaluated.

The results were showed that 5000 mg / L zinc sulfate had the most effect on the rate of initial and final fruit set. The percentage of initial and final fruit set was 3,000 mg / l zinc sulfate. The results also showed that the effect of zinc on germination percentage at stigma level and penetration rate of pollen tubes at the beginning of pistil, middle style and ovarian inlet was significant at 1% probability level. The germination percentage with 3000 mg / L zinc sulfate with 63.91% germination and the lowest germination with 51.39% was related to control. Also, 3000 mg / l sulfate increased the penetration of pollen tubes into the beginning and middle parts of the styles and so ovary.

Overall foliar application of Zn increased the primary and final fruit set, and so increased germination and penetration of pollen tube to the ovary.

The strawberry is one of the favorite fruits throughout the world and may be classified as a functional food as it is a rich source of phytochemicals and vitamins (Olsson et al., 2004). The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of Fe-EDTA fertilizer on PAL enzyme activity and antioxidant properties of strawberry fruit during developmental stages.

The experiment was factorial based on a randomized complete block design with three replications. Experimental factor was consisted of iron chelate (Fe-EDTA) in 1400 µmol/l level. This experiment was carried out at University of Zanjan in 2018. Finally, data analysis was done using SPSS 22 and means were compared by Duncan’s multiple range tests at 5% level of probability.

Results showed that ascorbic acid, TSS, phenols and flavonoids were significantly increased by Fe-EDTA treatment in comparison to the controls. In addition, strawberry fruits treated with Fe-EDTA exhibited higher DPPH and PAL enzyme activity concomitant with higher phenols and flavonoids accumulation. The interaction was significant in all properties. These results are in agreement with those obtained by Pestana et al., (2010) and Amaliotis et al., (2002) of strawberry growth and crop yield improved by foliar application of iron chelate.

Generally, the findings of current study elucidated that the use of iron chelate had strong impact on PAL enzymatic activity and quality properties of strawberry fruits during ripening stages in this study. Keywords: Iron chelate, antioxidant characteristics, PAL, Strawberry fruit

In this research, the effect of irrigation with fish farm effluent on the growth characteristics of basil and purslane was investigated. This experiment was conducted in a randomized complete block design with three irrigation water treatment (1-river water, 2- fish farm effluent water and 3- the mixture of 50% river water and 50% fish farm water (V/V)) and three replications on two valuable medicinal plants (basil and purslane) in Shoush (Khuzestan province). The results showed that irrigation treatment with fish farm effluent had a significant effect on increasing of measured traits, especially fresh and dry weight of shoot and root, and the uptake of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium and even in mixed treatment of river and fish farm effluent water, also showed a significant increase in morphological traits compared to river water treatment. The amount of nitrogen uptake by irrigation with fish pool water was 407.77% and 482.2%, respectively, in basil and purslane. According to the results, the edible portion of these vegetables including leaves and shoots increased by irrigation by the fish farm effluent and without any supplementary fertilizer. Because the pool water was rich in nutrients that could supply the plant's growing needs, therefore, it is advisable to use the fish pool effluent to grow basil and purslane and for other leafy vegetables more research is needed.

In order to investigate the effect of poultry manure and zinc sulfate on growth and yield of cantaloupe (Cucumis melo L.) in competition with weeds, an experiment was conducted in a field located in Mobarakeh city as factorial based on a randomized complete block design with three replications during the growing season of 2018-2019. The factors included poultry manure (0 and 8 ton/ha), zinc sulfate (0, 2 and 4 g/l) and weed management (no-weeding and weeding all season). The results indicated that foliar application of zinc sulfate by 4 g/l under weeding conditions, caused a significant increasing in leaf chlorophyll, dry weight of leaf and yield by 9.1, 16.9 and 18.9 percent in comparison to control (non-use of zinc sulfate) respectively. The maximum dry weight of stem (24.6 g), total soluble solid (12.0 %) and relative water content (65.5 %) was obtained with 4 g/l zinc sulfate in combination with poultry manure. The results showed that under no-weeding conditions, use of poultry manure caused a significant decreasing in leaf chlorophyll, leaf number per plant, fruit number per plant and yield by 4.5, 6.4, 20.0 and 4.8 percent and increased weeds biomass by 15.0 % compared with non-use of poultry manure. Based on the obtained results, under weed free conditions, combined use of poultry manure and zinc sulfate caused a significant increasing in growth and yield of cantaloupe.

Based on the results, the highest value of flower stem length (64.70 cm), corolla diameter (6.17 cm), vase life (22.11 days) and chlorophyll b (3.05 μgml-1 g-1 FW) was obtained with the humic acid 300 ppm+ 50g mycorrhizal fungi treatment. On the other hand, the highest value of corolla length (6.68 cm), activities of catalase (36.72 μmol/mg-1min-1) and peroxidase (15.76 μmol/mg-1min-1) were also observed. Chutichudet et al., (2010) showed that mycorhiza fungi treatment could increase stem height in the gerbera cut flower. Neilsen et al., (2004) reported that the treatment of 400 mg/l humic acid increased amount of chlorophyll in the plants. On the base of the results, we concluded that humic acid, Mycorrhiza fungi and endophytic Piriformospora indica fungi treatments coused obvious effects on the black rose cut flower. Application of biologic fertilizers and symbiotic bacteria increased nutrient absorption. Therefore, consumption of the chemical fertilizers was reduced. Also treatments increased vaselife of flowers. Effect of humic acid on root growth was wonderful, as increased root volume. Humic acid increases plant tolerance to biotic and abiotis stresses and mycorhiza fungi helps in absorbing non soluble elements. Therefore, qualitative and quantitative parameters of black rose cut flower were increased.

Fulvic acid, as a humic matter obtained from decomposition of organic residues without any environmental destructive effects, is used in the production of horticulturaland agricultural crops. Many beneficial effects are attributed to foliar application of fulvic acid (FA), such as, enhancing antioxidant capacity, improving uptake of nutrients, reducing leaching of fertilizer and stimulation of plant metabolism. Some authors have also reported that fulvic acid could play a major role in resisting oxidative stress by enhancing antioxidative activity and improving membrane stability. However, there is little information about the effects of fulvic acid on antioxidant and quality attribution in sour cherry fruits. Thus, the objective of the present studies was to determine the effect of foliar application of fulvic acid on important quality characteristics and antioxidant properties of ‘Gysy’ sour cherries.

In this study, the effect of fulvic acid foliar application at different concentrations (0, 0.5, 1.5 and 2.5 gL-1) on quality and antioxidant properties of sour cherry friut was carried out in the completely randomized block design with three replications. Foliar spray was performed in the pit hardening stage(20 days after full bloom) and onset of ripening (46 days after full bloom) onto the leaves and fruits until runo using a mechanical mist sprayer, and Tween 20 (0.04% v/v) was used as a surfactant. Fruit were harvested at commercial ripening stage, and transferred to the laboratory on the same day, and finally the qualitative and antioxidant characteristics were assessed.

The results showed that fulvic acid significantly increased content of total soluble solids, firmness, vitamin C, anthocyanin, total phenolics and antioxidant capacity. Fulvic acid treatment showed less acidity compared with the control. While, mean fresh and dry fruit weight, length and diameter of fruit, titratable acidity (TA) and total flavonoid content were not affected by fulvic acid treatment (P<0.05). The experiment conducted here indicated that a preharvest application of fulvic acid improved nutritional quality and antioxidant potential of sour cherry fruits. The increased contents of phenolics, anthocyanins and ascorbic acid content, resulted in enhanced total antioxidant capacity. Generally, the best treatment for improvement of quality and antioxidant properties of sour cherry cv. Gysy was 2.5 gL-1treatment.

Pistachio is a strategic product and have a special place in agicultural production and constitute the bulk of non-oil exports. One of the most important problems in Iranian pistachio areas is soil salinity, which causes many nutritional problems for pistachio trees.

In this study, the effect of plant gowth promoting bacteria (Pseudomonas putida R8 and P. fluorescens R153 isolates) on pistachio cultivars including Badami Zarand, Akbari and Ahmad Ahaghi were studied in a saline soil as a factorial experiment in a completely randomized design. The studied characters included fresh and dry weights of shoots and shoots, leaf area and number, relative water content (RWC) chlorophyll and carotenoid content.

The results indicated that the use of gowth promoting bacteria (R8 and R115 isolates) increased the amount of gowth indices including fresh and dry weights of stems and roots, as well as leaf area and number. R8 isolate caused an increase in root and shoot root weight of 74% and 54% in Badami cultivar, respectively. The leaf area and leaf number characters increased by 81% and 30% in the treatment of R8 gowth promoting bacteria in Badami cultivar. Relative leaf water content (RWC), proline content, total chlorophyll, a and b, and carotenoids were also improved by the use of gowth promoters, especially R8 P. putida. The treatment of R8 bacteria in Badami cultivar was able to increase the absorption of potassium and phosphorus elements by 35% (leaf), 43% (root), 61% (leaf) and 53% (root)

The results of this study indicated that the application of bacteria gowth promoters to the release of effective compounds in plant gowth can increase the gowth and physiological indices even in plants that are in salinity stress.

The Murashig and Skoog (MS) culture medium is highly nutritious and has complete macro and micro elements. Humic acid contributes to nutrients absorption and causes the growth and development of the plant. In this research, the growth and yield of radish (cv. Vikima) in the field was investigated using humic acid in combination with MS medium.

Humic acid in two levels (0 and 1.5 g/m2) and MS fertilizer in eight levels (0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 and 14%) were used as factorial experiment based on randomized complete block design with three replications.

The results showed that with the use of MS fertilizer, the number of leaves, tuber sucrose, tuber sulfur, total chlorophyll and tuber total sugar increased compared to the humic acid. Application of 14% MS fertilizer increased the diameter of the tuber to 32.66 mm. Using humic acid in combination with 14% MS fertilizer, the amount of anthocyanin in the tuber increased to 0.00019 mol/g on fresh weight. In the interaction effects of humic acid and MS fertilizer, increasing the fresh weight of the leaf, the leaf area, the fresh weight of the tuber and the diameter of the tuber was recorded.

Humic acid as a supplement to MS fertilizer had a good effect on radish growth. Humic acid supplemented with MS fertilizer (up to 14% concentration) has proper effects on radish growth.

Strawberry as a model plant in horticulture included many cultivars with special climatic and nutritional requirements. ‘Camarosa’ is the most cultivated cultivar in Mazandaran province, and the efforts of strawberry growers to alternate this cultivar with ‘Gaviota’ were not successful. The purpose of this research was to evaluation and comparison of characteristics of Camarosa and Gaviota in soil and soilless cultures to find the causes of unsuccessful culture of Gaviota in Mazandran Province.

Two separated experiments performed synchronously in open filed soil and soilless cultures with Camarosa and Gaviota cultivars in complete random design with three replications. Vegetative characteristic, yield and nutritional elements in rhizosphere and leaves were evaluated. Results

In soilless culture the differences of Camarosa and Gaviota cultivars was not significant except for fresh weight and volume of the root system. Average of root volume and fresh weight of Camarosa 19.5 cm3 and 13.7 g, were higher than Gaviota with 14 cm3 and 6.96 g, respectively. However, in soil culture almost all of the traits were significantly higher in Camarosa than Gaviota. Results of nutrition concentration analysis in rhizosphere showed the rate of Zn and Cu were exposed to maximum range of nutrient elements due to over-consumption of chemical fertilizers in strawberry fields in north of Iran and purpose the negative effects of elements as most important cause in unsuccessful soil culture of Gaviota in Mazandaran province. Although hen fertilizers added to soil in high volume (40 tonHa-1) annually and resulted too high percent of N, in soil (16%) it was not related to increase leaf N of plants and N concentration of leaves were lower than optimum range (3-4%). Potassium absorption efficiency in Gaviota was more than Camarosa but it seems that sensitivity of Gaviota to Cu toxicity is higher than Camarosa as well.

The cultivars Camarosa and Gaviota did not show significant difference in many traits in open field soilless culture so it seems that the lack of success in soil culture of Gaviota is not associated to climate conditions. The underlying problem of Gaviota is related to soil and nutrition aspects like Cu toxicity. To success culture of Gaviota in Mazandran Province, it is recommended to perform perfect nutrition management in soil culture or using soilless medium.

Nowadays, the use of eco-friendly bio-products such as biostimulants is of great interest because it also contains some free amino acids in addition to nutrients, This study was conducted to investigate the effect of two bio-products based on free amino acids on medicinal mint (Mentha spicat L.) under salinity stress. The experiment was conducted as a factorial experiment in a randomized complete block design with three replications in the research greenhouse of Shahid Bakari Higher Education Research Center in Myandab.The results showed that simple and interaction effects of salinity and amino acids on measured traits were significant at 1% probability level. The highest plant height, crown diameter, root diameter, plant fresh weight, chlorophyll b were obtained in 0 mM salinity and Kadostim foliar application, and soluble sugars in 75 mM salinity and Kadostim foliar treatment. Maximum root length, leaf number, plant dry weight, and chlorophyll a were obtained in 0 mM salinity and Humiforte treatment. The highest amount of total .chlorophyll was obtained in 25 mM salinity and Humiforte and the highest proline content was in 75 mM salinity and Kadostim The highest relative humidity content in salinity of 0, 50 and 75 mM salinity was related to Humiforte treatment but in 25 mM salinity treatment was related to Kadostim treatment There was no significant difference in the percentage of essential oil at 0 mM salinity between the treatment of Kadostim and HumiForte but it was significantly higher than control.

In order to evaluate the effects of municipal waste and nitrogen fertilizer application on spinach yield and heavy metal concentration in soil and spinach, a field experiment with 9 treatments was conducted in a factorial design. The effect of municipal waste compost, nitrogen and their interaction on yield was statistically significant. The highest yield of spinach at 68600 kg ha-1 was obtained from 20 ton / ha compost with 200 kg ha-1 nitrogen. The increase in the concentration of cadmium, nickel and chromium was higher than the maximum concentration of heavy metals in the spinach shoot, respectively, by 700, 279, 471 and 272%, respectively. On the other hand, application of 10 ton / ha of municipal solid waste compost along with 200 kg / ha nitrogen produced 67300 kg / ha with heavy metals within the product range. The use of municipal waste compost significantly increased the total concentrations of soil lead, nickel, cadmium and chromium, but this increase was not beyond the permissible range. However, limited use of municipal waste compost at 10 ton / ha with 200 kg / ha nitrogen, together with monitoring of soil and plant concentrations of these metals can increase yield of spinach, without heavy metal concentration. Exceeds the standard range in crop and soil.

In order to investigate the effect of organic matter, superabsorbent and optimum nutrition on reducing the effect of salinity on irrigation water on sure orange rootstock, a factorial experiment was conducted in a randomized complete block design with 12 treatments and 4 replications. the first factor was an organic matter with two levels (0 and 2 wt%), the second factor was superabsorbent with three levels (0, 0.1 and 0.25 wt%) and the third factor was the two-level optimum nutrition (no fertilizer and optimum fertilizer of required by the plant-based on soil testing. Leaves percentage with symptoms of salinity damage and concentrations of zinc, iron, boron, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, calcium and magnesium were measured different treatments. The results showed that the combined application of animal manure with a superabsorbent fertilizer resulted in an increase in the concentration of these elements in the shoot compared to the control. The highest percentage of sodium (0.17) and leaves with salinity (22.01) and the highest amount of boron (148.2 mg / kg) were observed in control treatment. Also, C2D3E2 treatment (combined 2% organic matter, 0.25% superabsorbent and optimum nutrient intake) had the lowest sodium content and leaves with salinity and lowest boron content, but the highest increase in potassium, iron and zinc with about 2% Equal to their values in the control treatment

The heavy metal (Ni and Pb) is one of the most important cause of stress in the environment. In this study the effects of the different concentration of Pb (NO3)2 (0, 3 and 6 mg l-1) and different concentration of Ni(NO3)2 (0, 3 and 6 mg l-1) were investigated in the two independent experiments according to a completely randomized design with three replication in soil culture and aeroponic system. The results of ANOVA in two experiments indicated a significant difference between different treatments at a level of 5% for most traits in soil culture and aeroponic system. The result indicated that with the increase in concentrations of Pb, leaf number, plant height, root length, root fresh and dry weights, shoot fresh and dry weights and photosynthetic pigments showed a downward trend while prolin content, catalaz, proxidas, Pb content in root and shoot were increased. Increasing the concentration of Ni impairs the growth of root, shoot, root and shoot dry and fresh weight protein photosynthetic pigments of radish. In general, the results of this study showed that Ni and Pb may give to plants allows growth, but increased in their concentration impaired the some growth indices of radish.