مجله علوم گیاهان زراعی ایران
سال پنجاه و دوم شماره 3 (پاییز 1400)

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of short and endogenously initiated non-coding RNAs that post-transcriptionally control gene expression via either translational repression or mRNA degradation. Mature miRNAs are reported to be highly conserved throughout the plant kingdom; therefore, comparative genomics approaches are used to predict the novel miRNA genes and their target genes. In this study, bioinformatics and laboratory approaches followed by the EST and miRNA sequences in the databases for chicory species were employed for the identification of potential miRNAs and their potential targets either in Cichorium intybus or Cichorium endivia. To identify the potential miRNAs in the C. intybus and C. endivia, all the publicly available EST sequences of the plant were blasted against the previously known Plant miRNAs. Ultimately, four novel miRNAs belonging to four different families of miR166, miR156, miR162 and miR393 were identified. Also, a large number of genes, such as TIR1, Squamusa promoter binding proteins genes were identified as target genes of these miRNAs. Furthermore, the results of Real Time PCR showed that the transcriptional activities of miR156 in the leaf tissue of C. endivia are extremely high, not only than those observed for flower tissue of the same species, but also as compared with the leaf and flower tissues of the another species of C. intybus.

The application of various stimulants, such as abiotic stress, radiation, and growth regulators to increase the quantity of secondary metabolites is one of the interesting research areas. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of 24-epi-brassinosteroid on the expression of some genes involved in the diosgenin biosynthetic pathway of fenugreek under high temperature stress. The highest expression of cycloartenol synthase (27-fold) was observed at high temperature treatment and 2 ppm of 24-epi-brassinosteroid (at 24 h after heat stress), while the highest expression of SSR gene was 3.5 fold at normal temperature and 5 ppm 24-epi-brassinosteroid. Application of 2 and 5 ppm of 24-epi-brassinosteroid significantly increased squalene epoxidase expression during high temperature stress. Compared to normal condition, squalene epoxidase expression increased 20 and 10 fold at 2 and 5 ppm of 24-epi-brassinosteroid, respectively. Application of 24-epi-brassinosteroid (2 ppm) after 24 hours significantly increased the expression of sterol methyltransferase by 6-fold (Compared to 23°C and non-application of 24-epi-brassinosteroid). Interestingly, compared to normal condition, squalene synthase expression was decreased at high temperature treatment and different levels of 24-epi-brassinosteroid. The results showed that 24-epi-brassinosteroid (2 and 5 ppm) could be used as a suitable stimulus to enhance the expression of some genes involved in the biosynthesis pathway and subsequently to increase the content of the diosgenin.

To study the effect of nitrogen fertilizer and irrigation regimes on yield and some qualitative traits of forage maize cultivated under traditional and conservational tillage systems, an experiment was conducted in 2018 in split-split plot on randomized complete block design with three replications in University of Tehran. The effects of tillage as main factor in two levels (traditional and no-till), water stress as the sub-factor in three levels (30%, 60% and 90% of moisture requirement) and nitrogen fertilizer as a sub sub-factor at three levels (0%, 50% and 100% of the recommended rate) were studied on qualitative traits (DMD, WSC, CP, ADF, NDF, CF and Ash) and dry matter of maize plant. The results showed that the highest dry matter of maize (18.3 t ha-1) was obtained from no-water stress treatment under traditional tillage which was and the lowest (7.2 t ha-1) was observed in severe water stress under no-till condition. 100% nitrogen fertilizer treatment with no-water stress under traditional tillage produced the highest percentage of crude protein (12.22%)and non-nitrogen fertilizer and moderate water stress treatment under no-till resulted in the lowest crude protein (6.11%) . The highest (25.43%) and lowest (13.27%) percentage of acid detergent fiber in corn forage was obtained from 100% nitrogen fertilizer with severe water stress under conservation tillage and 100% nitrogen fertilizer with moderate water stress under no-till conditions, respectively. Agronomically, it seems that it is not possible to achieve the aims of no-till in short-term. In other words, conservation tillage will be effective after the transition stage. Also, increasing nitrogen content under water stress did not have a positive effect on forage quality.

Here, the seeds of 10 different species of the Yarrow (Achillea spp.) originated from geographically different regions of Iran were planted in the greenhouse of medicinal garden of Hamedan (2017-2018), and subsequently phytochemical variation of the essential oils of each individual species collected before and after flowering were assessed using GS-MS. Before flowering, overall, 27 metabolites were detected, among which 1,8-cineol, artemesia alcohol, artemesia ketone, camphor, germacrene-D, linalool, Terpineol and nerolidol were the superior. The maximum amounts of 1,8-cineol was observed in A. alepica, A. eriophora, A. biberstinii, A. filipendula, and A. nobilis, while both A. alepica and A. eriophora contained the highest amounts of camphor. Meanwhile, here, the maximum amounts of Germacrene D were acquired in A. tenuifolia (43.19%) and A. wilhelmsii (47.03%). Upon flowering, overall, 78 metabolites were detected, among which Cubenol, Eucalyptol, Camphor, germacrene-D, sabinol, trans-Nerolidol, Chamazulene, Chamazulene, and 2-Cyclohexen-1-ol, 1-methyl-4-(1-methylethyl)-, cis- were the superior. Based on cluster analysis and PCA constructed by the metabolite data of before and after flowering, all the 10 species of the genus Achillea were respectively grouped into three and four distinguished categories. Lastly, the results indicated that both quantity and quality of chemical composition of yarrow essential oils could be influenced by species under study, various growth and development stages, genetic background and possibly geographical/climatological factors, and that there is an acceptable phytochemical variation among them.

To study the effect of manure and treated municipal wastewater of Zabol, Iran, on quantitative and qualitative characteristics of rapeseed, an experiment was conducted under farm condition in 2016-2017. Experiment was performed as a split-plot based on a randomized complete block design with three replications. Experimental treatments were included irrigation at two levels, I1: irrigation with normal water, and I2: irrigation with treated municipal wastewater as the main factors and type of manures at four levels, M1: no fertilizer application, M2: cow manure (40 tons per hectare), M3: sheep manure (30 tons per hectare) and M4: poultry manure (20 tons per hectare) as sub-factors. Results showed that irrigation with treated municipal wastewater led to 10.74% increase in plant height, 31.48% in the number of sub-branches and 9.70% in the number of capsules per plant. Among different type of manures, application of poultry manure compared to sheep and cow manure increased 12.41% and 14.00% of plant height, 21.90% and 22.20% of the number of sub-branches and 5.92% and 7.66% the number of pods per plant. On the other hand, in irrigation with treated municipal wastewater treatments, it was observed that the highest yields of fresh and dry forages and grain and oil yields were 10249, 992, 2769 and 894 kg/ha in average that were obtained in poultry manure treatment. Study of correlation coefficient indicated that rapeseed seed yield correlated positively and significantly with most of the measured factors, and the highest correlation was between seed andoil yields. Overall, the results showed that irrigation with treated municipal wastewater along with poultry manure were the best treatment for higher fodder, grain and rapeseed oil yields, but to recommend it to farmers in the region, it is recommended to perform economic justification plan and then it can be recommended to the farmers of the region as an appropriate pattern.

This project was carried out to study and classify the lentil (Lens culinaris Medik) genotypes during germination and seedling establishment, in Greenhouse and in two stages. First stage was carried out with 43 genotypes and Mardom cultivar of lentil in 4 levels of salinity and 3 replications in factorial experiment in as a completely randomized design in a combination of non-saline and saline soil in the 1, 2-1, 1-1 and 1-2 weight ratios (respectively non-saline soil and saline soil). Second stage was carried out with 3 genotypes and Mardom cultivar of lentil in 4 levels of salinity of NaCl (0, 60, 120, 180 mM) and 3 replications in a factorial experiment based on a completely randomized design. In this project, some morphological characteristics as well as the content of chlorophyll a and b, carotenoids and proline were evaluated. Analysis of the results showed that as the salinity increased, morphological traits in most genotypes were significantly damaged. For clustering genotypes in the first experiment, cluster analysis and principal component analysis was carried out and genotypes were classified in four different groups. 4 genotypes for second experiment were selected according to the results of cluster analysis. Results showed that there was high diversity in lentil genotypes in response to salt stress, and we can use this diversity in cultivars breeding programs.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of foliar application of polyamine compounds on seed and oil yields and fatty acids production in safflower under deficit irrigation stress. A split plot experiment based on randomized complete block design with four replications was conducted in the research farm of College of Agriculture, Shahed University in 2016-2017. Treatments were irrigation at two levels (normal irrigation and deficit irrigation (irrigation after 50 and 75% depletion of field capacity, respectively) as the main factor and foliar application of polyamine compounds at 10 levels (foliar application with water as control and foliar application with putrescine, spermidin and spermin at 0.05, 0.1 and 0.2 mM concentrations) as secondary factor. At each irrigation level, the putrescine foliar application significantly increased seed and oil yields, harvest index, water use efficiency and oleic acid. Increased levels of putrescine and spermin foliar application ranged from 0.05 to 0.2 mM under deficit irrigation stress conditions resulted in 40.4% and 38.3%, increase in the biological yield respectively, compared to control. Also, foliar application of the highest concentration of spermin (i.e. 0.2 mM) under water deficit stress significantly increased total yield of unsaturated fatty acids and reduced the percentage of palmitic acid. Spermidine foliar application significantly increased linoleic acid yield in safflower oil under water deficit conditions. It can be concluded that foliar application of polyamine compounds can increase seed and oil yields and water use efficiency and improve the quality of safflower oil in deficit irrigation conditions.

To assess salt tolerance of 20 wheat genotypes, a randomized complete block design (RCBD) experiment with four replications under salinity (10 ds/m) and non-stressed conditions in a field experiment was conducted. Analysis of variance showed the significant differences among genotypes for tolerance indices and grain yield under salinity and non-stressed conditions. The result of correlation between stress tolerance indices and yield means showed that Mean Productivity (MP), Geometric Mean Productivity (GMP), Stress Tolerance Index (STI) and Harmonic Mean (HM) were the most suitable indices for selection of productive genotypes. HM was selected as the best indices for salt tolerance due to its higher correlation with grain yield under salinity stress conditions. The result of factor analysis based on these indices explained 99.87% of data changes. Genotypes were categorized into four clusters by cluster analysis. Totally, based on Bi plot, cluster analyses and tolerant indices, 7 and 8 genotypes having the highest yield (4725 and 4716 kg/ha, respectively), were determined as tolerant genotypes under salinity stress conditions.

In this study, two canola genotypes, Hyola308 (susceptible to drought) and SLM046 (tolerant to drought) were evaluated for expression of thioredoxin H (TRX H), alternativa oxidase 1 (AOX1), pyruvate dehydrogenase 1 (PDH1), isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 (IDH1) and fumarase 1 (FUM1) genes using real-time PCR technique under three conditions: non-drought stress, regular irrigation and methanol solutions sprayafter 72 hours irrigation interruption. PDH gene expression was the highest in SLM046 at zero stress (72 h after irrigation), IDH at 8 h after methanol spray, FUM at 24 h after methanol spray, TRX at 8 h after methanol spray, and AOX at 24 hours after sampling. In Hyola308 genotype, expression of PDH, FUM, TRX, and AOX genes increased 2, 25, 6, 1.4 and 5 folds, respectively after 8 hours of foliar application and IDH gene expression was high at zero hour of sampling. Overall, methanol foliar application increased the expression of the examined genes, which were significantly higher in SLM046 than Hyola308 genotypes.

Increased global food production has been associated with increased nitrogen fertilizer application, followed by risks such as nitrate accumulation, water resources pollution, and greenhouse gas emissions. It seems that poultry manure is a suitable case for replacing chemical fertilizers in potato cultivation due to high mineralization rate and micro nutrients. For this reason, two field experiments were carried out based on CRD with 11 treatments in three replications at two sites, Azna and Khoramabad in Lorestan province at 2016 on potato (Banba cultivar). Treatments included nitrogen resource from urea fertilizer and poultry manure along with control. According to results of the experiment, mean tuber yield in Khoramabad (43.7 t.ha-1) was higher than Azna (38.9 t.ha-1). This difference can be attributed to the different growth period in the two locations (Khorramabad and Azna, 114 and 147 days, respectively). Although in both locations, the highest tuber yield was obtained with the application of 700 kg.ha-1 urea, application of 10 t.ha-1 poultry manure resulted in yield approximate to the use of chemical fertilizers, especially in Azna region.However, the results of this experiment showed that agronomic nitrogen use efficiency in urea fertilizer was higher than poultry manure, due to the slight differences in yields between the two types of nitrogen sources, it can be concluded that replacement of chemical fertilizers with organic fertilizers to achieve food security and an efficient and sustainable food chain, is reasonable.

Weed suppression and increased production are objectives of intercropping systems. This study was carried out to investigate the effect of mixed culture on weed suppression, yield and its components of sesame and cowpea. The experiment was arranged in a split plot based on a randomized complete block design with four replications at the research farm of Agriculture and Natural Resources Campus, University of Tehran, during 2019. The main plots included pure sesame culture, pure cowpea culture, 50% sesame: 50% cowpea, 65% sesame: 65% cowpea and 80% sesame: 80% cowpea and sub plots included weed control and no weed control treatments. Results showed that pure sesame culture had the highest weed density and dry weight and there was no significant difference in weed density and dry weight between mixed and pure cowpea cultivars. In the most studied traits, there was a significant difference between weed control and no weed control treatments. Land equivalent ratio (LER) was higher than one in all treatments and was higher in without weeding rather than weeding treatments. The intercropping of 50% sesame: 50% cowpea had the highest LER, in terms of weed control and non-control (1.15 and 1.72, respectively). In general, it is concluded that sesame and cowpea mixture increased the land use efficiency while avoiding weeds, especially compared to pure sesame cultivation.

In order to investigate the effects of irrigation regime and plant density on agronomic and some physiological traits of chickpea (Cicer arietinum), a split-plot layout based on a randomized complete block design with three replications conducted at the research field of University of Tehtan (Karaj- Iran) in 2015-2016. The irrigation regime included eight levels (A1 =full irrigation at all growth stages, A2 = irrigation to grain filling and then cut, A3 = irrigation to podding and then cut, A4 = irrigation to flowering and then cut, A5 = low irrigation or 50% of full irrigation at all growth stages, A6 = 50% of full irrigation to grain filling and then cut, A7 = 50% of full irrigation to podding and then cut, A8 = 50% of full irrigation to flowering and then cut) and plant density at three levels (30, 40 and 50 plants.m-1) were considered as the main and subplots factor, respectively. The results showed that total chlorophyll and chlorophyll a, b, leaf area index, leaf relative water content, light use efficiency and seed yield were declined under water deficit but the light extinction coefficient and water use efficiency increased. The highest seed yield (2068 kg/ha) obtained from 40 plants.m-2. Also, under the low irrigation conditions, by applying 50% irrigation in all stages of chickpea growth the optimum yield can be produced.

Iimportance of Salicornia as a halophyte plant is the ability to grow in saline and irrigated areas with unusual and highly saline water. In order to investigate the effect of phytohormones on salinity adjustment on vegetative and physiological traits of Salicornia europaea L., an experiment was conducted in a greenhouse located in Gorgan city. The experiment was conducted as a factorial experiment in a completely randomized design with three replications. The first factor was different salinity levels (0, 400 and 600 mM), the second factor was hormone treatment (without hormone, 50 mM abscisic acid, 50 mM melatonin, and the combined effect of both hormones) on aerial spraying. Interaction of salinity and hormones on shoot height, branch number, shoot and root wet weight, seed weight, spike dry weight, total shoot dry weight of Salicornia at one percent (P <0.01) and shoot height and ion leakage (LE) were significant at the five percent level (P <0.05). The maximum yield, grain weight, spike dry weight and total shoot dry weight were increased by 110 (1.1 fold), 195 (19.5 fold) and 245 (24.5 fold) percent, respectively, in 400 mM salinity and abscisic acid and melatonin, together, were obtained. The most of the studied traits were obtained at 400 mM salinity with the combined effect of abscisic acid and melatonin. in the correlation coefficients, straw fresh weight trait coefficients with straw dry weight and root fresh weight at level one percent (P˂0.01) and number of branches, spike dry weight and grain weight at level five percent (P <0.05). The root fresh weight trait was positively and significantly correlated with number of branches, spike dry weight, grain weight and straw dry weight at level five percent (P <0.05). foliar application of abscisic acid and melatonin can help the plant to tolerate salinity and increase its functional properties (especially melatonin in yield components) will be helpful.

Tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) is one of the industrial plants and is important in the economy of many countries. Plant breeders are usually interested in modifing and breeding several traits simultaneously in their breeding programs. Index selection is the selection of several traits simultaneously based on a simple index. In order to construct and evaluate tobacco genotypes using selection indices, 92 oriental and water pipe’s tobacco genotypes were studied in terms of agro-biological traits using a randomized complete block design with three replications under normal (absence of broomrape) and presence of broomrape conditions during two successive years in Urmia Tobacco Research Centre. Selection indices including optimal selection (Smith-Hazel), Base (Brim), desired gain (Pesek-Baker) and Robinson were calculated based on all the studied traits (including: flowering date, plant height, number of leaves, leaf area, fresh and dry weights of leaf, fresh and dry weights of root, fresh and dry weights of aerial parts) for studied genotypes in both normal (absence of broomrape) and broomrape presence conditions. The results of the direct and correlated response of traits showed that the genotypes with more value for leaf area and fresh weight of leaf and aerial parts had potentially a higher performance. Selection based on Smith-Hazel and Brim indices which had the highest selection efficiency (DH) in both normal (absence of broomrape) and presence of broomrape, resulted in increasing the leaf area and fresh weight in normal conditions and leaf area and fresh weight of aerial parts in broomrape stress conditions. On the other hand, fresh weight of leaf and aerial parts were the traits with highest correlated response with dry weight of leaf, therefore, these two indices with the highest correlation with breeding value and with the highest relative efficiency of selection were presented as the best indices. Accordingly, genotype 24 (H.T.I) was introduced as the best genotype under normal (without broomrape stress) and broomrape stress conditions.

To determine the effect of irrigation levels and planting date on savory, an experiment was carried out in Agricultural, Medicinal Plants and Animal Sciences Research center of Islamic Azad University of Birjand, Iran in 2016-2017. The experimental design was split plot based on a randomized complete block design with three replications. Irrigation levels (25, 50, 75 and 100% of evaporation (E) from the class A evaporation pan) and planting dates (March 17, April 10 and May 5) were as main plots and sub- plots, respectively. Results showed that shoot WUE increased (69%) in 25% E compared to 100% E treatment. The effect of planting date on all studied traits was significant. The highest plant height, number of branches, dry weight of flowering branches and shoot, flowering branches WUE, shoot WUE, essential oil WUE and yield were obtained in the 5 May planting date. Also, the highest percentage of essential oil and leaf RWC was observed in the April 10 planting date. The interaction of irrigation and planting dates showed that 100% E and 5 May planting date resulted in the highest (31.28) and 25% E and 17 March planting date produced the lowest (18.14) number of branches per plant. The results of this experiment showed that considering WUE, to achieve the maximum quantitative and qualitative performance of savory in Birjand, it is better to sow it on May 5 and irrigate it at 25% evaporation from pan, in five days irrigation intervals.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of 24-epi-brassinosteroid on some of the physiological properties of fenugreek under high temperature stress. The treatments consisted of 24-epi-brassinosteroid (2, 5 and 10 ppm), different harvest times (6 and 24 h) and high temperature stress (42° C). Results showed that high temperature stress reduced chlorophyll a, b and total chlorophyll and carotenoid contents and increased malondialdehyde content and electrolyte leakage.  24-epi-brassinosteroid treatment during stress significantly prevented carotenoid, chlorophyll a,  b and total chlorophyll contents to be deceased.  Applying different levels of 24-epi-brassinosteroid (2 and 5 ppm) at high temperatures decreased malondialdehyde and increased fenugreek tolerance, due to the reduced non-fatty acid peroxidation. The activity of catalase, guaiacol peroxidase and ascorbate peroxidase enzymes enhanced in stress condition and application of 2 and 5 ppm 24-epi-brassinosteroid resulted in further increase of these enzymes activity. The application of 24-epi-brassinosteroid resulted in increased defense gene activity and enhanced content of antioxidant enzymes including ascorbate peroxidase, catalase and guaiacol peroxidase by stimulating the plant defense system. Overall, the results of this study showed that 24-epi-brassinosteroid stimulates the activity of genes involved in either photosynthesis or the antioxidant defense system of fenugreek, and fenugreek tolerance to high temperature stress increased, by reducing oxidative stress.

Identifying mechanisms involved in cold tolerance can play an important role in maintaining yield. In this study, physiological and biochemical responses, including malondialdehyde (MDA), cell membrane stability index (MSI), and activities of antioxidant enzymes in five autumn bread wheat cultivars and one spring tolerant cultivar in four treatments: under normal conditions (23°C), acclimation (4°C) and cold stress (-5°C) were studied in acclimated and non-acclimated wheat plants. Analysis of variance showed significant differences between the effects of cultivars and environment temperatures on the membrane stability index, while in other indices, significant differences derived between interactive effects. Results showed that lower temperatures increased MDA, while decreased MSI in different cultivars. As plants exposed to cold stress, their total protein content as well as activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, ascorbate peroxidase and guaiacol peroxidase increased only in cold-acclimated plants, while decreased significantly in non-acclimated strands. Results also showed lower decrease of membrane stability index and MDA in Norstar and Baran cultivars under stress conditions. It seems that in non-acclimated plants under cold stress, decrease in activity of antioxidant enzymes has impaired plant's ability to withstand stress. Therefore, a decrease in cell damages as well as an increase in capacity of cell defense systems, coming down to acclimation process, can be regarded as important factors contributing to tolerance to cold stress.

Ajowan (Carum copticum L. C.B. Clarke) is an annual plant of the Apiaceae family with medicinal, health and industrial uses. To investigate the effect of irrigation water salinity and planting date on some characteristics of this plant, a split-split plot experiment based on a randomized complete design with three replications was conducted in Isfahan, Iran. Two different planting dates (spring: March 23 and summer: June 21) and four different salinity levels (0.3 (control), 3, 6 and 9 dS/m), were assigned to main plots and subplots, respectively. The results showed that the highest plant height (93.2 cm) and biological yield (1367.7 g/m2) were obtained at 0.3 dS/m and summer planting date and maximum seed yield (230 g/m2) was observed at 0.3 dS/m and spring planting date. Increasing salinity levels decreased plant height, biological and seed yields. Interaction effects of salinity and planting season on essential oil percent and yield was not significant. The number of compounds identified in aerial parts of essential oil was 15 and 11 in summer and spring planting season, respectively. Based on the results, salinity had significant effect on essential oil yield, but no significant effect on essential oil percentage. Quality and quantity changes of essential oil components had no typical pattern. Spring was the most appropriate planting date in Isfahan climatic conditions for ajowan.

This study was conducted to evaluate the relationships among some of the agronomic and physiological traits of twelve Thymus daenensis subsp. daenensis ecotypes under normal and salt (120 mM NaCl) stress conditions in a factorial experiment using randomized complete block design with three replications. Shoot dry weight under both conditions had significant positive correlation with chlorophyll a and b, potassium, relative water content, canopy area, leaf length and number of stems in plant and had significant negative correlation with sodium to potassium ratio and ion leakage. According to stepwise regression results, canopy area and carotenoid under normal condition and leaf length and number of stems in plant under salt stress condition were entered to the model. The result of path analysis showed that canopy area had the most positive direct effect on shoot dry weight under normal condition and leaf length and number of stems in plant had positive effects on shoot dry weight under salt stress condition.