مجله علوم و فنون باغبانی ایران
سال بیست و سوم شماره 1 (بهار 1401)

The genus Lonicera belongs to the Caprifoliaceae family, and in Persian, it is called Palakhor, Shung, or Aminoddoleh. Understanding interspecific relationships based on traditional methods such as morphological features and chemical compositions has conflicting results. In this study, to evaluate the efficiency of DNA barcode in determining the phylogenetic relationships of 12 species of Lonicera under cultivation in different regions of Iran, two chloroplast DNA barcodes (psbA-trnH and trnL-F) were used. Genomic DNA extracted using available kits, and PCR reaction performed to amplify two regions, and finally, purified samples were sequenced. The results showed that the length of the psbA-trnH and trnL-F region are about 420-435 and 940-950 nucleotides, respectively. Parsimony analysis of psbA-trnH and trnL-F showed 382 and 886 conserved sites, 55 and 71 variable sites, and 15 and 16 Parsimony informative sites, respectively. Phylogenetic trees created by the psbA-trnH and the trnL-F regions showed that most species (except L. korolkovii) and the two species L. korolkovii and L. maackii were well distinguished from each other, respectively and they were placed in different clusters. The genetic distance (0.00 to 0.209) between species in psbA-trnH region is more than genetic distance (0.00 to 0.027) in trnL-F region. Therefore, the psbA-trnH region owing to its diversity and reproducibility is a suitable barcode for studying genetic diversity between Lonicera species.

All physiological processes of plants depend on the water so that 80-95% of leaf and root biomass of herbaceous plants is composed of water. Plant growth and development are largely dependent on the selection of a proper irrigation system and nutrition. Closed irrigation systems are suggested for plant cultivation in order to optimize water and fertilizer consumption and reduce production costs. This research was conducted to compare the efficiency of the ebb and flow irrigation system with the manual (hand) irrigation system in cyclamen production. The results showed that plants irrigated by ebb and flow system had better growth and quality. The ebb and flow irrigation system resulted in a two-fold increase in leaf area (74.96%), a significant increase in flower number (40.66%), and a significant decrease in the number of days to flowering (16.67%) compared to the manual irrigation system. plants grown in ebb and flow irrigation system showed an increase in photosynthetic pigments (significant 11.27% and 11.70% increases in chlorophyll index and chlorophyll b at the p < 0.01 level, respectively and a significant 11.17% increase in chlorophyll a at the p < 0.05 level) compared to those grown in the manual irrigation system. Nitrogen, potassium, and calcium uptake was higher in the plants irrigated by the ebb and flow irrigation system versus the manually irrigated plants. The ebb and flow irrigation system reduced nutrient solution consumption by about 50%. Overall, application of the ebb and flow irrigation system improved the growth indices and visual quality of cyclamen flowers.

Attaining our predictions requires the use of desirable cultivars or hybrids based on the change in the cultivation pattern in southern Kerman province and also predicting the increase in the production levels and amount of crop over next four years. Therefore, while causing more and higher quality products, identifying the potential of native populations and moving towards their improvement, can be effective to reduce seed supply costs. To this objective, 45 samples of different types of native accessions of melon (Cucumis melo L. var.Reticulate) in southern Kerman province were collected and evaluated for quantitative and qualitative traits. The results showed that most traits had high phenotypic variation. Fruit firmness had the highest diversity coefficient (80.8%), and day to ripping had the lowest diversity (11.67%).  Among evaluated accessions, considering the appearance, there were six different types of fruits. Regarding the results, the accessions of southern Kerman cantaloupes have high diversity in terms of morphological and qualitative characteristics, and this diversity can be used to produce pure lines with desirable properties (including Fruit texture firmness and fruit shape). Moreover, producing the hybrid is possible by purifying the accessions and producing inbred lines.

The present experiment aimed at comparing three methods for replacing nutrient solution in a floating hydroponic system with three lettuce cultivars. The experiment was carried out as factorial based on a completely randomized design. The factors included the three replacement method of the nutrient solution (total replacement, replacement based on EC of nutrient solution, and replacement based on the plant demand) and cultivars (Chinese lettuce, Badbane Ghermez lettuce and Kazeroon lettuce). In all three cultivars of Chinese lettuce, Badbane Ghermez and Kazeroon, the highest root fresh weight, shoot fresh weight, and yield were observed in plants that were fed by total nutrient solution replacement method, while the vegetative traits of the plants which had been fed based on the EC of the nutrient solution had the lowest value of PI index in Chinese and Kazeroon lettuce cultivars tended to reduce 19.6 and 23.5% respectively, by nutrition based on the EC and the plant demand. The concentration of phenolic compounds and antioxidants activity of lettuce in nutrition conditions based on the EC of the nutrient solution compared to the other two methods increased and Badbane ghermez lettuce had more phenolic compounds and antioxidants activity compared to the other two cultivars. Therefore, although complete replacement of nutrient solution had a positive effect on the growth and physiological characteristics of lettuce cultivars, but increasing the antioxidant properties and reducing water and fertilizer consumption in the other two methods of production is also very important.

In order to evaluate the response of quince cv. Isfahan seedlings to sodium bicarbonate stress in the presence of mycorrhizal, a factorial experiment was conducted based on a completely randomized design in the presence of four levels of soil sodium bicarbonate (0, 5, 10, and 15 mM) and four levels of mycorrhizal (Rhizophagus intraradices, Funneliformis mosseae, the combination of two species and no inoculation (control)) with three replications. The results showed a significant decrease in root colonization, seedling height, leaf number, shoot dry weight, relative leaf chlorophyll content, and total leaf antioxidant capacity with increasing sodium bicarbonate concentration in the nutrient solution. In contrast, seedlings inoculated with mycorrhizal, especially R. intraradices, increased these indices compared to the control treatment. Although a significant decrease in the roots and leaves iron concentration of quince seedlings was observed with increasing the concentration of sodium bicarbonate, the use of R. intraradices significantly improved the iron content, especially at concentrations of 5 and 10 mM sodium bicarbonate. A significant increase in the concentration of phenolic compounds and the phenylalanine ammonia-lyase enzyme activity was observed in concentrations of 5 and 10 mM sodium bicarbonate by mycorrhizal treatments. In general, it can be suggested that mycorrhizal, especially R. intraradices, probably facilitates the iron uptake and increases iron content in roots and leaves of quince seedlings in the presence of different concentrations of sodium bicarbonate by affecting the synthesis of phenolic compounds.

Salinity is one of the most important environmental stresses that affect the production of horticultural crops. So, some beneficial minerals may neutralize the effects of salinity. In order to investigate the effect of application of selenium and silicon nutrients under salinity and alkalinity stress on growth and some morphological, biochemical and mineral attributes of greenhouse cucumber "Nagin" under hydroponic condition, a factorial experiment based on a completely randomized design was conducted with four replications.  The treatments consisted of three levels of stress (non-stress, salinity stress of 75 mM sodium chloride (NaCl), alkalinity stress of 75 mM sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) and beneficial elements in five levels (0, 4 and 6 mg L-1 of selenium and 75 and 100 mg L-1 of silicon). According to the results of this study, the lowest leaf area (215.04 cm2) was observed in alkalinity treatments with no addition of selenium and silicon, whilst, it increased by application of beneficial elements (342.45 cm2) compared to control. The highest yield was obtained in 4 and 6 mg L-1 of selenium. Application of 100 mg L-1 silicon increased polyphenol oxidase activity by 13.91% and glutathione peroxidase activity by 38.14% compared to only sodium carbonate treatment under alkaline stress conditions.

Today, the existence of various living and non-living stresses has necessitated research with different rootstocks in different climatic and soil conditions. Thus, the growth trend and some vegetative and reproductive characteristics of Miyagawa Satsuma mandarin on C-35 citrange rootstock in plain and foothills of east Mazandaran were evaluated during 10 years. The trees on this rootstock had medium growth and yield. The canopy volume at the end of the experiment was 13.75 and 5.90 m3 in plain and foothills, respectively. Despite several frost stresses, the survival of trees was 100% in both locations, however, the trees in foothills entered an alternate bearing cycle, and the alternate bearing index reached 0.27 and 0.65 percent in plain and foothills, respectively. Tree yield in plain and foothills was 48 and 35 kg and considering planting distances, the yield was 24 and 18 tons per hectare, respectively. Fruits in foothills had more total soluble solids, titratable acid, and ascorbic acid (24, 72, and 16 percent, respectively) and less harvest index (3.1 units). The best harvest time in plain was late September and in foothills was early October. In general, the plain had higher external quality fruits and a more regular and stable annual yield.

Today, water scarcity is a critical issue for most countries in arid and semi-arid regions. Due to the difficulty of establishing and maintaining grass in arid areas and in order to investigate the effects of drought and spermidine on Cynodon dactylon L., an experiment was conducted with a double-split plot design based on randomized complete blocks. Treatments included three levels of irrigation: 100% field capacity (without stress), 75% field capacity (moderate drought stress) and 50% field capacity (severe drought stress) and spermidine in three concentrations of 0, 0.5 and 1 mM. During the stress period, the trend of changing the contents of chlorophyll, proline, electrolyte leakage, malondialdehyde, catalase and peroxidase enzymes and growth parameters (fresh and dry weight of shoot and root) was examined at 15-day intervals. The results showed that drought stress decreased shoot fresh weight and increased electrolyte leakage, proline content, lipid peroxidation and peroxidase activity. Spermidine increased chlorophyll content (a, b and total) and decreased contents of proline, lipid peroxidation and peroxidase activity. In general, the results showed that spermidine pre-treatment can alleviate the negative effects of drought stress and increase tolerance of Cynodon dactylon L. to drought stress.

Low temperature is an effective method to maintain product quality during the post-harvest period, but due to the sensitivity of cucumber fruits to chilling injury, the use of proper alternative techniques to chilling control are essential. In order to evaluate the use of melatonin to control chilling damage on cucumber, a factorial experiment based on a completely randomized design was conducted with three replications. The experimental factors included: different storage times (control = harvest day, 4, 8, and 12 days after harvest) and different concentrations of melatonin (0, 1, 10, and 100 μM). Some biochemical and physiological parameters including PAL activity, antioxidant enzymes (catalase, superoxide dismutase, ascorbate peroxidase and lipoxygenase) activities, malondialdehyde, phenolics and total protein content, electrolyte leakage, total soluble solids content and fruit firmness were measured. Melatonin in storage periods increased phenolic content and catalase and lipooxigenase activity. This increase was observed in all tested concentration of melatonin alongwith increasing the storage time up to 8 days but then reduced. Concerning SOD activity and total protein content, the increase was just until the fourth day and then decreased. Also, in all tested levels of melatonin, with storage time up to 12 days, malondyldehyde and electrolyte leakage showed an increasing trend, but fruit firmness had a decreasing pathern. TSS content decreased with time in all melatonin concentrations, which was more evident in untreated fruits. Moreover, in all tested concentration of melatonin, the activity of antioxidant enzymes and fruit firmness decreased by time up to 12 days. Overall, the results showed that melatonin treatment, especially at 100 μM, could diminish chilling injury and maintain the postharvest quality of cucumber fruits during cold storage.

An experiment with a completely randomized design and four replications was done to study the effects of seed bio-priming of purple basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) with Halomonas sp. and to reduce the effects of salinity stress on the physiological and biochemical characteristics of this plant. The experimental treatments were control (Ctl), 0 mM NaCl + Halomonas sp. (Ctl.H), 50 mM NaCl + Halomonas sp. (S1H), 100 mM NaCl + Halomonas sp. (S2H), and 150 mM NaCl + Halomonas sp. (S3H). This study showed that bio-priming of seeds with Halomonas sp. increased the content of photosynthetic pigments (chlorophyll a by 30.16%, chlorophyll b by 34.78%, and total chlorophyll by 29.98% in S2H treatment), carotenoids (28.53% in treatment S2H), proline and protein (59.80% and 19.85% in S2H treatment), flavonoids (90.92% in S1H treatment) and also increased ascorbate peroxidase activity (74.86% in S3H treatment) compared to control. In general, purple basil seed bio-priming with Halomonas sp. leads to an increase in physiological and biochemical parameters and improve plant tolerance against salinity stress.

The present study was conducted with the aim of comparing the effect of trellised and non-trellised training systems on winter cold tolerance of two cultivars of Bidaneh Sefid and Bidaneh Ghermez factorially based on a randomized complete block design. During cold acclimation stage, the lowest content of leaf nutrients and the highest rate of leaf fall, leaf periderm formation and bud lignin belonged to Bidaneh Ghermez cultivar under trellised system. Moreover, the highest winter cold tolerance estimated by ion leakage and oxidative browning, total phenol, proline and soluble carbohydrates in both January and March were related to the Bidaneh Ghermez cultivar under the trellised system. Howevere, the lowest winter cold tolerance, total phenol, proline and soluble carbohydrates was related to Bidaneh Sefid cultivar under the non-trellised system. Forthermore, the highest bud water content, starch, hydrogen peroxide and malondialdehyde in both stages of January and March were related to Bidaneh Sefid cultivar under the non-trellised system. In both stages of sampling, the contents of abscisic acid, sucrose, glucose, fructose and raffinose in the bud of both cultivars were higher with the trellised system than with the non-trellised training system. The results of this research can be used to encourage vine growers to change the method of growing grapes from traditional to trellised system.

Recent advances in biotechnology, especially tissue culture of plants under various light conditions, have provided a good platform for the production of secondary metabolites. The present study aims to investigate the effect of intensity and different light qualities on in vitro growth and production of secondary metabolites in Dracocephalum kotschyi plant. The evaluated morphological traits included the number of regenerated plantlets, plantlet height, leaf area, the number of roots and leaves. Also, the measured biochemical traits were total phenol and flavonoid contents, chlorophyll a and b, carotenoid, total protein and FRAP antioxidant. The results showed that the combination effect of red and blue light improves the growth and biochemical indices, so that the highest regeneration rate and number of leaves was attained in combined 80% Red + 20% blue light treatment. the highest amount of total protein (15.36 mg/g FW), total phenol (606.13 mg GA / g FW), chlorophyll a (7.73 mg / g FW) and carotenoids (2.78 mg / g FW) were obtained in combined light treatment of 60 % red + 40% blue. In general, the results obtained in the present study showed that the combination of red and blue light, compared to white light, has effectively improved the morphological and biochemical indices of Dracocephalum kotschyi plant.

Hyacinth (Hyacinthus orientalis L.) is one of the most popular ornamental bulbous plants in Iran and the world. The commercial propagation of hyacinth is done with vegetative methods and using bulbs. Due to the low ability of hyacinth to produce bulblets, the growth rate of this plant is low. For this reason, the present study was designed and conducted to investigate the possibility of improving the propagation rate of hyacinth. The experiment was performed as factorial in a compactly randomized design with two factors including Inducing method of bulblet formation (scooping and scoring) and plant growth regulators (50 and 100 mg L-1 IBA, GA, or Kin). Distilled water, ethanol and sodium hydroxide were used as control. The results showed that the highest number of bulblets per bulb (14.29) was obtained in the scooping treatment. However, the highest bulblet diameter (2.05 cm), the highest bulblet height (2.75 cm) and the maximum bulblet weight (4.95 g) were obtained in the scoring treatment. As well as, the use of plant growth regulators led to a significant increase in bulb diameter, height and weight, number of roots and root weight. On the other hand, the use of plant growth regulators significantly reduced the number of bulbs produced per bulb.

The present study aimed to investigate the effect of postharvest polyamine application on the physicochemical characteristics, bioactive compounds, and antioxidant activity of sweet lime fruit. The fruits were dipped in putrescine (2 and 4 mM), spermidine (1 and 2 mM), spermine (1 and 2 mM), or distilled water (control) for 10 min. Evaluations were conducted after 2 and 4 months of storage at 10 °C and 85% relative humidity. In general, treatments had no effect on the total acid and pH of the fruit juice. Using polyamines led to lower rates of weight loss or decreases in juice total soluble solids, and treated fruits had a better taste index when compared to the control. The content of ascorbic acid in fruit juice increased with storage time, but total phenol content and antioxidant activity decreased. When compared to the control, polyamine-treated fruits had higher levels of ascorbic acid, total phenol, and antioxidant activity in the juice. The treatment with both concentrations of spermine had the greatest efficacy in maintaining the juice taste index and ascorbic acid content than the other treatments. Fruits treated with spermine and spermidine had the same taste index. Moreover, spermine-treated fruits had the same amount of ascorbic acid as fruits treated with 2 mM spermidine and putrescine. Finally, dipping in 1 mM spermine was found to be the most effective treatment for reducing weight loss and preserving juice total phenol content and antioxidant activity, and is recommended as the best treatment for preserving sweet lime fruit quality.

In order to investigate the effects of humic acid and Fe nano-chelate on improvement of vegetative characteristics, seed yield and essential oil content of black cumin (Nigella sativa) under drought stress an experiment was done during two cropping seasons (2018-2019 and 2019-2020) in Agricultural and Natural Resources Research Station of Eghlid. The experiment was conducted as a factorial split plot in a randomized complete block design with three replications. The main plots were irrigation at three levels (50, 75 and 100% of available water), humic acid at three levels (0, 250, and 500 mg/l) and nano-Fe chelate at three levels (0, 1 and 2 g/l). The results showed that drought stress reduced the vegetative and yield traits. The interaction of humic acid, nano-Fe chelate and drought stress showed that the highest yield with 1036.7 kg/ha was observed in plants treated with 500 mg/l humic acid and 2 g/l iron nano chelate with 75% water available use. Also, the highest essential oil, seed oil, and leaf protein content was observed in plants treated with 500 mg/l humic acid and 2 g/l iron nano chelate with 100% usable water. As a conclusion, application of humic acid and nano-Fe chelate leads to the improvement of vegetative and chemical factors of black cumin in under drought stress conditions