نشریه علوم و تحقیقات بذر ایران
سال هفتم شماره 3 (پاییز 1399)

In order to study the quantitative and qualitative characteristics of oregano herb seeds under the application of various organic, chemical and integrated nutrition systems, an experiment was conducted at the experimental farm of the Saatlo, Agricultural and Natural Resources Research Center, Urmia, during two successive seasons of 2016-2017 and 2017-2018. This study included two field and laboratory experiments in a complete randomized block design with three replications and completely randomized design with four replications, respectively. The experimental treatments included NPK, two organic (vermicompost and biochar), two biological (nitroxin and bio super phosphate) fertilizers and their all twin combinations and control (non-fertilized). The results showed that the application of organic fertilizers caused a significant increase in all studied traits compared to the control (without fertilizer). The interaction of year and treatments showed that the use of Nitroxin was affected on seed and biological yield and 1000 seed weight in the second year, so that the highest amount of these traits was obtained (2577 kg ha-1), (34279 kg ha-1) and (5.6160 g), respectively. Also, the highest amount of harvest index was obtained (20.321%) of vermicompost treatment in the first year. Nitroxin + Bio super phosphate treatment had the highest effect on germination rate (1084.107 No. day-1), seed vigor index (1.38), germination percentage (93.5%) and germination vigour (16%), compared to separate consumption treatments. Also, the highest amount of fresh and dry weight of seedling was observed in Vermicompost + Nitroxin treatment at 0.0052 and 0.0032 g, respectively.

One of the problems of producing medicinal plants, such as borage, is unequal and poor germination and seedling establishment. Priming is one of the technique for improving seed germination and seedling growth in crops and medicinal plants. This research was carried out in order to study the effect of seed priming on germination, growth and biochemical and enzymatic characteristics of borage seedlings. The Experimental treatments were hydro-priming for 48 hours, seed priming with 0.85 mM ascorbic acid for 48 hours, 4 mM salicylic acid concentration for 60 hours, 20 mM potassium nitrate (KNO3) concentration for 24 hours and control. The results showed that seed priming were significantly increased the seed germination, growth and biochemical characteristic of borage seedlings. The mean germination time and the percentage of abnormal seedlings were significantly decreased by priming the borage seeds. The highest percentage and rate of germination, vigor index and length of seedlings were obtained from hydro-priming seeds, which were significantly higher than control. Also, hydro-priming decreased the abnormal seedlings about caused 80% and mean germination time about 25%. The activity of catalase and peroxidase enzymes and proline in seedlings from primed seeds were significantly higher than those of the control. The highest activity of catalase enzyme and proline content were observed in seed priming of 20 mM KNO3 concentration for 24 hours and 4 mM salicylic acid for 60 hours respectively, which did not have significant difference with hydro-priming. Hydro-priming, caused increase 2.7 fold in the activity of peroxidase enzymes seedlings. Generally, among the treatments, hydro-priming for 48 hours for improving germination, growth and biochemical characteristics of borage is considered as the best treatment.

The root of liquorice contains a large amount of glycyrrhizic acid which are known to have various food, industrial, cosmetic and pharmaceutical applications. Regarding to spreading of salinity in arid and semi-arid regions, to assay the tolerance levels of salinity in germination and vegetative stages and the effect of salt stress on the concentration of glycyrrhizic acid in liquorice plant, an experiment performed based on a randomized complete design with at least three replications. Salt stress applied at four levels including 0, 100, 200 and 300 mM NaCl. Our results at the germination stage showed that NaCl at 100 mM level caused a significant decrease in germination rate and percentage and the length of primary root and hypocotyl were diminished. While 200 and 300 mM levels of NaCl inhibited the germination. The results at vegetative stage showed that high salinity levels decrease the root/shoot dry weight ratio, plant yield, protein content and the K/Na, Ca/Na, Mg/Na ratios of shoot and root while the concentration of 300 mM NaCl caused a significant increase in root dry weight and shoot malondialdehyde and total phenol content in comparison with control. Also, the high concentrations of salinity increased the concentration of glycyrrhizic acid in roots. According to measured results at germination and vegetative stages of liquorice plant, it can be concluded that salt tolerance is a developmental stage specific phenomenon. Also, that cultivation of liquorice in saline soils potentially could increase glycyrrhizic acid accumulation in liquorice roots.

Rice is the world's most important agricultural product after wheat and important role in feeding more than half of the world's population. The germination stage is one of the most important stages in the development of rice. Drought stress has a significant effect on the germination characteristics of rice. Identification of tolerant genotypes and genetic structure of control their traits are an important factor for tolerance in rice. In order to detection of informative SSR alleles for control genes of germination components in rice under normal conditions and drought conditions, an experiment was conducted using 102 genotypes of rice in two replications in a Completely Randomized Design in Laboratory of Gonbad Kavous University in 2018. Germination percentage, plumule length, radicle length, coleoptile length, number of radicle, total fresh weight of plumule and fresh weight of radicle were measured. Significant differences were detected between genotypes for germination traits in normal and drought stress conditions. The results of the association analysis at normal condition showed that RM12091A and RM1029B were associated with germination percentage, coleoptile length, radicle total weight and under drought stress condition, the RM129D was related to number of radicle and total weight of plumule and the RM530B allele were correlated with length of the coleoptile and the number of roots. The results of this study showed that genetic variation among rice genotypes and association analysis could be used to increase drought tolerance in rice cultivars.

In order to survey of the effect of osmohydropriming on germination and growth of cotton plantlet under drought stress, two experiments were carried out at emergence and plantlet stages. In the first experiment, cotton seeds were primed with distilled water (hydropriming) and Poly Eltylene Glychol 6000 (-2, -4, -6, -8 bar) (osmopriming) and controlled seeds were subjected to 5 levels of osmotic potential (0, -2, -4, -6, -8 bar). The experiment was conducted as a factorial experiment based on completely randomized design. The second experminent were conducted with control and pretretmented seeds (hydroprimed) and osmoperimed seeds using Ploy Ethylene Glycol at three osmotic levels -2, -4 and -6 bar under three levels of drought stress 30, 60 and 90 percentage of field capacity (FC) using two-liter pots at Agricultural and Natural Resource Research Station of Kashmar. The results of experiment test showed, hydropriming of cotton seed had the most growth percentage and rate as well as dry weight of seedlings in all treatments (except -4 bar) in comparison with control. The results of pots experiment indicated, osmo and hydropriming of cotton-seed increased growth (plantlet height), leaf area, dry weight of shoot and root significantly in compaison with control. Drought stress at 30 and 60 percent of (FC) treatments decreased leaf area and plantlet height.

factorial experiment based on completely randomized design with three replications was conducted in greenhouse of Research Institute of Forests and Rangeland, Tehran, Iran in 2015-2016. The levels of factor A were: three populations of (Thymus daenensis) originated from Lorestan, Markazi and Isfahan province, Factor B were: osmopriming (PEG 0.6 and 0.9 Mpa), hormonal priming (250 and 500 ppm of Auxin), Matrix priming (Zeolite1%), hydropriming (distilled water) and control. The primed seeds were sown on pots and growing in greenhouse. Seed emergence characteristics including of percentage and speed of emergence, root and shoot length, vigor index, seedling fresh and dry weight were measured. The mean comparison three populations of thymus showed that maximum emergence percentage and speed of emergence as (76%, 13.17/sprout/day) were observed in population of 1110-Lorestan.  The effect of treatments on the populations showed that The maximum percentage of emergence and speed of emergence (88%, 15.39/ sprout/day), seedling length  and vigor index (57mm,50), were obtained with priming technique (PEG 0.9 Mpa) in the population of 1110-Lorestan. Also percentage of emergence and speed of emergence (83%, 15/sprout/day) and seedling length, vigor index as (59 mm, 49) of the population of 110-Lorestan were maximum with matrix priming (zeolite). Regarding to result of this research work, it was proved that two priming technique including: Osmo-priming (Polyethylene glycol) and Matrix priming (perlite) were effective method compare with other method. Therefore these two method are recommending for domestication and optical establishment of medicinal plant.

Alder trees as ornamental tree in northern forests of Iran are most used in urban green space. However, its propagation and seedling production is not done in Iran. One of the easy methods of plant propagation is the use of seed. Seed priming technique can be used to improve seed germination. This experiment was conducted in order to study the effects of priming (without priming, potassium nitrate (0.02 and 0.04%, gibberellic acid 50 and 100 mg L-1, water) and Photoperiod (dark and bright) on germination and enzymatic activity of Alnus subcordata. The experiment was carried out in factorial arrangement based on completely randomized design. According to the results, the highest percentage of germination (53%) was observed in seeds primed with 100 mg L-1 gibberellic acid in darkness. The effect of priming on the activity of catalase enzyme was significant at 1% probability level. The maximum peroxidase activity was in the dark and in the treatment of 100 mg L-1 of gibberellic acid.The most activity of this enzyme was observed in seeds primed with gibberellic acid 100 mg L-1. The maximum length of stems in dark and light treatments was 3.8 and 2.7 cm, respectively, at 50 mg L-1 gibberellic acid treatment. The maximum vigor index was related to gibberellic acid treatment. According to the results, the use of gibberellic acid treatment and dark conditions are recommended to improve the characteristics of germination in alder seed.

Increasing of soil temperature by using plastic mulch is a non-chemical method to control the weed. It has attracted a lot of attention in the last two decades. This study was conducted in the city Fasa in 2018. This study was done as a factorial experiment based on completely randomized design with two factors and three replications. The first factor was the kind of weed, that were Amaranthus retroflexus, Chenoodium album and Avena fatua , the second factor was the time period of plastic mulch, that were 4 levels of control, in which plastic mulch were 15, 30 and 45 days. The results showed that the percentage, germination speed and seed vigor will decrease with higher plastic mulch levels 45 days of plastic mulch caused a reduction of 23.53 percentage in germination speed comparing to the treatment which had control. The percentage, germination speed and seed vigor showed a positive and significant correlation with the activity of Alpha Amylase and a negative and significant correlation with electrical conduction of the seeds. 45 days of plastic mulch increased the period before the 50 percent level of germination and uniformity of germination increased 33.61 and 33.56 respectively comparing to the treatment control. Plastic mulch treatment for 45 days caused a 45.83 percentage decrease in the dry weight of the seedling comparing to the treatment control. On the other hand, a 45 day plastic mulch treatment caused a 33.16 percentage reduction in the activity of Alpha Amylase enzyme comparing to the treatment control. Electrical conduction of seeds showed a negative and significant correlation with the activity of Alpha Amylase enzyme. The result of this study showed that the negative effect of plastic mulch treatment was more on Avena fatua weeds.

In order to study priming on seed germination, growth and physiological characteristics of Fenugreek plant under salt stress, a factorial experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design with three replications at the Seed Technology Laboratory Faculty of Agricultural Sciences Shahed University in year 2017. The treatments consisted of 5 levels of priming(control (no prime) and hydropriming distilled water for 24 hours, hydroperiming distilled water for 48 hours, 3% potassium nitrate and 5% salicylic acid) and Salinity stress in four levels (0, 50, 100 and 150 mM). The results of analysis of variance indicated significant effect of priming treatment and salinity stress on germination percentage and rate, rash parameters, photosynthetic pigments and proline content. The results of the comparison of the mean effect of interaction indicated that 24-hour hydroperimage application at salinity levels had an average of 100% germination percentage. Hydropriming had a superior advantage in terms of stem and root length, longitudinal seedling index, chlorophyll content, carotenoid content and prolin content with increasing salinity stress compared to other levels. The herbaceous plant seems to be resistant to stress. In general, the use of hydro-priming is recommended for modifying the stress of salinity in Fenugreek.

Soybeans are considered as a main source of oil and protein production in the world. On the other hand, soybean seeds are one of the most important sources of protein that is directly or indirectly (in the livestock industry) in the human diet due to its favorable and inexpensive proteins. In this study some of agronomic characteristics (such as: plant height, number of branches, number of pods, seed weight, seed yield and day to maturity) and also seed storage protein quality properties (such as: soluble protein content, protease inhibitors contents and lectin protein) in six mutant lines and nine cultivars were studied. The results demonstrated that the 032-240-D-P1 and 032-240-D-P4 mutant lines have a high grain yield potential in addition to desirable agronomic traits. In terms of qualitative properties of grain proteins, Nekador and Caspian cultivars had the highest protein and the highest of albumin and globulin storage proteins, respectively. Also, the evaluation of anti-nutritional factors also revealed that all the mutant lines and Arian cultivar had the lowest protease inhibitors (PIA) and lectin (HAU) protein, which could be considered as promising genotypes for the soybean breeding programs. Results from this study suggested that the 032-240-D-P4 mutant line by high seed yield and the lowest of anti-nutritional factors could be studied as a new variety.