To investigate the effect of planting date on yield and some physiological traits of three cultivars of chickpeas, a field experiment split plot experiment arranged in randomized complete block design with three replications was conducted at the experiment station of University of Jiroft in 2018-2019 growing season. Sowing date at five levels (October 13th and 27th, November 12th and 27th and December 10th) were the main plots and Adel, Azad, and Arman chickpeas cultivars were sub plots. The results showed that planting date had significant effects on plant height, main branches, sub branches, pods per plant and  grains per pod numbers, 100 grains weight, grain (and biomass yields (kg ha-1), a, b and total chlorophylls, carotenoids, leaf leaf phenol and total protein and anthocyanin. Interaction effect of planting date × cultivar was significant in the studied traits except number of grains per pod. Means comparisons showed that the Arman cultivar had the highest  grain and biological yields (1019 and 2833 kg.ha-1, respectively), at the first planting date (13 October) and Adel cultivar had the lowest grain and biomass yields (413 and 1260 kg. ha-1, respectively), at the last cultivation (12 December). According to the results, it seems the best date for planting chickpeas in the study area is October 13 and the most suitable cultivar is Arman.

Abiotic stresses have major impacts on crop growth and yield. Investigation of biochemical properties and enzymatic activity of different plant genotypes under drought stress conditions can identify tolerant genotypes to abiotic stresses. In the present study, the effect of drought stress on the activity of antioxidant and biochemical enzymes at leaves of 10 bean genotypes at different water stress levels was investigated as a factorial experiment in a randomized complete block design with three replications in the research greenhouse of University of Tehran. Compared to normal moisture conditions, when drought stress increased, the total protein content decreased and Khomein genotype had the lowest total protein content among other genotypes at 25% of field capacity stress. The highest catalase activity was observed at COS-16 genotype (0.196 mg/min protein) at irrigation level of 75% of field capacity, ascorbate peroxidase (0.226 mg/min protein) at 50% of field capacity and guaiacol peroxidase at the irrigation level of 75% of the field capacity (0.293 mg/min protein). Increasing the activity of polyphenol oxidase enzyme and proline content in severe stress compared to normal moisture conditions showed that increasing the content of these two enzymes can be a reason for increasing plant tolerance to drought stress. COS-16 genotype had the highest polyphenol oxidase activity (0.183 mg/min protein) at 25% of field capacity. Also, increasing trend of malondialdehyde content in leaves was observed under severe stress. Based on the results, among the studied genotypes, COS-16 was identified as tolerant genotype and Khomein genotype was drought sensitive.

This study was conducted as split-plot based on Complete Randomized Block Design with three replications in 2019 at Ferdowsi University of Mashhad. Salinity as the main plot (eight, 12 and 16dS m-1) and 13 chickpea genotypes were allocated to sub-plots. Salinity levels of eight and 12dS m-1, two genotypes of MCC606 and MCC643 had the highest survival percentage and at salinity level of 16dS m-1, only three genotypes of MCC539, MCC606 and MCC658 survived. Relative water content (RWC), Membrane Stability Index (MSI) and concentration of chlorophyll-a, were decreased in all genotypes as salinity level increased. Among the genotypes, MCC606 had the highest values of RWC, MSI and carotenoids at salinity levels of 12 and 16dS m-1. Proline content was increased in all genotypes as salinity level increased from eight to 12dS m-1. Results of the cluster analysis indicated the superiority of MCC539, MCC658 and MCC606 compared to total mean in all parameters. Principal component analysis showed that the first component explained 64.49% of changes in DPPH, carotenoids, MSI and biomass in three genotypes of MCC539, MCC658 and MCC606. Since this experiment was conducted in controlled conditions, field assessment of freezing tolerance of the superior genotypes is recommended to confirm the results of the present study.

In order to investigate the morphophysiological response of soybean (Glysin max L.) to drought stress as second crop, an experiment was conducted in Lorestan Agricultural Research Center in the summer of 2017 and 2018 in two environments including normal and drought stress condition. In each environment, 19 soybean genotypes were studied in a randomized complete block design with three replications. The results showed that all traits except leaf temperature decreased due to drought stress. Mean comparison showed that the highest leaf temperature was obtained from genotype No. 9 in stress environment and the lowest was obtained from genotypes No. 4 and 15 in normal environment (27.5 and 13.2 ° C, respectively). The highest grain yield was obtained from genotype No. 7 in normal environment and the lowest from genotype No. 19 in stress environment (4894 and 275 kg/ha, respectively). The analysis of biochemical traits of shoots showed that the amount of unstructured soluble sugars and free proline increased with drought stress from (1.87 and 0.0028 mg, respectively) in normal environment to (3.77 and 0.0054 mg/g fresh weight, respectively) in stress environment. Among the genotypes, the highest and the lowest amount of shoot proline were obtained from genotype No. 4 (mg/g fresh weight) and genotype No. 1 (0.043 and 0.03777 mg/g fresh weight, respectively), respectively. In addition, genotypes No. 7 and 9 can be recommended for normal and stress conditions in moderate region such as Khorramabad.

In order to evaluate the effect of foliar application of iron chelate and nano-iron chelate on rapeseed oil profile (Brassica napus), a factorial experiment based on randomized complete block design with seven treatments and three replications, was conducted in 2018. Factors studied include different concentrations of iron in the form of chelate and nano-iron chelate at seven levels (distilled water (control), one, two and three grams per liter of iron chelate and one, two and three grams per liter of nano-iron chelate) and time of foliar application at two levels (vegetative stage and beginning of flowering). The results of the present study showed that the trait of oil percentage was affected by the application of iron fertilizer with different concentrations (iron chelate and nano-iron chelate) and its consumption time, except for the concentration of 1 g.L-1 iron chelate fertilizer, that the time of fertilizer application did not affect the percentage of rapeseed oil. Application of 1 g.L-1 iron chelate in the vegetative growth stage and also the beginning of flowering (delayed foliar spraying) were the superior treatment to increase the percentage of rapeseed oil, so that it increased 77 % and 75% of the oil content compared to the control treatment, respectively. According to the results of this study, in order to increase unsaturated fatty acids such as oleic acid and linoleic acid, foliar application of iron fertilizer in the form of chelate in the vegetative stage is recommended.

In order to investigate the effects of mycorrhizal fungus and superabsorbent on growth traits and yield components of maize under water stress conditions, this study was conducted in Hamadan province in the crop year 2019. In this experiment, low irrigation treatments including optimal irrigation (irrigation at 3-bar soil water potential), moderate drought stress (irrigation at 7-bar soil water potential) and severe drought stress (irrigation at 11-bar soil water potential) as the main factor and Mycorrhizal and superabsorbent polymer biofertilizer and their combination with non-consumption of mycorrhiza and superabsorbent as a sub-factor, were studied in factorial split plot experiment based on a randomized complete block design. The studied traits included plant height, leaf area index, ear length, ear periphery, row number per ear, number of seeds per row, 100 seed weight, grain yield, biological yield and harvest index. The results showed that all growing traits and yield were significantly affected by superabsorbent and mycorrhizal application. By increasing the drought stress intensity, the growth and yield components decreased, but the decrease was significantly lower in comparison to application of mycorrhiza and superabsorbent polymer. The use of mycorrhiza and superabsorbent in severe stress condition could increase biological yield by about 12% and 22% as compared with control. Lowest grain yield (4.25 t/ha) was obtained by severe stress without application of bio-fertilizer and superabsorbent.

In order to evaluate the yield and possibility of cultivating cactus, an experiment was conducted in a randomized complete block design with four replications for three years (2016- 2018) in Orzoeyeh region of Kerman. In each year, three different irrigation periods were as follows: 9, 14 and 19 days in the first year, 14, 19 and 24 days in the second, and 16, 21 and 26 days in the third year. The highest number of pads per plant was obtained in the irrigation periods of 14 days in second year & 16 days in third year. In the second year, the highest green mass yield (53.9 t ha-1), dry yield (4.69 t ha-1) and water productivity (4.53 kg m-3) was belonged to the 14-day irrigation period. In the third year, the highest green mass yield (108.74 t ha-1), dry yield (8.42 t ha-1) and water productivity (4.37 kg m-3) were obtained in the 16-day irrigation period. The highest amount of crude protein in the third year was belonged to the irrigation periods 21 days (8.06%) and 16 days (7.75%), respectively. Based on the results, it is possible to cultivate and develop this perennial plant with low water consumption in Orzoeyeh region. In order to fully establish the plant and stable yield, it is also recommended to start the forage harvest from the second year.

To evaluate the yield stability of faba bean genotypes among 19 genotypes, an experiment was conducted in randomized complete block design with three replications in two cropping years (2015-2017) at four areas (Gorgan, Dezful, Boroujerd and Iranshahr). The effect of environment, genotype and genotype by environment interaction were significant on all traits. Nominal yield plot identified genotypes G13, G12, G2, G9, G6 and G4 as more stable genotypes. Based on biplot analysis, genotypes G12, G16, G14, G9, G6 and G11, in addition to having the highest seed yield, had higher yield stability. Based on different values for seed yield and weighted average of absolute scores of best linear unbiased predictions (WAASB), genotypes G11, G9, G18, G10, G13, G12, G16, G14 and G6 were high yielding and stable. The superior genotypes based on multi-trait selection index (MTSI) were G2, G18 and 6. The harmonic mean, and of the relative performance of genotypic values (HMRPGV) introduced G14, G6 and G9 as genotypes that in addition to high seed yield, also had high stability and compatibility. Overall, based on all analyzes and indices, genotype G6 identified as the most stable genotype and could be a candidate to introduce a new cultivar.

Available water is an important factor for plant growth in arid regions and dry matter remobilization from different parts of the plant stem has an effective role in drought tolerance. In order to assess the effect of drought stress in flowering stage of barley, a field experiment was carried out in a split-plot based on randomized complete block design with three replications in Ahar in 2018-2019. Irrigation treatments included normal irrigation and irrigation up to the flowering stage in main plots and barley cultivars (Sahand, Bahman, Makui and Valfajr) were placed in subplots. The results showed that weight of thousand grains of cultivars decreased under stress conditions by 21.45% compared to normal irrigation. Makoei cultivar had the highest decrease in grain yield with 23.55% reduction compared to other cultivars. The highest decrease was belonged to Bahman and Makoei in biological yield. The highest amount of biological yield was observed in Bahman under normal irrigation conditions. The rate of remobilization increased in different stem internods and different cultivars. Penultimate remobilization was higher than peduncle in Valfajr and Sahand cultivars. Bahman and Makui cultivars had high remobilization rate from peduncle and lower stem internodes. The remobilization efficiency of different stem internods had a significant increase under stress condition and the highest contribution of peduncle remobilization was related to Sahand under drought stress conditions.

A field experiment was carried out as a split-plot based on a randomized complete block design with three replications in 2020, to evaluate physiological performance and grain and oil yield of coriander, in response to water limitation and foliar application of salicylic acid and brassinosteroid. Treatments were four levels of water supply (irrigation after 70, 100, 130 and 160 mm evaporation from class A pan) and three levels of foliar application (control (foliar application of water), foliar application of salicylic acid (1 mmolar) and foliar application of brassinosteroid (1 μmolar). Irrigation and foliar application treatments were allocated to main and subplots, respectively. In this study, proline content, leaf chlorophylls a and b and carotenoids content, antioxidant enzymes activity, soluble sugars and anthocyanin content and oil percentage and yield of coriander were evaluated. Water deficit stress resulted in a 20.6% and 21.6% decrease in chlorophylls a and b content, respectively and a 62.9% increase in leaf carotenoids. However, leaf proline content increased under water deficit stress. The mean leaf chlorophyll a content increased significantly (11.4%) compared to the control with salicylic acid

This study was conducted to evaluate the morphological characteristics and yield reaction of peppermint and guar to different intercropping ratios under simultaneous and delayed growing conditions at research farm of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources University of Khuzestan during 2017-2018 growing season. The experiment was conducted as factorial arrangement in randomized complete block design with four replications. Planting time at two levels including simultaneous and relay (Guar cultivation 45 days after peppermint emergence) and intercropping ratios at five levels including sole peppermint, sole Guar, 50% Peppermint + 50% Guar, 25% Guar + 75% Peppermint and 25% Peppermint + 75% Guar were experimental factors. The results showed that the highest height, stem and leaf number of Guar were obtained from simultaneous intercropping of sole and 75% guar + 25% peppermint intercropping. Guar forage yield in simultaneous monoculture and 75% guar + 25% peppermint was higher. The highest number of peppermint leaves (311) was observed in monoculture. The best treatment in terms of biological yield was sole cultivation of peppermint (637 Kg.ha-1). Finally, the results of this experiment showed that in terms of Guar characteristics, monoculture treatment and 75% guar + 25% peppermint in simultaneous intercropping and in terms of peppermint traits, sole peppermint and 75% Peppermint + 25% in relay planting conditions were the best treatments. Due to the favorable effects of adding a new species to the crop ecosystem, intercropping of these plants can be substituted for sole cultivation.

Sesame is one of the most important oil, industrial and medicinal plants. Sesame is cultivated in a large area of tropical and subtropical regions. In this study, fifteen sesame genotypes are cultivated to identify superior genotypes in terms of yield and stability (minimum environmental impact) in four locations of Arak, Birjand, Karaj, and Shiraz for two years. In combine variance analysis, the year effect and yaer × location, genotype × year and genotype × location × year were meaningful. The first and second main components in bipod analysis explained 84.06 and 8.40 (92.46 in total), respectively, the percentage of changes due to the impact of the environment on genotypes. According to the plots, genotypes in Arak, Birjand, and Shiraz have a high correlation with each other. The best genotypes in Arak, Birjand, Karaj, and Shiraz were Darab 14, Safiabad 1, local Ahvaz, and local Isfahan. Also in the Karaj location, Fars local cultivar, Khondab local cultivar, and Darab 1 were evaluated as superior. In general, the best genotypes in this trait in terms of yield and high stability were two genotypes, Safiabad 1 and local Khondab. In contrast, TS-3 and Yellow White genotypes were the most unstable in addition to low yield compared to other genotypes. Genotypes in the Shiraz environment had the least impact on the environment and in the Birjand environment had the maximum impact. The study areas of this experiment were divided into two megaenvironment, the first inclouds Arak, Birjand and Shiraz, and second inclouds Karaj.

In order to study existing genetic variation within populations and within the Nepeta racemosa species the research was performed on two populations of the species to investigate genetic architecture of existing variation of the two populations. In this regard, at full maturity, seed was collected based on single plants from two habitats of the species, during 2018, to be investigated as half-sib families. Field experiment was performed based on a three times replicated randomized complete block design, in which eight morphologic characters were recorded on 277 single plants from 20 half-sib families of the two populations. Genetic variance components were estimated using biometrical variance components of the two populations, based on which heritability of the characters were also estimated. Results of analysis of variance showed that family effect component was highly significant for majority of the studied traits on the two populations. Based on the genetic variance components, the family component of variance was more effective than progeny component for the first population. Almost the same situation with minor differences was observed on the second population. In spite of small size of the studied populations, high heritability values of several traits indicated their suitable genetic potential. Although significant genetic variation and high heritability values were observed on most of the studied traits, Constituting artificial gene pools, using the families with high performances could be a dual purposes strategy, in order to conserve the valuable gene pool as well as utilizing their potentials in breeding programs.

This study was conducted to investigate the yield stability and determine the portion of some Morpho-phonological traits in the GEI effect in barley. For this purpose, a total of 20 barley genotypes were investigated at five tropical research stations of Iran during the 2018-2020 cropping seasons. In all trials, a RCBD with three replications was used. Stability analysis was performed using two set of stability models including parametric statistics and REML/BLUP-based statistics. The results of parametric were pooled in genotype SIIG as a unique stability index. Morpho-phonological data were analyzed using the path analysis. The days-to heading (X1) and days-to maturity (X2), plant height (X3), and 1000-kernels weight (X4) were considered to be sequential traits for the development of grain yield productivity (Y). Based on results, genotypes G6, G2, G3, G5, G13, G17, G11, G12 and G14 with greater grain yield than average grain yields and high values of stability statistics were identified as desirable genotypes in terms of yield performance and stability. Furthermore, three BLUP-based statistics, HMGV, RPGV and HMRPGV, were recognized genotypes G20, G6, G2, G3, G11, G12 and G17 as the high-yielding and stable genotypes. In total, lines G6, G3 and G11, which were superior in both methods, were selected. The results of path analysis revealed that DHE has a positive relationship with grain yield; hence more emphasis should be placed on selection based on spike emergence later to improve the yield potential of barley in warm regions of Iran.

In order to study the effect of different tillage systems and irrigation levels on corn yield, an experiment was conducted as split plot in the form of randomized complete blocks with three replications in the research farm of the University of Tehran in 2016. The main factor in this experiment was tillage with two levels (no tillage and conventional tillage) and the secondary factor was irrigation levels with three levels (without water stress, moderate water stress and severe water stress based on 75, 110 and 150 mm evaporation from Evaporation pan surface, respectively) was considered. The results showed that the effect of tillage on grain yield and water use efficiency was significant at 1 and 5% probability level, respectively. Also, the effect of irrigation levels on plant height, grain number per panicle, grain yield, biological yield and water use efficiency was significant at 1% probability level and on 1000-grain weight at 5% probability level. Maximum plant height(100.38 cm), number of seeds per panicle (2408), 1000-seed weight (31.33 gr), grain yield (5843 kg.ha-1),and biological yield (11575 kg.ha-1) was obtained from irrigation based on no water stress treatment (75 mm evaporation from the surface of the evaporation pan) and the maximum water use efficiency (1.15 kg.m-3) was found from severe drought stress (150 mm evaporation from the surface of the evaporation pan). Also, no tillage method increased grain yield (16.25%) and water use efficiency (13.72%) compared to conventional tillage method.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of Trichoderma species and mycorrhizal fungi on increasing yield, percentage and amount of dill essential oil in greenhouse conditions. For this purpose, a factorial experiment was conducted in the form of a randomized complete block design with three replications. For this experiment, the roots of two Anethum graveolens (Dill) species i.e. Tabriz local cultivar and Long Island of Mammoth, were treated with the inoculums of Trichoderma isolates (Trichoderma harzianum Na-1ac and T. longibrachiatum BZ4-4) and two species of Mycorrhizal fungi (Rhizophagus irregularis and Glomus verciform). The results obtained from this study showed that the highest chlorophyll index was related to T. harzianum with amount of 4.03 and the lowest was related to G. verciform with amount of 2.27. Also, the highest chlorophyll b was related to T. harzianum × local cultivar of Tabriz with amount of 11.28 µg/ml and the lowest was related to T. longibrachiatum × local cultivar of Tabriz with amount of 2.36 µg/ml. The highest percentage of colonization was related to the treatment of Long Island × R. irregularis cultivar (77%) and the lowest percentage was related to the local cultivar × G. verciform (29%). In terms of essential oil content, the highest percentage of essential oil was related to T. harzianum (2.39%) and the lowest was related to G. verciform fungus by 0.7%. Interactions (cultivar × fungus) were also significant on chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b and carotenoids and increased them.

In order to investigate the quantitative and qualitative response of three sesame cultivars (Sesamum indicum L.) to different irrigation and fertilizer treatments, an experiment was conducted in the research farm of Karaj Seed and Plant Breeding Institute during 2016 and 2017. The experiment was performed as split-factorial plots in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Irrigation treatments at two levels including low irrigation regime (irrigation after 80% of usable soil moisture) and full irrigation (irrigation after 40% of usable soil moisture) in main and factorial plots with different amounts of nitrogen (0, 60 and 120 kg N ha-1) and sesame cultivars (Oltan, Dashtestan 2 and Naz single-branched) were placed in subplots. The results showed that in full irrigation conditions, application of 120 kg N ha-1 increased sesame seed yield by 83% compared to non-application. In contrast, this increase in yield in response to the application of nitrogen in low irrigation treatment was 40%. In general, the results showed that in full irrigation treatment, the use of nitrogen fertilizer for all three cultivars can be justified. Maximum grain yield was obtained in Oltan (1106 kg ha-1), Dashtestan 2 (1012 kg ha-1) and Naz single-branched (634 kg ha-1) cultivars with 115, 117 and 100 kg N ha-1, respectively. In contrast, in conditions of low irrigation, in none of the cultivars, grain yield higher than 500 kg N ha-1 was not achieved even with high amounts of nitrogen (60 and 120 kg N ha-1).

Stem water soluble carbohydrates are one of the major sources of assimilates for seed filling in photosynthesis limitation conditions. The objective of this study was to evaluate the remobilization potential of wheat varieties by potassium iodide. 22 wheat cultivars as sub plots were cultivated in a split plot design with three replications in two growing seasons 2015- 2017 and application and no application of potassium iodide (KI) were main plots. Yield, the number of seed per spike, remobilization, and contribution of remobilization in grain yield were estimated. Significant genotypic variation among cultivars was observed under both normal and KI application. Current photosynthesis elimination decreased the average seed weight per spike by 46%. Grain yield per spike in some cultivars such as Shoosh, Pishgam and Arta and Zare was decresed significantly (up to 65%). The average of grain number per spike was 38 in control, but the application of potassium iodide reduced it to 24% (29 grain per spike). The results of this study showed that the inhibition of current photosynthesis increased the remobilization of assimilate from 3% to 44% in different cultivars. According to the results of cluster analysis, Karim, Shebrang, Hamoon, Pishgam and Dena cultivars had high and also Zare, Chamran and Shush cultivars had low remobilization potentials.