نشریه علوم و فناوری پسته
پیاپی 8 (پاییز و زمستان 1398)

Since now all pistachio rootstocks in most pistachio orchards are seed cultivation and heterogeneity causes differences in the qualitative and quantitative characteristics of each cultivar and it is also not possible to reproduce resistant rootstocks with seed cultivation. Therefore, use of tissue culture and research about compatibility of cultivars with tissue culture is inevitable necessity in the development of pistachio gardens. The aim of this study was comparison of quantitative and qualitative characteristics of pistachio nuts, leaf nutrients concentration and yield of six commercial pistachio cultivars (Kale-Ghochi, Rezaie-Zodras, Fandoghi, Forootani, Akbari and Ahmad-Aghaie) with tissue culture of Bademi Zarand. This experiment was carried out in a randomized complete block design with six pistachio cultivars in three replications at Kerman Pistachio Research Station. The results of variance analysis showed that Ahmad Aghaei had the best quality of nuts and quantity of yield. So that Ahmad Aghaie's blank percentage was 43% lower than Akbari and Ahmad Aghaie's splitting percentage was 13% more than Forootani and Aghaie’s yield was 67% more than Kale-Ghochi. Although Ahmad Aghaie had highest concentration of leaf nutrients but only Mg and Mn concentration were significant and 40% and 35% more than Akbari respectively. In fact, the best adaptability to the tissue culture belonged to Ahmad Aghaie cultivars. Therefore, it can be achieved to best quality and yield with using tissue culture with appropriate cultivars for each region.

The pistachio twig borer moth, Kermania pistaciella Amsel (Lepidoptera: Oinophilidae) is one of the key pests of Iranian pistachio that annually causes high damage by penetrating and feeding the larvae from the branches. In this study, and to determine the damage percent and control appropriate time, from the middle of February onward, 200 labels were randomly attached in pistachio orchards with varieties of Akbari, Ahmad Aghaei, Kalleh Ghuchi and Ohadi in the eastern countryside of Rafsanjan in late February. The number of emerged larvae and formed cocoons were recorded every two days. The amount of pest damage on the four important commercial cultivars was determined by counting the larval outlet holes, cocoons, the percentage of contaminated seeds at harvest time, and the number of dried grains at the end of the panicle. The results showed that there was no significant difference between the peak times of adult moth’s emergence in different cultivars. Fifty percent of pupae were formed in the last days of the first decade of April. In the middle of the third decade of this month, adult insects emerged. Also, the average damage of the pistachio twig borer moth was highest (40.44%) in Kalleh Ghuchi and lowest (34.15%) in Ahmad Aghaei. The highest amount of damaged grain belonged to Kaleh Guchi cultivar and the lowest to Oohadi cultivar. Overall, the results of this study indicate that cultivar has no significant effect on the pest biology. This finding could be used in forecasting of pest status and determination of the control time.

In this project, the possibilities of changing the method of surface irrigation (flooding) to subsurface irrigation system (with porous PVC tubes) were studied on mature pistachio trees. This research was conducted as a randomized complete block design with three treatments and three replications. Treatments included: control (S) by flood  irrigation with 48 days irrigation frequency and the volume of 6720 cubic meters per hectare, P1 treatment, subsurface irrigation with PVC pipes with the amount of water used for irrigation control(S) and 12 days irrigation frequency and, P2 treatment, subsurface irrigation with PVC pipes with a water content of 75% of the water used to control and 24 days irrigation frequency. The results showed that among the growth characteristics, leaf area, total number of buds, percentage of fallen bud and vegetative bud were significantly affected by changes in irrigation methods. But changing irrigation methods on the most of quantitative and qualitative factors, significant effect at 5% level, as, increased the dry product from 0.8 to 1.6 Kg per tree, reduced blanking from 1.7 to 4.25 percent, increased splitting from 3.5 to 6 percent and reduced the number of nuts per ounce of pistachios from 1.3 to 2 units. While the WUP in irrigation methods of P1 and P2, increased 41.4% and 61.6%, respectively. There were no significant differences (P≤ 0.05) in subsurface irrigation treatments in most traits. The results of soil salinity in the root zone of trees in autumn (before leaching) also showed an increase in soil salinity in the soil surface and above the subsurface pipes. But, soil salinity after leaching and precipitation in the winter was appropriately (Less than 9 dS/m). Economic evaluation of this project showed that high economic justification. So, with an annual investment of about 60 million rials (as an initial investments) in Hectare to change the system, depending on the choice of irrigation method P1 or P2, respectively, earning between 7.6 to 15.2 times the initial investments, growers will receive. Therefore, considering the limitations of the pistachio producing regions in Iran, In terms of quantity and quality of available water resources, P2 method, due to a 25 percent reduction in water consumption and increasing 61.6% and 14.3% in WUP, respectively, compared to methods S and P1, is advisable.

In pistachio growing areas due to high soil pH, nutrient uptake from soil is difficult. One of the ways to solve this problem is to spray the elements that it is applied after leaf analysis and deficiency detection of each element. In this study, the effects of foliar application of different concentrations of Fe from two sources of sulfate and chelate at two different time intervals on plant Fe concentration, yield and fruit quality were investigated. Current research was carried out on four one-hectare pistachio orchards with Owhadi (Fandoghi) cultivar including two in Rafsanjan, one in Kerman and one in Anar region from Kerman province. The study was carried out as a split plot statistical design with time interval of spraying at two levels (15 and 30 days) and sub factor of different concentrations (0, 1 and 2 Kg per 1000 L of iron sulfate; 0, 1.5 and 3 per 1000 L of Fe-EDTA) of two Fe resources (FeSO4 24%, Fe-EDTA 6%) with three replications including five trees in each replicate. The first spraying was conducted on fully expanded leaves near the end of April and the early stages of fruit growth. Fresh and dry weight of pistachio, blank nut percentage, nut-splitting percentage, 100 grains weight (oz. Of pistachio), early splitting percentage, length and diameter of current year branch, number of vegetative and floral buds, floral buds abscission and leaf Fe concentration were measured and  calculated. The results showed that spraying of iron fertilizers on pistachio trees deficient in this element had positive effects on pistachio quantity and quality. In total, three times Fe spraying from Fe-EDTA 6%, chelated source (made in Iran) with concentration of 1.5 Kg per 1000 L H2O at 15 or 30 days interval had the greatest effect on improving the quantity and quality of pistachio. According to the results of this experiment, spraying of above-mentioned treatment in Fe deficient pistachio orchards increased 72 kg / ha dry pistachio yield. In addition, blank nut, nut early splitting and floral buds abscission decreased 8, 1.3 and 7%, respectively. The percentage of nut splitting increased 5% and ounce of pistachio was reduced one unit.

Pistachio is not propagated through seed because of the lack of uniformity in its seedlings as well as the production of a significant percentage of male seedlings and long seedling period. Therefore, the commercial method of propagating pistachio is grafting on seed rootstocks and selection of suitable rootstock and scion are critical points in management of pistachio orchards. This research carried out during years 2015 and 2016 in Anar city, Kerman province, Iran, to evaluate the effect of rootstock and interstock on grafting success and growth of some commercial pistachio cultivars (Akbari, Kalehghoochi, Ahmadaghaee and Owhadi). For budding, trees were first head cut in February 2014, 12 trees were head cut from below the scion site (no interstock treatment) and 12 trees were head cut from above the scion site (interstock treatment). In June 2015, budding carried out on four shoots per replicate or trees. The results showed that the percentage of grafting success, leaf number, leaf area, shoot length, shoot diameter, chlorophyll a and b were closely related to scion cultivar. Among the pistachio cultivars, Owhadi had the highest number of leaves, leaf area, shoot length and shoot diameter. Interstock effect was also significant on leaf number, leaf area and shoot length but not significant on shoot diameter and pigment contents. Interstock increased leaf number, leaf area, and shoot length of Kalehgoochi cultivar. In other cultivars, interstock reduced leaf number, leaf area and shoot length. Due to the higher indices in Kalehghoochi cultivar, it can be concluded that the application of the same interstock with scion cultivar is effective in improving scion characteristics.

This study investigated the effect of sorting table properties, namely length and width of the sort table, Light intensity level, number and average age of workers and presence of a unique chamber on microbial properties of pistachio samples provided from seven companies operating in the field of grading pistachios. The tests were carried out three times and one-way variance analysis (ANOVA) and Duncan's Advanced Test was used to analyze the data. The results of the study of the effect of sorting table on the microbial and aflatoxin properties of dry pistachio showed that, the percentage of reduction of aflatoxin B1 and total after pistachio processing was more than 85%. Comparison of the characteristics of the sorting table in the studied companies indicates the importance of whistle length as well as the number and average age of workers and the existence of a special chamber on aflatoxin reduction. The length of the table and the number of workers and the lower average age of workers increased the percentage of aflatoxin reduction in the samples. Also, the presence of a chamber for sorting and light intensity had an effect on the percentage of aflatoxin reduction. The results of the total count of microorganisms mold and yeast showed that these properties decreased due to the sorting process. Comparison of the logarithm of the total count of microorganisms and the logarithm of the mold and yeast levels with the standard limit indicated that in all pistachio samples prior to the sorting process these characteristics were below the standard limit. Due to the no significant difference in this property after the sorting process, it can be concluded that the characteristics of the sorting bar did not affect the microbial load of the samples. Overall, according to the results, the length of the sort table, the average age and the number of workers have a significant effect on the characteristics of the finished product.

Dust storms are natural events that occurred in the worldwide, especially in dry and hot regions. Dusts reduced the yield through deposition on plant organs. Therefore, the experiment was conducted in block completely randomized design with three replications to evaluate the growth and development of “Ohadi” pistachio fruit in commercial orchard in Rafsanjan. The treatments were control (without dust spray), farm soil, Kaolin and cement which applied by dust spray. Number of fruit set, means of fresh and dry weight of one hundred nuts, means of dry weight of one hundred kernels, the percentage of blankness fruit and nut splitting were determined. The obtained results showed that different dust depositions were not significant on flower formation at full bloom. However, they decreased fruit number at one and three months after full bloom, means of fruit weight with and without cluster, means of fresh and dry weight of one hundred nuts, means of dry weight of one hundred kernels, the percentage of nut splitting in comparison with control. Dusts increased the percentage of blankness in comparison with control. Kaolin was recognized the best treatments that showed the lowest negative effect on determined attributes. It revealed the lowest blankness in Ohadi pistachio. The percentage of blankness fruit was enhanced in soil farm and cement treatments in compared with control. In general, prolonged remaining of dust particles on the plant’s gas exchange surfaces causes significant changes in the morphological traits which can reduce the pistachio yield.Dusts increased the percentage of blankness in comparison with control. Kaolin was recognized the best treatments that showed the lowest negative effect on determined attributes. It revealed the lowest blankness in Ohadi pistachio. The percentage of blankness fruit was enhanced in soil farm and cement treatments in compared with control. In general, prolonged remaining of dust particles on the plant’s gas exchange surfaces causes significant changes in the morphological traits which can reduce the pistachio yield.

Pistachio (pistacia vera L.) is a semi-tropical plant and one of the most important commercial and exportable Iranian products. Despite the extensive area under cultivation of this tree, its yield in per unit area is low. Therefore, achieving management solutions regarding an increase in production is of great importance. In this study, the effects of seven chemical fertilizers including Urea, Triple Superphosphate, Potassium Sulfate, Calcium Nitrate, Iron Chelate, Zinc Chelate and Manganese Chelate which are the suppliers of essential macro and micro elements for trees are evaluated. Using Taguchi method for the optimization of fertilizers consumption is an innovative and practical solution for dramatically reducing fertilizer consumption and also achieving an optimum amount regarding high efficiency crop production. After applying the treatments in two sessions as deep placement and foliar application, harvesting was done in August 2018. Data analysis results indicated that the lowest fruit immaturity and abscission of flower buds in 250 kg/ha urea and 1/5 gr/l Iron chelate treatments, respectively. Also, 350 kg/ha treatments in potassium Sulfate and 150 kg/ha calcium Nitrate respectively, have increased the formation new shoots and more flower buds by 9.33 and 15.8 percent compared to other treatments. According to this method, we can truly understand how much the role of common fertilizers in pistachio gardens is important, also in the performance optimization of the crops in terms of quality and quantity

This study was carried out in a greenhouse to investigate the effect of drought stress on changes of abscisic acid, water potential and relative water content of leaves in four pistachio seedling rootstocks in Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran during 2011-2012. Irrigation treatments: 100% (without stress), 65% (moderate stress) and 30% (severe stress) evapotranspiration requirements (ETc), were applied for 4 months old pistachio seedlings for 75 days. Rootstocks were Pistacia vera ‘Badami-e-Zarand’, ‘Ghazvini, ‘Sarakhs’ and P. mutica. The parameters of leaf abscisic acid concentration, leaf water potential and relative water content (RWC) of leaves were evaluated. The results showed that water stress decreased the water potential and relative water content of the leaves while the abscisic acid concentration of the leaves increased. The concentration of abscisic acid in the Sarakhs increased significantly under drought stress conditions compared to other rootstocks, which can be said to be more sensitive under drought stress. P. mutica at all irrigation levels showed the lowest leaf water potential among the rootstocks. Leaf water potential of P. mutica at moderate and severe stress levels were -2.09 and -2.48 Mpa, respectively, while the difference among the other rootstocks in the case of leaf water potential was not significant. The P. mutica and Badami rootstocks had higher relative water content under stress conditions. Higher relative water content of P. mutica rootstock, in spite of lower water potential, can be attributed to better osmotic adjustment of this rootstock. Based on the reasons stated, it can be concluded that P. mutica and Pistacia vera ‘Badami-e-Zarand’rootstocks were more tolerant to drought stress than the other rootstocks.