فصلنامه فرآیند و کارکرد گیاهی
سال دهم شماره 5 (پیاپی 45، آذر و دی 1400)

Due to the problems of sexual and asexual reproduction of Haworthia attenuatae as one of the most popular ornamental succulents, the possibility of micropropagation of this plant in in vitro conditions was studied. The effect of BAP (Benzylamino purine) and Kin (Kinetin) (0.5, 1 and 2 mg/l) in Combination with IBA (Indole-3-acetic acid) (0, 0.01, 0.1 and 0.5 mg/l) using leaf explants on the shoot regeneration of this plant showed that the highest number of shoots (5.22) was obtained with entire leaf explants on modified MS medium supplemented with 2 mg/l BAP and 0.01 mg/l IBA. Maximum number of leaves (4.66) and the longest and widest leaves (1.05 and 0.68 cm) were produced using entire leaf explants with 0.5 BAP mg/l and 2 mg/l plus 0.5 mg/l IBA, respectively. Whereas, the highest number of regenerated shoots (3.5), the longest (1.45 cm) and the widest shoots (0.87 cm) were observed in combination 1 mg/l Kin with 0.1 mg/l IBA with basal leaf segment explant. The results of root regeneration in modified MS and ½MS media supplemented with 0, 0.5, 1, 1.5 mg/l IBA showed that the highest number of roots (6.66), the longest root (3.47 cm) were observed in ½MS medium supplemented with 1 and 1.5 mg / l IBA, respectively. From the rooted plantlets, 90% of them were adapted to the greenhouse environment. Generally, further optimization of this protocol can be led to using leaf explant for commercial micropropagation of Haworthia attenuata.

In order to investigate the effects of kaolin foliar application on growth, physiological and biochemical characteristics of some olive cultivars in Dalahu Olive Research Station in Sarpolzahab city, a factorial experiment in a randomized complete block design with three replications and two factors (cultivars) Olive and kaolin concentrations) was done in year 2020. The planting distance was 6.6 m. Experimental materials of this study were 15-year-old trees of six olive cultivars including Amphisis, Seville, Roughani, Manzanillo, Konservolia and Zard. Two stages of complete foliar application of olive trees with kaolin at zero concentrations as control (foliar application with water) and 2 and 4%, in mid-July and August (due to warm and dry weather during this period), And its effects on growth, physiological and biochemical characteristics of olive cultivars were evaluated. Tree care and maintenance operations were applied equally in all treatments. vegetative traits such as growth and diameter of the current-season shoot growth and current-season shoot diameter as well as relative leaf water content, ion leakage, leaf proline content, total soluble sugars and chlorophyll content  and catalase and peroxidase activity were recorded in different treatments and different cultivars.The results showed that the response of olive cultivars to foliar application of different levels of kaolin was different. Foliar application of kaolin improved growth traits, relative leaf water and chlorophyll content of olive cultivars under warm conditions. Also, kaolin used in olive cultivars reduced the accumulation of malondialdehyde, which was associated with increased activity of antioxidant enzymes. In general, the results of this study showed that kaolin spraying can be used to protect olive tree in warm regions.

In this research the effects of organic and chemical fertilizers on morpho-physiological traits (height of plant, number of lateral stem, relative water content in leaf, fresh and dry matter of plant), essential oil content and composition of Dragonhead were investigated. This research was conducted in a randomized complete block design with 4 replications in 2019 and 2020. Treatments were: control (no fertilizer), cow manure, sheep manure, poultry manure, horse manure, vermicompost and NPK fertilizers (20-20-20). Shoot of plant samples before flowering stage in end of vegetative stage (200-210 leaf) prepared from treatments separately. The most weight of dry matter (11.9-14.7 g.plant-1) and essential oil content (1.1-1.05%) was observed in chemical fertilizer that was the same group with vermicompost and poultry manure. Geraniol, geranial and geranyl acetate are classified as non cyclic monoterpene, and made more than 70% of essential oil content in different treatments. There were 18 components in essential oil of treated plants. The greatest amount of major components were geraniol (31.2-34.2 %) in NPK fertilizer and vermicompost, geranial (26.7-27.3%) in NPK fertilizer; and geranyl acetate (28.7-25.9%) in vermicompost. In two years observed that the most significant correlation indices were between essential oil content with linalool, limonen, geranial, geraniol, neryl acetate, and geranyl acetate. It seems that organic fertilizers increased the nutrient uptake and assimilation and consequently the amount and components of essential oil of the plant increased.

Plants need essential nutrients for their growth and development. Iron and boron are micronutrients that are needed by plants in very small concentrations. This study was conducted as a pot experiment to investigate the effect of iron and boron on Achillea millefolium in a factorial randomized complete design with three replications. Iron at three levels (0, 5 and 20 μM) and boron at three levels (25, 50 and 75 μM) were selected. The results showed that the effects of iron, boron and their interaction on most of the growth and physiological indices of Achillea millefolium was significant. Iron (20 μM) and boron (75 μM) and their interaction significantly increased chlorophyll a, b, total chlorophyll content, chlorophyll a / b ratio, carotenoid compared to the control samples (20 μM iron and 25 μM boron). Different concentrations of boron had no effect on relative water content. Also, different concentrations of boron and iron did not lead to a significant change in the root dry weight. Iron significantly influence on root and shoot iron concentration and soluble leaf protein. Boron had no significant effect on shoot iron concentration, but changed other two indices significantly. The maximum amount of root and shoot iron was 951 and 620 µg/g DW, respectively. In conclusion, it seemed that treatments of Achillea millefolium with iron (20 µM) and boron (75 µM) leads to significant increase in growth and physiological parameters of this plant.

Increasing the altitude causes extensive changes in the environmental conditions. Three species of Quercus brantii Lindl., Pistacia atlantica Desf. and Crataegus pontica C. Koch. are the dominant species in the forests of Ilam province. The sampling was done from Qalajeh Mountain at the altitude from 1300-2000 m a.s.l. The effect of altitude on photosynthesis, photosynthetic pigments and some biochemical parameters (proline, soluble sugars, proteins, antioxidant enzymes) of these plant species were investigated. The results indicated that with increasing the altitude, the photosynthetic parameters (net photosynthesis and transpiration) and photosynthetic pigments decreased in the three species. A significant positive correlation was observed between photosynthetic parameters and photosynthetic pigments. The results showed that with increasing altitude, the total soluble sugar and proline content significantly increased, that this value was higher in Q. brantii and P. atlantica than the C. pontica. Furthermore, a significant negative correlation was observed between photosynthetic parameters and the total soluble sugar and proline in P. atlantica and Q. brantii species. Regarding to the antioxidative enzymes, a significant difference was determined only in P. atlantica and the activity of antioxidant enzymes in P. atlantica was more regular than others. Overall, it could be concluded that with increasing altitude and decreasing photosynthesis and photosynthetic pigments, the amount of compatible soluble compounds (total soluble sugar and proline) and antioxidant enzymes increased as a mechanism for plants adaptation against stress conditions.

The use of salt tolerant plants in arid and semi-arid regions of the world, including Iran, is one of the ways to achieve high yields. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of different salinity treatments in hydroponic culture on physiological characteristics, phenylalanine-ammonialyase (PAL) activity and also the small amount of flavonoid compounds kaepmferol and quercetin in field saffron (Crocus sativus L.). For this purpose, saffron corms were planted in pots containing perlite and irrigated in controlled laboratory conditions with ½ Hoagland nutrient solutions containing concentrations of 0, 30, 60, 90, 120 and 150 mM sodium chloride. Based on the obtained results, the effect of salinity stress was not significant on chlorophyll a and b levels at 5% level. Carotenoids and glucose levels in the 60 mM treatment had a significant increase of 27% and 56%, respectively, compared to the control treatment. The effect of salinity on leaf amino acid proline was not significant..The relative water content (RWC) in 150 mM with a decrease of 20%, had the highest decrease compared to the control treatment. The activity of PAL enzyme in only 150 mM had a significant increase of 50%. The amount of kaempferol in all concentrations except 150 mM and the amount of quercetin in only 150 mM showed a significant increase (100%) compared to the control treatment. It seems that according to the test results, the tolerance threshold of saffron plant to salt is in the range of 60 to 90 mM and the defense mechanisms mentioned in this range and above help the plant to tolerate salt.

In recent years, special attention has been paid to the consumption of plant growth stimulants such as amino acids and humic acids along with micronutrients to adjust the effects of abnormal environmental conditions such as untimely cold or salinity and drought stress in grain production programs. In order to investigate the effect of growth enhancers on compensating for the lack of transport assimilates from storage sources to grain during the last irrigation cut in two wheat cultivars in field conditions, an experiment was conducted as a split-plot in a randomized complete block design with three replications at the Kashmar Research Station during of 2019-2020. Two wheat cultivars were Sirvan and Rakhshan (a common cultivar of the region) in the main plots and growth enhancers included amino acid fertilizer, complete micronutrient, humic acid each one with 2:1000 concentration and control, were taken in a subplot. All these fertilizer nutrients with an 8 kg ha-1 concentration of solo potash were sprayed in two growth stages of tillering and spiking. The results showed that the highest plant height (63.8 cm) was obtained in the Rakhshan cultivar by foliar application of humic acid. The effect of amino acid foliar application on peduncle length and weight in Rakhshan cultivar was more than other fertilizer treatments. In the Sirvan cultivar, the use of amino acid fertilizer had the highest number of seeds per spike (30.2) and grain weight per spike (1.28 g). The most number and weight of spikes per unit area were obtained from the application of amino acid fertilizer. The highest dry weight per square meter belonged to Sirvan cultivar (161 g) and Rakhshan cultivar (131 g) using humic acid fertilizer treatment. The most seed weight per unit area (91.9 g m-2) was obtained from amino acid fertilizer treatment in the Sirvan cultivar. The highest amount of photosynthesis (13.6 mmolm-2s-1) and stomatal conductance (145 mmolm-2s-1) were obtained from amino acid fertilizer treatment. The correlation coefficients showed a positive and significant correlation between yield and spike weight per unit area (r = 0.94 **) and then with the number of spikes (r = 0.70 *). In general, foliar application of amino acids and humic acid in two stages of tillering and spiking can compensate for wheat yield reduction due to the last irrigation cut by changing the physiological and metabolic processes of the plant.

Boron is an essential plant micronutrient that is involved in the cell wall and membrane structure and functioinig. Boron is often found in high concentrations in association with agriculture in arid  and semi-arid regions. In order to investigate the effect of zinc sulfate on some morphological, physiological and biochemical characteristics of two grapvine cultivars under toxicity of boron, a greenhouse experiment was conducted taking into account three factors of two grapevine cultivars (Ghezel Ozum and Hosseini), four levels of boric acid (nutrient solution including 0.25 (control)), 2.5, 5 and 10 mg l-1 and tree levels zinc sulfate (foliar spray), 0 (control), 3 and 6 g l-1 in a factorial based on randomized complete design of four replicate for the lasted six months. The results indicated that leaf fresh weight in treatments of 5 and 10 mg l-1 boron (without zinc sulfate) were 68.55 and 49%, respectively and leaf dry weight in treatments of 5 and 10 mg l-1 boron (without zinc sulfate) decreased by 65.44 and 86.9%, respectively, compared to the control. With the increas in boric acid levels, the contents activities of catalase enzymes, proline, soluble sugars, and total protein in plant tissues were increased. At a concentration of 6 g l-1 zinc sulfate and 10 mg l-1 boron, the amount of soluble sugar in Ghezel Ozum cultivar increased 6.35 times and in Hosseini cultivar increased 5.3 times compared to the control treatment. With the application of 6 g l-1 zinc sulfate, the amount of total protein at the level of 5 mg l-1 boron increased 1.53 times and at the level of 10 mgl-1 boron, the amount increased 1.77 times compared to the control. Boron toxicity also reduced the concentrations of No3-, Ca2+, Mg2+ and Fe2+ but increased boron levels in both cultivars. The lowest amount of iron was observed in both cultivars at 10 mg l-1 boron. The highest amount of leaf boron (200.51 mg kg-1 dry matter) was observed at a concentration of 10 mg l-1 boron. Under toxicity of boron, application of Zinc sulfate caused increase in growth efficiency, antioxidant enzymes activites and the amount of compatible osmolites but reduced accumulation of boron ions in two cultivars. In conclusion, Hosseini was more tolerant with respect to most characters as compared to Ghezel Ozum and the application of zinc sulfate ameliorated the adverse effects of boron toxicity, in both cultivars.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of chemical fertilizers of nitrogen, phosphorus, sulfur and biofertilizer on some growth indicators of Camelina sativa L. experimental plant during the crop year 2016 in a farm located in Kazerun and as a factorial in the form of complete randomized block design with three replications. Treatments include fertile biofertilizer 2 containing phosphate solvent bacteria (Pseudomonas putida Strain 13P bacteria and agglomerans Pantoea Strain 5P) as the first factor in 2 levels (consumption and non-consumption) and the second factor including chemical fertilizers including control treatments, nitrogen, phosphorus, sulfur fertilizers (50 respectively). (200 and 100 kg / ha) alone were optimal and chemical fertilizer treatment was 30% less than optimal. The results showed that the application of biofertilizer was significant only on crop yield and phosphorus, sulfur and nitrogen uptake traits. Chemical fertilizer treatment was significant on all traits, and the interaction of biofertilizer treatment with chemical fertilizer on grain yield, crop yield and phosphorus, sulfur and nitrogen adsorption traits was significant. The combined use of biofertilizers with nitrogen + phosphorus + sulfur chemical fertilizer compared to control increases grain yield by 86.85%, improves crop yield of phosphorus, sulfur and nitrogen by 19.48, 12.62 and 14.90 kg / kg, respectively, and its adsorption efficiency. The elements were 42.2%, 30.01 and 36.97%, respectively. The combined use of chemical fertilizers with biofertilizer compared to control increased the leaf area index by 13.60%, increased the plant weight ratio by 23.78% and the leaf surface area. Nitrogen + phosphorus treatment compared to control showed an increase in plant growth rate of 53.64%. The best fertilizer combination in this experiment to increase the yield of whole plants was the combination of chemical fertilizer treatments containing nitrogen, phosphorus and sulfur with biofertilizers.

Salinity is one of the most important abiotic stresses that reduce the growth and development of wheat. Reducing the effects of salinity with the help of plant growth-promoting rhizosphere bacteria has been considered by researchers as an environmentally friendly solution. In the present study, some physiological responses of wheat cultivar of Narin to salinity-resistant growth-promoting bacteria isolated from the rhizosphere of salt-tolerant plants) Atriplex lentiformis, Tamarix ramosissim, Seidlitzia rosmarinus, Halostachys belangeriana) were investigated. Wheat seeds after inoculation with the identified bacteria (Bacillus safensis, B. pumilus and Zhihengliuella halotolerans) were planted in pots and irrigated with saline water of 0.2 (control) 4, 8 and 16 dS / m. The results showed all isolated bacteria had the ability to produce auxin, siderophore, hydrogen cyanide, 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid deaminase (ACC deaminase) and phosphate solubility.With increasing salinity, chlorophyll content decreased in all treatments compared to the control. The use of bacteria increased 21 to 92, 6 to 175 and 21 to 52% of chlorophyll a, b and total chlorophyll content among salinity treatments, respectively. Increased salinity increased content of proline (136-136%), total phenol (11-92.5%), free radical scavenging capacity (12.5-89%) and total soluble sugars (7.5-1.5%) in salinity treatments inoculated with bacteria compared to control. The growth-promoting bacteria in this study with improved wheat resistance to salinity stress. Improving the physiological conditions of plant under the positive effect of bacteria eventually increased the plant biomass, in which the role of B. safensis was more than the other two bacteria. The results of this study showed that the plant growth-promoting bacteria of halophytic rangeland plants can play a role in improving the growth indices of wheat plants in saline conditions.

Stone fruits are valuable because of high nutritional. propagation of the same rootstocks is vital in horticulture. The aim of the present study was to investigate some concentrations of growth regulators such as benzylaminopurine (BAP), gibberellic acid (GA3), naphthalene acetic acid (NAA), indole butyric acid (IBA) in shoot germination and rooting of myrobalan 29c. This experiment was performed in a completely randomized block design with three replications (at least 5 samples per replication) in 14 experimental groups (G1-G14). In this study, MS culture medium and growth regulators of BAP (0, 0.5, 1 and 2 mg/L), GA3 (0, 0.1 and 0.2 mg/L), NAA (0 and 0.1 mg/L) was used in shoot generation. The results show that shoot generation varies between 1.05 in G1 group to 8.27 in G6 group. The shoot length varies between 2.87 cm in G5 group to 4 cm in G6 group. The best shoot generation was observed at concentrations of 1 mg/L BAP, 0.1 mg/L NAA and 0.2 GA3 at 8.27 numbers. The 1/2 MS medium and growth regulators of IBA (0, 0.25, 0.5 and 1 mg/L) and NAA (0, 0.25, 0.5 and 1 mg/L) were used for rooting. The results show that rooting varies between zero numbers in the G1 group to 7.6 numbers with 8.78 cm length in the G13 group. The best rooting was obtained at 1/2MS with 0.5 IBA and 0.25 NAA concentration with 7.6 root numbers.

World industrialization and population growth are the main reasons for the increase in environmental contamination with aromatic hydrocarbons. The presence of these compounds in the environment leads to a variety of stresses in plants and finally reduces their growth. Pyrene is one of the major toxic contaminants belonging to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Hence, in this research, the effect of 50 and 100 ppm of pyrene on growth indices, photosynthetic pigment contents, the activity of some antioxidant enzymes, malondialdehyde content, and amount of hydrogen peroxide in sunflower have been examined. Pyrene significantly reduced chlorophyll amount, anthocyanin content, catalase activity, and hydrogen peroxide content compared to the control, while the amount of plant carotenoids, the activity of superoxide dismutase  and peroxidase enzymes as well as malondialdehyde content were increased in the roots and shoots of sunflower. Based on the obtained results, pyrene probably caused an oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation that eventually reduced photosynthetic pigments and plant growth.

Arsenic (As) toxicity can be a hazardous threat to sustainable agriculture and human health. In order to investigate the effect of As (0, 25 and 50 µM) on growth, physiological traits and expression of As and Fe transporters in Tarom hashemi and Fajr rice cultivars, a factorial experiment based on a completely randomized design was conducted in 2020 in greenhouse conditions at Ayatollah Amoli Branch, Islamic Azad University, Amol, Iran. As treatments included 0, 25 and 50 μM. The results showed that As stress enhanced the uptake and accumulation of As in the roots and leaves of both rice cultivars by increasing the expression of Lsi1, Lsi2 and Lsi6 genes. As toxicity downregulated the expression of genes involved in Fe translocation to the shoot, declined the Fe accumulation in the leaves and, consequently, reduced chlorophyll content in both rice cultivars. As stress induced oxidative stress by inducing the accumulation of hydrogen peroxide and reducing the ascorbic acid and glutathione content, resulting in lessened growth in both rice cultivars. However, higher activity of antioxidant enzymes in T. hashemi reduced the level of hydrogen peroxide and malondialdehyde compared to Fajr. Higher expression of Lsi1, Lsi2, Lsi6, YSL2 and FRDL1 genes in T. hashemi caused lower As uptake and higher Fe accumulation in leaves than Fajr, which can play an important role in improving T. hashemi growth under As toxicity. Our findings showed that T. hashemi showed more tolerance to As phytotoxicity than Fajr cultivar with a more effective defense system and regulation of the expression of genes involved in the uptake and translocation of As and Fe.

Sesame seeds are a good source for food and health due to their protein and unsaturated fatty acids and secondary metabolites such as lignans. Soil and water salinity is one of the most important factors limiting the growth of this crop. By examining the physiological reactions related to salinity tolerance among different landraces and cultivars, tolerant and sensitive cultivars can be selected and used in breeding programs and cultivation development of this important oilseed. For this purpose, physiological reactions in eight different sesame genotypes in a factorial experiment based on a completely randomized design with the main salinity factor due to mixing Caspian Sea water with normal water at 3 levels(control, 6 & 9 dSm-1) and sub-factor 8 Sesame genotype includes Babol, Dashtestan 2, Oltan, Pakistani, tn-78-389 and tn-78-393, Halil, Naz single-branched genotypes in three replications in pots in the greenhouse of the Plant Breeding Department of Sari University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources in the year 2020 were examined. The results of this experiment showed that at salinity levels of 6 and 9 dS, among the eight different genotypes of sesame studied, Oltan cultivar with the highest amount of total dry weight (8.42 & 5.27 gr), proline (10.35&15 μmol/g fresh leaf weight), membrane stability index ( 82.65&74.14%), relative water content(81.33 & 69.33%), leaf chlorophyll and carotenoid content(based on mg/g fresh weight), chlorophyll a(0.74&0.7),total chlorophyll(1.12&0.95)and carotenoids(0.41&0.46)and antioxidant enzymes activities (based on enzyme unit per gram fresh weight), superoxide dismutase(18.22&29.05), ascorbate peroxidase(14.9&19.21),catalase(1.51), guaiacol peroxidase(4.8&5.43),potassium(6.6%),sodium to potassium ratio index (0.06&0.12) and the lowest amount of sodium(0.41&0.7)was more tolerant of stress than other cultivars. In contrast, Pakistani cultivar with the lowest amount of total dry weight (5.12 & 2.14 gr), proline(5.86&6.7 μmol/g fresh leaf weight), membrane stability index(66.31 & 57.86%), relative water content (58&48.33%), leaf chlorophyll and carotenoid content (based on mg / g fresh weight), chlorophyll a(0.46&0.37), total chlorophyll(0.69&0.5)and carotenoids(0.25&0.27)and Antioxidant enzymes activities (based on unit of enzyme per gram of fresh weight), superoxide dismutase (11.61&10.31), ascorbate-peroxidase (8.61&8.78),catalase(0.84),guaiacol peroxidase(1.77&2.16), potassium(3.68%), sodium to potassium ratio index(0.59&1.12)and the highest amount of sodium(2.15&2.57)was the most sensitive cultivar in stress tolerance compared to other cultivars. Based on the evaluated traits and the response of the studied cultivars to salinity stress, oltan was identified as a tolerant cultivar and Pakistani as a salinity sensitive cultivar compared to the other cultivars. Therefore, these cultivars can be suggested for use in future breeding programs to introduce new cultivars.

In order to investigate the effect of mycorrhiza on catalase enzyme activity and growth and qualitative characteristics of Lady's mantle (Lallemantia royleana) under deficit irrigation, experimental based on randomized complete block design (RCBD) was conducted with three replications at Research Farm of the Agricultural College of Shahed University in 2018 and 2019. Experiment treatments included three irrigation regimes (30%, 60% and 90% depletion of available soil water) and mycorrhiza fertilizer (inoculation and non-inoculation). Germination percentage and germination rate, catalase enzyme activity, grain yield, biomass and seed qualitative characteristics decreased by increasing water deficit. The maximum resistance and best responses of plants observed to 60%irrigation regime.  Mycorrhizal inoculation had a significant positive and increasing effect on the catalase enzyme activity, germination traits and qualitative characteristics of Lady's mantle compared to those of non-inoculation plants. The lowest growth, yield, and catalase enzyme activity and qualitative characteristics were observed in non-inoculation plants at 90%. Plants inoculated had more percentage germination (100%), germination rate, seed yield (1333.75 kg / ha), chlorophyll content, percentage of mucilage, phosphorus seed oil and catalase enzyme activity under 60% depletion available soil water compared to non-inoculated plants under other irrigation regimes. Therefore, it can be concluded that Lady's mantle has shown a positive response to symbiosis with mycorrhizal fungi under drought stress.

In order to evaluate the effect of Inoculation by pseudomonas plant growth promotinh rhizobacteria and  foliar application of boron-nanochelate of pea( Pisum sativum L.) mother plants on germination traits and seedling growth of produced seeds under Cadmium stress a factorial experiment based on completely randomized design with four replications was conducted. Experimental treatments were 12 combination of foliar application  of boron-nanochelate (control, 2 and 4  mg/L), inoculation   by plant growth promoting rhizobacteria pseudomonas  strains (without inoculation, p15, p25 and p32) and three levels of cadmium stress (0, 50, 150 mg/l Cdcl2). Through this experiment traits such as seed germination and seedling growth criterias , some of biochemical parameters such as proline,  protein and soluble solid content, photosynthetic pigment content and peroxidase antioxidant enzyme were measured. Results  indicated that as increases in  cadmium  stress  germination percentage and rate seedling length and dry weight, seedling length index, photosynthetic pigments and  soluble solid and protein content of seedlings and peroxidase antioxidant enzyme activity  were decreased, while proline content of seedling were increased. Whearse     Boron nano-chelate nutrition and pseudomonas bacterial strains inoculation alleviated deterimental effects of cadmium stress via increase in seed germination and seedling growth criteria, protein  and soluble solid content, chlorophyll a and chlorophyll b  and peroxidase enzyme activity .

This study was conducted with the aim of investigating the effect of plant hormones (IAA and BAP) and methyl jasmonate elicitor on callogenesis potential of Teucrium polium leaf explants and the content of some phenolic compounds (total phenols, o-diphenols, phenolic acids, flavonoids, and flavones) and its antioxidant capacity. Leaf explants prepared from hydroponically-grown plants were cultured on MS medium with separate and combined concentrations of IAA (0.1, 0.5 and 1 mg L-1) and BAP (0.5, 1 and 1.5 mg L-1). The treatments with the highest percentage of callogenesis and fresh and dry weight were selected as the best hormonal conditions to evaluate the effect of methyl jasmonate (50, 100 and 200 μM) on phenolic derivatives. Eight weeks after callus growth, the content of various phenolic compounds and the antioxidant capacity of the extracts (based on DPPH and FRAP assays) were measured. Although a higher percentage of callogenesis was observed in all hormonal treatments than the control, conditions "IAA0.1 + BAP1" and "IAA1 + BAP1.5" mg L-1 were with 100% callus induction. The highest fresh and dry weight of calli were in the combined treatments "IAA0.1 + BAP0.5", "IAA0.1 + BAP1", "IAA1 + BAP0.5" and "IAA1 + BAP1.5" mg L-1. The results of the second part of the experiment showed that the highest amount of phenolic compound and all its derivatives except o-diphenol was seen under the treatment of 50 μM methyl-jasmonate- in all hormonal treatments. A strong correlation was also observed between the antioxidant potentials DPPH (r2 = -0.735) and FRAP (r2 = 0.876) with the content of phenolic compounds. Therefore, methyl jasmonate as a potent elicitor can increase the synthesis of phenolic derivatives and the antioxidant capacity in Teucrium callus. So this method would be an effective technique for the supply of medicinal-phenolic compounds.

In order to investigate the effect of palm leaf biochar on some characteristics of Cucumis melo L. under drought stress, a split plot experiment was conducted in a completely randomized block design with three replications for two consecutive years. The main plot was irrigation level (60, 85, and 100% water requirement) and subplot was biochar in four levels (0, 0.18, 0.24, and 0.36 kg/m2). Results showed that treatment of 0.24 kg/m2 biochar and 100% water requirement increased the characteristics of  shoot fresh weight as 77%, shoot dry weight as 32%, root fresh weight as 100%, root dry weight as 84%, root length as 54%, and average fruit weight 84%, water use efficiency as 88%, compared to treatment without biochar and 60% water requirement.  The biocharfree treatment with 60% water requirement accounted for the highest amount of proline due to high stress, and the proline content reduced with increasing biochar and decreasing stress in treatments. The highest level of leaf N, Mn and K, shoot length, leaf area, leaf number, fruit diameter and fruit flesh thickness in the treatment of 0.36 kg/m2 biochar and 100% water requirement were higher 58%, 48%, 65%, 18%, 50%, 95%, 43% and 55%, than to of treatment without biochar and 60% water requirement respectively and had no significant difference with the treatment of 0.24 kg/m2 biochar and 85% water requirement. The highest rates of Fe, Zn and Cu were related to 0.36 kg/m2 biochar and 60% water requirement as 60, 44 and 66% respectively compared to treatment without biochar and 100% water requirement. Generally, the treatments of 0.24 and 0.36 kg/m2 of biochar increased most of the characteristics, however no significant difference was observed between these treatments. Moreover, in 85% water requirement the drought stress conditions could compensate with the application of biochar. Thus, using 0.24 kg/m2 of biochar and 85% of water requirement, recommended for the best result.

In recent years, the development of water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) has been a problem in wetlands and ponds in northern Iran. Converting water hyacinth to compost and vermicompost and its application as a growth media can be one of the effective techniques for water hyacinth control. The aim of the present study was to investigate compost of water hyacinth and application of humic acid on the vegetative, flowering and some elements in Lilium. An experiment was carried out with factorial arrangement based on the completely randomized design. The first factor was compost (25%, 50%, 75% and 100%) and the second factor was humic acid (0, 250 and 100 mg L-1). According to the results the highest stem height and vase life were observed with 13.26% and 25% increase compared to the control in 50% compost + 250 humic acid, respectively. The highest number of buds, leaf number, longest root, chlorophyll, nitrogen, phosphorus and calcium content were recorded in 50% compost + 250 and 500 humic acid. The results of this study showed that water hyacinth compost with 250 and 500 mg L-1 humic acid improved vegetative, reproductive traits and vase life of Lilium.

The aim of this study was to investigate the chill and heat requirements of flower buds of 8 foreign and domestic commercial cultivars and promising domestic almond genotypes during 2019 and 2020 as a factorial experiment based on a completely randomized design with 3 replications and two factors including five cultivar type (Tuono, Nanpariel, Mamaie, Shahroud 12, Rabi) and three genotypes (1-16, 13-40, and D11) and the number of child and heat requirements hours 0-7.2 ° C (zero, 50, 100, 200, 300, 400 , 500, 600, 700 and 800 hours) were performed at the One hundred hectare research station of Horticultural Research Institute. Based on the results, the studied genotypes and cultivars showed a wide range of chill and heat requirements. The number of days to break dormancy at 0 to 7.2 ° C varied between 17 days in the Mamaie cultivar and up to 58 days in the D11 genotype. Mamaie cultivar was recognized as the earliest cultivar among the cultivars and genotypes studied which after 17 days from the beginning of the accumulation of chill requirements and with 50 hours of chill between 0-7.2 ° C reached 50% of flowering. Mamaie cultivar with 7128 Growth Degree Hour (GDH) and genotype D11 with 11088 Growth Degree Hour had the highest heat requirement. The results showed that with increasing the number of hours of chilling requirement, the number of days required for buds to bloom significantly decreased. In general, Mamaie and Rabi cultivars were identified as early flowering cultivars with the lowest chill requirement and D11 genotype as the late flowering cultivars with high cold requirement.