Cumin (Cuminum cyminum L.) is an important crop for medicinal purposes in Razavi Khorasan province, especially in Sabzevar. With 80% of the country's cultivated land, Khorasan Razavi province is the leading producing province in Iran. In the world's arid and semiarid regions, access to water is a greater constraint on crop production than access to land. Using cultivars or plant species that are adapted to the climatic conditions of these regions is one of the easiest ways to combat drought stress. Despite the fact that cumin is considered a drought-tolerant plant, drought stress, particularly in years with low precipitation, significantly reduces cumin yield. The management of water during cumin's growth and maturation can affect crop yield and quality. Cumin's low productivity is largely attributable to weed infestations. Cumin is especially susceptible to weed competition during its early growth stages. Several characteristics of cumin, including slow plant emergence, short plant height, and cumin morphology, enable weeds to effectively compete. Yield losses ranging from 40 to 90% have been sustained in cumin due to weed competition. To determine the effect of different irrigation cut-off times on cumin yield and yield components under weed interference conditions, a field experiment was conducted in 2018 and 2019 at the Hakmabad Joven Agricultural Service Center (Khorasan Razavi) using a randomized complete block design with three replications. Irrigation cut-off time (full irrigation, irrigation cut-off in flowering stage, irrigation cut-off in seed-filling stage, and rainfed cultivation) was the main plot, while weed interference  was the sub-plot. Land preparation was done with moldboard in the fall of the previous year, the tillage operation included shallow plowing, double disc plow, and full leveling. Each subplot was 5 m long and 1 m wide, with five planting rows, 20 cm between rows, and 5 cm between plants. To prevent water from spreading laterally, plots were surrounded by dikes and separated by 2 m. The local landrace (Sabzevar), which is widespread and suitable for the region, was utilized. The height, number of sub-branches, number of umbrellas per plant, number of umbels per umbrella, and number of seeds per umbel were measured for five plants randomly selected from each plot at the end of the growing season. Before performing combined analysis across years, homogeneity was determined using Bartlett's Chi-square test. Due to the significance of the year effect, separate analyses of variance were conducted for each year using SAS (version 9.4) statistical software, and treatment means were compared using Fisher's least significant difference (FLSD) tests (p < 0.05). The results showed that in the rainy year, the yield and yield components of cumin did not respond to irrigation cut-off times. However, in the dry year, the highest seed and essential oil yield was obtained with full irrigation, and a delay in irrigation cessation had fewer negative effects on yield and yield components.In the first and second years, full irrigation increased the number of lateral branches (45.7% and 38.4%), the number of umbels per plant (46.1% and 12.9%), the number of seeds per umbel (36.4% and 44.7%), and 1000-seed weight (6.4 and 36.4%). All irrigation levels resulted in a lower grain yield under weed interference conditions compared to non-interference. The most detrimental effects of weed interference were observed when irrigation was stopped at the time of flowering (34.8%). In full irrigation conditions, grain yield decreased by 12.8%, but the yield reduction percentage was lower compared to other irrigation levels. Dryland cultivation yielded the highest amount of essential oil in both the first and second year. In the first year, complete irrigation produced the highest yield of essential oil, whereas in the second year, cessation of irrigation at the seed stage produced the highest yield. In the first and second year, weed competition significantly reduced the number of lateral branches (14.7 and 25.6%), the number of umbels per plant (33.1 and 21.2%), the number of seeds per umbel (17.2 and 37.2%), and the weight of 1000 seeds (9.22 and 17.2%). The percentage of essential oil was unaffected by weed interference. Delays in irrigation cessation increased grain and essential oil yield under both interference and non-interference conditions. In conclusion, this experiment revealed that the response of yield and yield components to the irrigation regime depended on weather conditions and precipitation during the growing season. In conditions where the amount and distribution of rainfall was adequate during the growing period, yield and yield components did not react significantly to the irrigation regime, whereas supplementary irrigation produced the optimal grain and essential oil yield in the absence of rainfall. Weed control increased yield in both irrigated and rainfed environments. Weed competition reduces cumin yield, yield components, and the number of umbrellas per plant, but has no effect on the percentage of essential oil produced. Consequently, in wet years, full irrigation is recommended in terms of both interference and non-interference of weeds, and in terms of appropriate irrigation, cessation of irrigation after seeding is recommended to produce optimal economic performance.

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), one of the most important crops in Iran during the 2018-2019 crop year, occupied more than 5,864,000 ha of the country's agricultural lands, of which 1,932,000 ha were irrigated. Wheat cultivation in various regions of the world is impacted by a variety of abiotic stresses, among which drought stress (particularly after the pollination stage) is regarded as one of the most significant factors. In the majority of regions of Iran, there is typically sufficient moisture and suitable temperature for wheat growth in autumn and winter, but high temperatures and a lack of water are typical in spring, coinciding with wheat reproduction. Approximately 50% of the world's grain-growing lands are zinc-deficient. Considering the importance of grains in providing the daily calories required by humans, the zinc deficiency in these lands results in a zinc-deficient diet.

The present study was conducted at the Kabootarabad Agricultural Research Station in Isfahan to determine the effect of drought stress in the pollination stage, with and without zinc spraying, in the two cropping years 2017-2018 and 2018-2019. For the study, a split plot experiment with a randomized complete block design and three replications was employed. The primary factor consisted of three irrigation levels (full irrigation, and stop irrigation at the pollination stage with and without zinc foliar application), while the secondary factor was comprised of 11 wheat genotypes (two lines and 9 cultivars). In both years, the test site was chosen in areas of the station that had been fallow the year before. The land preparation process included plowing, discing, and leveling. Using a furrower, furrows with a stack distance of 60 cm were created during the final phase of land preparation. In accordance with the soil analysis, 100 kg ha-1 of potassium fertilizer (in the form of potassium sulfate) and 100 kg ha-1 of phosphorus fertilizer (in the form of triple superphosphate) were applied. Before planting, stemming, and before the emergence of spikes, 280 kg ha-1 of nitrogen fertilizer (in the form of urea) was applied in equal proportions at three separate stages. This study measured the number of days to physiological maturity, the duration of the grain filling period, grain yield, number of spikes per unit area, number of seeds per spike, weight of 1,000 seeds, and zinc element efficiency. SAS were used to perform statistical analsysis, while Excel and Word were utilized to create graphs and tables. The means of the studied characteristics were statistically compared using Duncan's multi-range test at the 1% and 5% probability levels.

The interaction of stress and genotype on the number of days to physiological maturity, grain yield, and 1000-grain weight (at 1% level), as well as the effect of moisture stress on spike length at 1% level were significant. In three genotypes of Pishtaz, Backcross Roshan, and Alvand, zinc foliar application increased yield by 11.7%, 14.8%, and 15%, respectively, compared to moisture stress conditions without zinc consumption. Compared to the control treatment, the grain filling period was 33 and 30.6% shorter in the water stress treatment without zinc consumption and with zinc consumption, respectively. Among genotypes, zinc consumption efficiency ranged from 86.95% to 95.03%. This study revealed that under drought stress, foliar application of zinc can mitigate the negative effects of stress, but the response of various cultivars varies in this regard.

According to the findings of this study, zinc foliar spraying can enhance plant performance and mitigate unfavorable conditions caused by moisture stress. Nevertheless, genotypes react differently in this field. In this regard, genotypes such as Pishtaz, Backcross Roshan, and Alvand performed better. The increase in spike length and number of seeds per spike in response to zinc foliar application under stressful conditions were the primary causes of the yield enhancement. In drought-stressed conditions, zinc foliar application also contributed to an increase in seed yield due to a higher 1000-seed weight. Additionally, it should be noted that the effects of drought stress are closely related to ambient temperature and heat stress, and that additional experiments considering the combination of these two factors can yield more accurate results.

Planting date is one of the most influential factors in determining sugar beet yield and quality. Due to its effect on the length of plant growth period, i.e. the number of growth days received by the plant, planting date has a significant impact on crop yield and is one of the most influential and decisive factors in agricultural production. The selection of the harvest date is one of the pillars of vintage quality and sugar yield in sugar beets. However, it is difficult to define the harvest date and, more precisely, the maturity date of beet roots in a precise and absolute manner. Indeed, there are various stages and degrees of maturity based on environmental and climatic conditions such as temperature, precipitation, latitude, and others. Because sugar beet lacks a distinct physiological ripening stage, similar to cereals. Due to the effect of farm management, particularly the application of planting and harvesting dates, on the yield and quality of sugar beet, it is necessary to plan carefully in order to determine the optimal planting and harvesting dates for this crop in each region. Due to the risk of autumn frost and the necessity of transport planning to the sugar factory, farm management is crucial. On the basis of this information, the first harvest date should be determined, which has a suitable and acceptable yield of white sugar, and the product should be harvested and transported to the sugar factory as soon as possible.

To determine the effect of planting and harvesting dates on root yield and certain quality characteristics of sugar beet in the Bardsir region of Kerman province, a split -plot randomized complete block experiment with four replications was conducted. The main factor was the sowing date, which was applied at two levels: The first sowing date was April 21 and the second was June 5. The sub-factor was the harvesting date, which began on August 23 and occurred in nine stages with a 15-day interval in the relevant plots.

The results revealed that the sixth, seventh, eighth, and ninth harvesting dates in the first sowing date produced the highest root yield, and only in these four treatments the root yield reached more than 50 tons per hectare. The treatments of three first, second, and third harvest dates on the first sowing date and three fifth, sixth, and seventh harvest dates on the second sowing date produced the most nitrogen in the roots. The greatest amount of root molasses sugar was found in the first and second harvest dates on the second sowing date; in these treatments, the amount of root molasses sugar exceeded 5.8%. Also, the greatest amount of gross sugar was assigned to the fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, and ninth harvests on the date of first sowing, and the amount of gross sugar in these five treatments exceeded 18%. In addition, the sixth, seventh, eighth, and ninth harvest dates had the highest white sugar yield on the first planting date. Due to the risk of autumn frosts and, on the other hand, transport planning to the sugar factory and farm management, it is necessary to harvest immediately if the desired white sugar yield is achieved.

According to the findings of this study, delay in planting sugar beet increased root impurities and decreased root sugar yield and percentage. Also, with the delay in harvesting for both planting dates, root impurities decreased and the proportion of crude sugar increased, resulting in a greater disparity between molasses and crude sugar and an increase in pure sugar. Due to the risk of autumn frosts and the need to transport the crop to the sugar factory, it is recommended that beet growers in this region plant on May 1 and harvest on November 15.

Improving the efficiency of herbicides and reducing their consumption through the use of additives materials is one of the important strategies in sustainable weed management. Using reduced doses of herbicides with additives can reduce herbicide use, increase their effectiveness, and improve the health of food products. Therefore, this study investigated the effects of mixing herbicides with salicylic acid and cocowet adjuvant on corn yield, yield components, and weed control under Shahrood climate conditions.

  A factorial experiment was conducted as randomized complete block design with three replications at the research field of Shahrood University of Technology. Factors included weed control method at four levels: control (no treatment), weeding throughout the growing season, recommended herbicide dose (nicosulfuron 2 L.ha-1) and reduced herbicide dose (nicosulfuron 1 L.ha-1) as the first factor, foliar application of salicylic acid and non-application of salicylic acid as the second factor, and cocowet in two levels, 2 liters per hectare and non-application of cocowet as the third factor. Treatments were performed at the 6-leaf stage. At the end of the season, corn traits were sampled and measured. The investigated traits included the number of rows per ear, the number of grains per row, the weight of 100 grains, the harvest index, grain, and biological yield, density and dry weight of broad and narrow leaf weeds.MSTATC software was used to conduct an analysis of variance (ANOVA) on all collected data. Significant differences between means correspond to a probability level of 0.05 according to the LSD test.

The minimum grain number per row (20.2), biological yield (1.326 kg/ha), and grain yield (2,544 kg/ha) were observed when salicylic acid was not applied in weed-free conditions. The highest harvest index of 33.91 percent was obtained by applying cocowet under weeding conditions, while the lowest harvest index of 14.62% was observed in the control group (without cocowet consumption and no-weeding). Salicylic acid foliar spraying in conjunction with weeding, 1 liter of herbicide, and 2 liters of herbicide resulted in harvest index increases of 28.5, 67.9, and 83.2% in comparison to the absence of salicylic acid. In addition, the results demonstrated that foliar application of salicylic acid under weeding conditions increased the biological and grain yield of maize by 12.5% and 44%, respectively, compared to non-application. In this regard, researchers reported that the interaction effects of salicylic acid and herbicide could reduce weed dry weight and increase maize grain and biological yield. The effects of salicylic acid on physiological and biochemical processes, such as photosynthesis, ion uptake, membrane permeability, enzyme activities, flowering, heat production, and plant growth and development, are well documented. Similar reductions in population and dry weight of narrow-leaved weeds were observed when reduced herbicide doses were combined with cocowet, according to the findings of the present study. Low doses of herbicide combined with cocowet increased the yield of corn by 14 percent. In this regard, researchers reported that nicosulfuron applied with petroleum and vegetable oil adjuvants enhanced weed control.

Based on the findings of this study, the use of salicylic acid can increase corn's growth and competitiveness against weeds, while cocowet adjuvant has the potential to reduce herbicide use by increasing herbicides' use efficiency.

Oilseed crops play a vital role in ensuring the food security of human societies and are the constant focus of agricultural sector researchers. Due to its favorable agronomic characteristics and high oil quality, rapeseed (Brassica napus L.) is one of the most important crops in the agricultural sector. Given that successful crop production depends on the climatic conditions of a given region, the degree to which plant growth stages adapt to the climatic conditions is a determining factor in achieving acceptable yields. In order to determine the optimal sowing date in each region, it is essential to keep in mind that during the crop's growing season, environmental conditions should be optimal and the crop should be unaffected by environmental stresses. The addition of micronutrients could enhance plant growth and development under various environmental conditions. In light of the importance of cultivating oilseeds, including rapeseed, it is necessary to increase the cultivated area and quality of rapeseed through the use of appropriate management strategies. Consequently, the purpose of the present study was to determine the response of rapeseed genotypes to foliar application of zinc and selenium at various sowing dates.

An experiment during the 2015-2016 growing season was performed at the Research Field of the Seed and Plant Improvement Institute (SPII), in Karaj, Iran. The experiment was conducted as a factorial-split plot in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replicates. Three sowing dates of 7 (well-timed sowing), 17, and 27 October (delayed sowing dates) and four levels of foliar application with pure water (control), selenium (1.5%), zinc (1.5%), and selenium+zinc (1.5%) were factorial in the main plots and five genotypes of SW102, GKH2624, Okapi, Ahmadi, and GK-Gabriella were randomized in the subplots. Notably, sodium selenate (as a source of selenium) and chelated zinc (as a source of zinc) were applied in two stages of (i) 4-leaf (ii) and stem elongation for each sowing date and genotype, respectively. In this study winter survival, collar diameter, leaf relative water content, relative collar water content, proline content, carbohydrate content, chlorophyll content, seed yield, and oil content were measured.

The delayed sowing dates decreased winter survival, collar diameter, leaf relative water content, and chlorophyll content compared with the optimal sowing date, whereas relative collar water content, proline content, and leaf carbohydrate content increased under these conditions. When compared with the 7-Oct sowing date, the seed yield and oil content of rapeseed genotypes decreased by 44 and 6% on 17-Oct and by 51 and 14% on 27-Oct. The foliar application of selenium+zinc had the greatest effect on reducing the relative collar water content and increasing winter survival, collar diameter, leaf relative water content, and chlorophyll content. The selenium+zinc treatment increased rapeseed seed yield by 23% and oil content by 6% compared to the control treatment. The reduction in yield of genotypes sown on delayed planting dates can be attributed to a reduction in collar diameter, leaf relative water content, chlorophyll content, and the number of surviving plants, as well as an increase in relative collar water content. Correlation analysis also revealed a significant positive relationship between rapeseed seed yield and winter survival (r=+0.87, p value<0.01), collar diameter (r=+0.95, p value<0.01), leaf relative water content (r=+0.79, p value<0.01), and chlorophyll content (r=+0.96, p value<0.01), and a significant negative relationship with collar relative water content (r=-0.79, p value<0.01).

The Gk-Gabriella genotype produced the highest seed and oil yield on the optimal sowing date (7-Oct), while the GKH2624 genotype had the highest seed and oil yield on the delayed sowing dates (17 and 27-Oct). These genotypes are recommended for arid and semiarid regions. Our findings indicate that foliar application of selenium+zinc during the rosette and stem elongation stages increases seed yield and oil content in rapeseed genotypes sown at optimal and delayed sowing dates.

Drought is one of the most significant abiotic stresses that reduce crop yield. The primary objective of breeding programs is to increase the yield of plants under drought stress, as these plants are vital to food security. This study was conducted to evaluate the drought tolerance of sugar beet pollinator lines and to identify drought tolerant lines. 20 sugar beet lines were planted in two conditions of normal irrigation and drought stress in the randomized complete block design with three replications in the 2014 crop year in Motahhari Sugar Beet Research Station, Karaj, Alborz, Iran. These lines were produced by crossing a drought tolerant fodder beet (7221) with an O-type monogerm variety over the course of several years in order to produce a pollinator parent for the development of drought tolerant sugar beet hybrids. Sugar yield under normal conditions (Yp) and drought stress (Ys) were estimated.  On the basis of these two yields, tolerance and sustainability indices were subsequently calculated. Results revealed that the effects of environment, genotype, and their interaction were statistically significant. The MP, GMP, STI, HM, YI, REI, and MRP indices of lines S1- 9501116 and S1- 950123, the DI index of line S1- 9501116, the ATI index of line S1- 950123, and the RDI, TOL, SSI, and SSPI line indices S1- 950079 were introduced as drought tolerant lines. Among the lines introduced by the aforementioned indices, the SIIG index designated line S1- 950116 as the most tolerant pollinator line due to its short distance from the ideal line (0.56), its greatest distance from the non-ideal line (1.12), and the highest value of SIIG (0.66),  After the mentioned line, the lines S1- 950123, S1- 950077, and S1- 950119 followed with SIIG values of 0.57, 0.56, and 0.56, respectively. Cluster analysis showed, 20 pollinator lines and three controls were categorized into five main groups, while sugar yield under normal conditions, sugar yield under drought stress conditions, and 16 estimated indices were categorized into four main groups. The S1-950116 line was placed in the first group alone due to its superior sugar yield under both normal irrigation and drought stress conditions, as well as its superior MP, GMP, STI, HM, YI, DI, REI, and MRP indices. So, this pollinator line can be used to produce drought-tolerant hybrids for cultivation in various regions where water scarcity stress is a possibility. In the second group, S1-950077, S1-950118, S1-950074 and S1-950119 pollinator lines and IR7 tolerant control were present. This group exhibited relatively high values in both conditions and stress tolerance indices, indicating that they are drought-tolerant and capable of producing hybrids with a high sugar yield. MP, GMP, HM, STI, YI, DI, REI and MRP indices were found to be the most suitable indices for selecting lines with high sugar yield potential and tolerance to drought stress environment based on the results of correlation analysis of the studied indices. Among 20 pollinator lines, according to these indices, lines S1-9501116 and S1-950123 had the highest tolerance compared to other lines in terms of drought stress. Additionally, the aforementioned lines with SIIG values close to one were identified as tolerant lines. Under both normal and stress conditions, the aforementioned lines had the highest sugar production potential and yield, which may be due to the transfer of drought tolerance genes from their tolerant maternal parent; consequently, these lines can be suggested as the parent for the production of drought-tolerant hybrids.

Climate change drastically reduces the amount of water available to plants and increases the severity and frequency of droughts. By the end of this century, it is anticipated that droughts will continue to increase significantly. Drought stress, as one of the major climate events, induces physiological and morphological alterations, which can restrict crop growth, yield, and quality. In recent years, separate research projects and studies in the country have evaluated the effects of drought stress on grain maize, forage maize, grain sorghum, forage sorghum, grain millet, alfalfa, and clover yields, as well as the effects of drought stress on their yield gap. However, if the results of these separate studies were evaluated together, it would have been possible to compare the drought sensitivity and tolerance of various crops. Consequently, the optimal crop to plant under drought-stress conditions in the nation's agroecosystems would be determined. The meta-analysis is a statistical analysis that can assess the aggregate effects of numerous studies conducted under varying conditions. In other words, meta-analysis is a statistical technique for integrating the findings of multiple studies in order to comprehend a problem. The purpose of this meta-analysis was to determine the impact of different drought stress levels on the yields of grain maize, forage maize, grain sorghum, forage sorghum, grain millet, alfalfa, and clover.

In this study, the data obtained from 145 final reports of the Agricultural Research, Education, and Extension Organization (AREEO) and published articles over the past decade were analyzed using the meta-analysis method. This included grain sorghum (18 studies), forage sorghum (21 studies), grain maize (28 studies), forage maize (23 studies), grain millet (18 studies), alfalfa (17 studies), and clover (20 studies). In addition to the difference in quantitative results between studies, the effect size variance was utilized in this method. Consequently, the means, standard deviations, and sample sizes (replications in each study) for the control and evaluated treatments were determined. After classifying the data, the reaction ratio (R) and its natural logarithm were calculated. Subsequently, the method determined which treatments have additive or decreasing effects on yield under drought stress conditions, as well as which treatments had no positive or negative impact on yield. Utilizing the T-test, a group comparison was conducted between the mean yield under drought stress conditions and the mean yield under normal irrigation conditions in order to determine the significance level of yield changes caused by drought stress. The statistical analysis and preparation of the figures were performed by Excel.

According to the findings of the meta-analysis, the overall effect of drought stress on the yield of all seven crops was significant for grain sorghum (-16.30%) (P<0.05), forage sorghum (-18.27%) (P<0.05), grain maize (-31.75%) (P<0.01), forage maize (-33.24%) (P<0.01), grain millet (-25.66%) (P<0.01), alfalfa (-30.79%) (P<0.01), and clover (-32.14%) (P<0.01). The yield reductions in grain maize, forage maize, alfalfa, and clover were significant under all levels of drought stress, whereas grain sorghum, forage sorghum, and grain millet yield reductions were significant only under severe drought stress. The yields of grain sorghum, forage sorghum, grain maize, forage maize, grain millet, alfalfa, and clover decreased by 10.03, 11.84, 18.21, 20.27, 14.13, 19.74, and 20.37%, respectively, under moderate drought stress, and 21.98, 25.41, 39.09, 41.37, 32.55, 40.13, and 42.08%, respectively, under severe drought stress.

As a result, it is impossible to cultivate and develop grain maize, forage maize, alfalfa, and clover in areas with limited water resources without significantly reducing yield. According to the findings of this meta-analysis, grain sorghum, forage sorghum, and grain millet with a moderate drought stress tolerance threshold could be recommended for cultivation in regions where drought stress conditions are likely to occur.

Nutrient management plays an essential role in canola grain production. Nitrogen is essential for crop growth and yield, so nitrogen deficiency is a significant crop production limiting factor. Mycorrhizal fungi have symbiotic relationships with the roots of most crops, enhancing the growth and yield of host plants by enhancing their ability to absorb water and nutrients and resist disease. Humic acid can increase enzymes and proteins by enhancing a plant's ability to absorb nitrogen, thereby enhancing plant growth and yield. This study aimed to examine the substitution and reduction of chemical fertilizer application with mycorrhiza fertilizer and foliar application of humic acid. This study was conducted in split-split plots arranged in a randomized complete block design with three replications in 2019-2020. Experimental treatments included three levels of nitrogen fertilizer (0, 50, and 100 kg ha-1 nitrogen from urea) as the main factors and mycorrhizal inoculation and foliar application of humic acid (use and non-use) as sub-factors. Each experimental plot comprised six planting lines with a distance of 40 cm. Each replication consisted of 12 plots, with a distance of 2m between replicates and 1 m between treatments. Mycorrhiza fertilizer contained 100 active fungal organs per gram and three species: Funneliformis mosseae, Glomus etunicatum, and Rhizophagus irregularis. A manual sprayer was used to apply 2 liters of Humic acid per hectare at the beginning of the stem and at the time of flowering (50% flowering of rapeseed). The co-treatment with 100 kg ha-1 nitrogen fertilizer and mycorrhizal inoculation and non-inoculation treatments yielded the highest grain yield at 3838.4 kg ha-1 and 3551.7 kg ha-1, respectively, an increase of 72% and 59% over the control and non-inoculation treatments. The highest seed oil content was observed in the 100 kg ha-1 and 50 kg ha-1 nitrogen fertilizer treatments, with increases of 12.5% and 11.3% over the control treatment. The application of 100 kg/ha of nitrogen with mycorrhiza and spraying with humic acid resulted in the highest grain protein at 20.44 and 19.4%, with increases of 34.7% and 27.9%, respectively, compared to not applying nitrogen fertilizer, mycorrhiza, and humic acid. The treatment with 100 kg ha-1 of nitrogen fertilizer and mycorrhiza inoculation produced the highest grain phosphorus at 0.58%, while the treatment with no nitrogen fertilizer and no mycorrhiza inoculation produced the lowest grain phosphorus at 48.7%. The results demonstrated that there was a significant difference between the levels of nitrogen fertilizer. However, grain yield is improved with the application of nitrogen and mycorrhizal fertilizers together. Compared to nitrogen fertilizer and mycorrhiza treatments, humic acid did not result in a statistically significant increase in the studied traits. It is recommended, however, that this test be evaluated for a number of years in other regions. Overall, the simultaneous application of 50 kg ha-1 of nitrogen and mycorrhizal inoculation seemed acceptable for canola yield. Although in this study, 100 kg ha-1 of nitrogen fertilizer produced the highest yield, reducing the use of chemical fertilizers and increasing the use of mycorrhiza fertilizers reduces costs and environmental damage.

Cumin (Cuminum cyminum L.)  is one of the most important medicinal plants grown in arid and semiarid environments. Cumin is suitable for rainfed cultivation due to its short growing season, leaf shape, canopy structure, and low water requirement. However, when rainfall falls short of crop requirements, rain-fed agriculture does not produce adequate economic yields. Several agronomic and physiological strategies have been implemented to mitigate the negative effects of drought stress and increase plant tolerance to it. Utilizing plant hormones is one of the realistic and promising strategies for increasing crop yields under stressful conditions. Few studies have examined the use of these substances as stress modulators in medicinal plants. This research was conducted to investigate the effect of stress modulator application on seed and essential oil yield of cumin in dryland and irrigated conditions. The split-plot factorial experiment was done based on a randomized complete block design with 3 replications on a private farm in the city of Jaghtai (Khorasan Razavi) in 2017-18. The cultivation method at two levels (dryland and irrigated conditions) and sources of stress modulators at four levels (control, 1.5 M Glycine Betaine, 10-7 M Brassinosteroids, and 10-3 M Sodium nitroprusside) were studied as the main plot and subplot, respectively. The experimental field underwent wheat and barley cultivations in the previous first and second years. For soil preparation, the land was plowed in autumn. The fertilizers consisted of P2O5 (75 kg.ha-1), K2O (100 kg.ha-1), and N (100 kg.ha-1) represented ammonium diphosphate, potassium sulfate, and a form of urea, and were applied at sowing under irrigated conditions. In the rain-fed condition, nitrogen fertilizer application was reduced to 50 kg.ha-1. At the end of the growing season, 10 plants were randomly selected from each plot and their cumin yield components were measured, including final plant height, number of branches, number of umbels per plant, number of seeds per plant, and 1000-seed weight. To determine grain yield and biological yield, a 2.5 m2 area was harvested from each plot after removing the margins. Using the steam distillation method, the Clevenger apparatus was utilized to measure the essential oil. For this purpose, 50 grams of the seeds in each treatment were selected, crushed with a laboratory mill, and dissolved in 500 mL of water for three hours.The essential oil yield was obtained by multiplying the essential oil percentage by seed yield. ata analysis was performed using SAS software (ver. 9.4) and tables and charts were drawn using Word and Excel software. Mean data was compared with LSD method. Slicing of moderator interaction at the planting method levels revealed that foliar application with brassinosteroids in irrigated and dryland conditions increased number of umbrellas per plant (150 and 137%), number of seeds per plant (85.5% and 41.7%) and seed yield (57.9% and 44.8%) relative to no foliar application. Under irrigated conditions, the type of stress modulators affected the number of lateral branches and essential oil yield, with foliar application of glycine betaine producing the highest number of lateral branches and foliar application of brassinosteroids producing the highest essential oil yield. Foliar application of brassinosteroids decreased the essential oil content of irrigated plants by 8.81%. In general, the results of the experiment indicated that in cumin, in order to obtain proper seed and essential oil yield, cultivation should be done as irrigated and the most suitable modifiers to obtain maximum grain and essential oil yield could be classified as brassinosteroids > glycine betaine > Sodium nitroprusside.

Agriculture is crucial for sustaining family livelihoods and advancing the national economy. Food production and environmental conditions are heavily influenced by agricultural practices. By converting environmental and economic input currents to the same unit of solar emjoule (sej), the emergy analysis method can comprehensively compare various production systems. Using the evaluation of the emergy structure and the analysis of emergy-based indicecs, the ecological sustainability of five crop production systems of wheat, barley, alfalfa, watermelon, and melon in Hirmand city, Sistan and Baluchestan province, was investigated in the present study.

Face-to-face questionnaires were administered to producers of wheat, barley, alfalfa, watermelon, and melon products in Hirmand city from 18 villages where significant agricultural products were produced in 2020. All information regarding crop inputs and outputs was gathered using two

verbal estimates using a questionnaire; field measurements and authors' observations; and field estimates using a questionnaire. During the same time frame, the information provided by the farm manager and staff was thoroughly evaluated. In this study, Zabol and Zahak meteorological stations provided long-term meteorological data.First, the spatial and temporal boundaries of five systems for emergy analysis were determined, and then the emergy diagram for the studied systems was drawn based on the classification of inputs, renewable or nonrenewable resources, local or imported. Sunlight, wind, chemical energy and geological potential energy of precipitation, river water, and evapotranspiration of renewable water are examples of renewable environmental resources (R). Nonrenewable environmental resources (N), such as soil erosion, soil organic matter losses, groundwater, and evaporation of groundwater; Purchased renewable resources (FR), including 80 percent organic fertilizer, between 15 and 25 percent seed, 10 percent labor, and 7 percent electricity. Purchased nonrenewable resources (FN) consist of agricultural machinery, fossil fuels, fertilizers, and chemical pesticides, 93 percent of electricity, 90 percent of labor, 75 percent to 85 percent of seeds, and 20 percent of organic fertilizer. Next, all input (U) and output (Y) currents, raw data for all production systems were estimated and multiplied in joules, grams, or rials based on Iranian conditions for their unit emergy value.

Free renewable and nonrenewable flows made up 46.77, 45.87, 64.39, 63.94, and 62.40 percent, respectively, of the total emergy input flows of wheat, barley, alfalfa, watermelon, and melon production systems. The high proportion of free domestic inputs suggests that the majority of the studied farms are semi-traditional, low-input, non-industrial systems. According to the calculated values of the Emergy Sustainability Index (ESI), the ecological sustainability of the alfalfa production system is greater than that of other studied systems. The greater sustainability of this system was primarily due to the high proportion of emergy input from environmental inputs and economic renewable resources.In addition, the Emergy Yield Ratio (EYR), the amount of energy used to produce each unit of output, and the productivity of all production factors indicate that the alfalfa production system has a greater comparative advantage. According to the Emergy Investment Ratio (EIR) values in the present study, the barley production system had the highest rate of this index, while the alfalfa production system had the lowest rate. In barley and wheat production systems, the highest proportion of total emergy was contributed by chemical fertilizers and labor. Due to the greater use of free renewable environmental inputs, the alfalfa production system had the lowest EIR index value. According to the Emergy index of agricultural product safety (EIPS), the alfalfa production system had the highest level of crop production health, while the watermelon production system had the lowest level. Since the input of chemical fertilizers and herbicides is the most important factor in the EIPS index, the low index of the watermelon production system can be attributed to the high proportion of chemical fertilizers and herbicides in this system.

In general, the evaluations based on the calculation of emergy-based indices revealed that in the dominant agricultural systems of Hirmand city, focusing on practical solutions in comprehensive management of production system, particularly protection of soil organic matter and prevention of erosion and loss of soil organic matter, can sustain these ecosystems and have a dramatic effect. Due to the lack of organic matter in the soils of the study area, the cultivation of perennial, rhizobium- and nitrogen-fixing plants with deep roots, such as alfalfa, improves soil fertility. This stabilizes the production system by enhancing the economic performance of farmers, soil fertility, and structure.

Drought is undoubtedly one of the most important environmental stresses reducing the yield of agricultural plants worldwide. Drought is also a significant yield-limiting factor in chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) production. This crop's yield may be reduced by intermittent drought during the vegetative phase, reproductive development drought, or terminal drought at the end of the crop cycle. Drought stress may reduce photosynthesis, CO2 fixation, and chlorophyll content, or it may damage the photosynthetic apparatus. The current research has been conducted in greenhouse as pot experiment for the purpose of evaluating the effect of drought on the yield and its components, as well as to investigate the relationship between physiological traits and seed yield under drought stress. The treatments included four levels of drought stress (40%, 60%, 80%, and 100% of the water requirement) in a completely randomized block design with three replications. Drought stress influences the leaf weight, stem weight, seed number, seed weight, pod weight, root weight, root volume, root length, root surface, and longitudinal density of the root at a probability level of 1%; it was also found to have a significant effect on the number of pods at a probability level of 5%, but no significant effect on the ratio of root weight to stem weight. The highest leaf weight, stem weight, seed number, seed weight, pod weight, root weight, root volume, and root length were observed at 100% and 40% of the water requirement, respectively. The studied characteristics were found to be manifested less strongly as the percentage of water requirements decreased. Under drought stress conditions, seed weight and pod number were found to be reduced by 36% and 58%, respectively, in comparison to relatively severe stresses. Seed number was found to be negatively correlated with root weight and longitudinal density of the root (respectively -0.366 and -0.018) and positively correlated with root surface and root volume in the absence of drought stress (100% and 80% of the water requirement) (respectively 0.619 and 0.527). In contrast, the seed weight was positively associated with root-related traits under drought stress conditions (60% and 40% of the water requirement), with the greatest effects observed for root volume (0.739) and root length (0.657). In addition, a positive correlation was found between the number of seeds and root characteristics such as root weight (0.823), root surface (0.804), and root volume (0.594). In the absence of drought stress, the results of stepwise regression indicate that an increase in pod number, seed number, and leaf weight has a positive effect on yield. under drought stress, there was a significant increase in pod number, seed number, leaf weight, and root weight. Therefore, under conditions of drought stress, root mass is crucial, as it allows the plant to absorb more water. According to the findings of this study, drought stress reduced the yield of chickpeas by decreasing the weight of stems and leaves, the weight and volume of roots, and the number and weight of pods. By decreasing the plant's water demand from 100 to 40%, all of the studied characteristics were diminished with the exception of the root -to -stem ratio. Since the parameters of pod number, seed number, and leaf weight under both stress and non-stress conditions influence plant yield, it is important to measure these traits precisely. The results also demonstrated the significance of root mass under drought stress, because it is indispensable for water absorption.

 Strawberry is one of the most economically valuable horticultural species. Strawberry production and consumption has increased due to the fruit's appealing color, flavor, and abundance of essential bioactive compounds, such as vitamin C, sugars, organic acids, anthocyanins, phenolic compounds, and antioxidant activity. Today, consideration is given to environmentally friendly and sustainable production. Due to the depletion of nutrient element accessibility or the improvement of soil organic elements in agricultural soils, as well as replant diseases, bioproducts and beneficial microorganisms must be applied (mycorrhizal fungi, and filamentous fungi). These may increase soil biodiversity, promote plant growth, and have antagonistic effects on microorganisms that reduce plant yield. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are among the most widely distributed endotrophic mycorrhizal fungi species. It is considered an eco-friendly biofertilizer because it enhances plant growth, performance, and quality. Furthermore, Trichoderma is a fungus genus commonly recognized as an agricultural biocontrol agent. Plant growth is enhanced by Trichoderma stimulation. It promoted the host's health by inducing systemic resistance and enhancing plant growth, development, and photosynthetic efficiency. In contrast, selenium (Se) is not regarded as an essential element for higher plants, but at low concentrations, it is regarded as beneficial. Se biofortification can enhance plant mineral content, growth, yield, and quality by inducing antioxidative defenses. This study evaluated the effects of AMF, Trichoderma, and Se on the crop yield and antioxidant enzyme activity of the strawberry cultivars Gaviota and Camarosa. This experiment was conducted in the research greenhouse of Shahed University, College of Agriculture in 2017. The experiment was conducted as a factorial based on a completely randomized design with three replications. Treatments included: fungi (Mycorrhiza and Trichoderma), selenium (Se, 0, 0.5, 1, 2 and 4 mg-1 kg soil) and cultivar (Gaviota and Camarosa). Fruit yield was determined at harvest. The fruits were harvested at the same ripening stage (>75% red surface color) and then transported to the laboratory immediately. Within each replication, only identical-sized, -colored, -shaped, and physically unblemished and disease-free fruits were chosen. Physicochemical characteristics of fruit were determined during harvest. 30 strawberries from each replication were used for this purpose. For fruit sampling, tissue samples consisting of both achenes and receptacles were taken from the central portion of the fruit. The samples were quickly sliced, pooled, frozen in liquid nitrogen, and stored at -80°C until their total phenolic content and catalase, superoxide dismutase, and ascorbate peroxidase activities were determined. The data were analyzed as a two-factor linear model using the PROC MIXED procedure by the SAS software. The Duncan's Multiple Range Test (DMRT) at P ≤ 0.05 was calculated to compare the differences between means following a significant ANOVA effect.  The results demonstrated that mycorrhiza and Trichoderma fungus significantly boosted plant performance. Compared to the control, Trichoderma and mycorrhizal fungi treatments increased yield by 39.6% and 27.1%, respectively. Additionally, the application of Se increased yield in comparison to the control. Phenolic compounds, ascorbate peroxidase, catalase, and superoxide dismutase activities were affected by fungi and Se treatments, with ascorbate peroxidase and superoxide dismutase activities found to be 4 mg-1 kg soil when Se was applied. The activity of antioxidant enzymes varied between cultivars, with Gaviota exhibiting greater antioxidant enzyme activity than Camarosa. Trichoderma, mycorrhizae, and Se were utilized to maximize catalase activity (4 mg-1 kg soil). Mycorrhizal fungi and Trichoderma appear to increase enzyme yield and activity by facilitating enhanced element absorption. Based on the results of this study, the use of fungi and Se at concentrations of 4 mg-1 kg soil is recommended to increase the quantity and quality of strawberries.

The increasing use of medicinal plants and their products has elevated the importance of these plants in the global economy. The global consumption of these plants is rising rapidly. The guar plant (Cyamopsis tetragonoloba) is an annual herbaceous and medicinal plant. This plant is suitable for arid and semiarid climates, including Iran, due to its short life cycle. This plant's extracts are used in the cosmetics and health industries to create moisturizing creams. In addition, this plant's products are utilized in the medical, food, and petrochemical industries. In Iran's arid and semiarid regions, the optimal use of water in the production of agricultural and pharmaceutical products is one of the foremost concerns of researchers. In Iran's arid and semiarid regions, the optimal use of water in the production of agricultural and pharmaceutical products is one of the foremost concerns of researchers. Utilizing compounds that reduce the effects of stress, such as salicylic acid, is one of the suitable agricultural practices during drought conditions. In these conditions, it is also advised to plant at a suitable density for optimal use of light and other resources, and to avoid interplant competition. This research was conducted to determine the impact of irrigation and salicylic acid at various densities on guar yield and some of its characteristics.

In order to investigate the effect of irrigation, plant density, and salicylic acid on guar, an experiment was conducted in 2018 in Mashhad as a factorial split plot in a randomized complete block design with three replications. The main plot consisted of irrigation levels (25, 50, 75, and 100% evapotranspiration of the reference plant), while the sub-plot consisted of factorial levels of density (4.4, 6.7, and 13.3 plants per square meter) and salicylic acid (non-application and application).

The comparison of means revealed that the application of salicylic acid resulted in a 6.9% increase in plant height. Salicylic acid regulates various physiological processes, such as plant growth and development, through the synthesis of special proteins called protein kinase, which regulates cell division, differentiation, and morphogenesis, and has a significant impact on plant height. The full irrigation treatment produced the highest leaf area index (6.1) and plant density per square meter (13.3) compared to all other treatments. Under conditions of water stress, the decrease in photosynthetic capacity of the plant due to stomatal closure and the decrease in cell turgor and cell division cause the plant to have small and underdeveloped leaves, resulting in a decrease in the leaf area index in the field. Results indicated that providing 100% of the reference plant's evapotranspiration resulted in the highest average grain yield of 937.28 kg ha-1. By decreasing plant density at 100 and 75% of the reference plant's evapotranspiration, seed production in pods increased significantly, whereas increasing plant density decreased grain yield. The highest number of pods per plant, number of pods per square meter, 1000-seed weight, and biological yield were obtained under conditions of providing 100% evapotranspiration and application of salicylic acid. Additionally,, poor irrigation practices in the absence of salicylic acid application decreased guar's biological yield.

Due to limited water resources, it is recommended that this plant receive irrigation equivalent to 75% of the evapotranspiration of the reference plant in Mashhad conditions. In addition, intensive cultivation of this plant is not advised due to the impact of high densities on reproductive processes. Due to the lack of effect of salicylic acid on grain yield, its use in this plant, is not recommended.

Thymus daenensis Celak. is an aromatic species with medicinal properties that is native to the northwest, center, and southwest of Iran. In Iranian traditional medicine, the infusion and decoction of the aerial parts of Thymus species are used to produce tonic, carminative, digestive, antispasmodic, anti-inflammatory, and expectorant substances, as well as to treat colds. This plant's essential oil contains several active compounds, the most important of which are thymol, paracemen, beta-caryophyllen, carvacrol, and gamma-terpinene. Among the numerous techniques used to increase the production of active compounds in essential oil, bioelicitors are the most acceptable. This study examined the impact of biological elicitors, chitosan and salicylic acid, on the quantitative and qualitative characteristics of Thymus daenensis. This research was designed in factorial experiment based on a completely randomized design with three replications during the 2016-2017 crop year at the institute of agricultural research in University of Zabol.  The first experimental factor was chitosan (0, 0.5, 1, and 1.5 mM) and the second factor was salicylic acid (0, 0.5, 1, and 1.5 mM). Thyme seeds were collected from the natural areas of Hamadan province in autumn 2015 and then was cultivated in December 2016 in 3 Kg pots containing equal parts garden soil, sand, and cow manure. Foliar elicitation was performed in two stages, every seven days, 4 months  after planting (10 cm plant height), at the stage of full bloom. The pigments of photosynthetic organisms were measured using spectrophotometry. The Folin–Ciocalteu and Aluminum chloride methods were used to measure the total phenolic and flavonoid contents, respectively. Using the Diphenyl Picryl Hydrazyl (DPPH) assay, antioxidant activity of extracts was determined. The essential oil was extracted using a clevenger-type apparatus and water distillation for 3 hours. The data were analyzed using SAS statistical software (Ver. 9.1), and the mean of the treatments was compared using Duncan's multiple range test. The effects of chitosan, salicylic acid, and their interactions on morphological and phytochemical parameters were significant. Salicylic acid and chitosan treatment produced the highest levels of fresh weight, dry weight, inflorescence length, chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, total chlorophyll, and carotenoids. The highest total phenol content was found in chitosan and salicylic acid (67.91 mg GA/g DW) (with concentrations of 1 and 1.5 mM, respectively). The greatest amount of total flavonoids (4.79 mg Q/g DW) was obtained when chitosan and salicylic acid were applied together (1.5 and 1 mM, respectively). The combination of chitosan and salicylic acid exhibited the highest antioxidant activity (98.13%) (both of them in 1 mM concentration). In addition, elicitation with salicylic acid (1.5 mM) produced the highest amount of essential oil (1.33 % V/W), a 47% increase compared to the control. The use of these elicitors can improve the yield and quality of Thymus daenensis. According to the findings, foliar application of salicylic acid and chitosan at a concentration 1.5 mM higher than other treatments had a positive effect on the quantitative and qualitative characteristics of this plant by stimulating the plant's physiological cycle and photosynthetic pigment synthesis. By increasing vegetative growth, it increased photosynthetic efficiency and the synthesis of secondary metabolites. Given the positive role of biostimulants of salicylic acid and chitosan in achieving a higher quantitative and qualitative yield in thyme, it is recommended that these compounds be used as the best option for achieving sustainable agricultural goals and reducing environmental risks.

The biodiversity of ago-ecosystems has always been the foundation for the continued functioning of food production systems and has ensured the production system's sustainability. To protect and optimally exploit the biological diversity of agricultural ecosystems, it is essential to understand the characteristics and spatial and temporal distribution of all of its components. In this regard, the role of weeds in creating and developing diversity in agricultural systems is of particular significance, as a large number of crops have close relationships with them and engage in genetic exchange. Among the primary reasons for examining biodiversity are instances of severe damage caused by destructive human activities to a large number of habitats, the commitment of countries to preserve biodiversity, the importance of measuring biodiversity as an indicator of the health of ecological systems, and the importance of measuring biodiversity. Cited as one of the most contentious concerns in the ecological management of ecosystems. An experiment was conducted to examine the diversity and evenness of weed species in the form of split plots using a randomized complete block design with three replications at the Organic Farming Educational and Research Center of Razi University. The Experimental treatments consisted of animal manure (0, 10, and 20 t ha-1) as the main factor and cover crops (control, berseem clover, fenugreek, and Vicia villosa) as the sub-factor. Prior to canopy closure and the end of the growing season, the density and biomass of weeds were measured at two stages. Utilizing animal manure and cover crops increased sesame seed yield. In every treatment, the Margalef evenness index was greater than the Menhinick evenness index. Menhinick and Margalef richness indices revealed a 211 and 140% increase in diversity in the second sampling, compared to the first.  Interaction effects of animal manure and cover crop on the two indices of evenness Margalef and Menhinick demonstrate that there are minute differences between each index, so that the treatment involving 20 t ha-1 of animal manure and the cover crop of Vicia villosa exhibited the greatest degree of uniformity. Brillouin and Berger-Parker indices indicate that the weed biodiversity in the first sampling stage was 57% and 87% higher than in the second sampling stage. In the first and second sampling stages, the Shanon-Weiner diversity was 1.688 and 1.685, respectively. The results of this study demonstrated that the use of animal manure and the cultivation of cover plants by improving the physical and chemical condition of the organic farm's soil led to proper nutrition and increased sesame's ability to compete with weeds. Sesame's high level of competitiveness results in a more efficient absorption of environmental resources, which enhances plant performance. Shanon-Weiner, Brillouin, and Berger-Parker indices in terms of biodiversity and Menhinic and Margalef indices in terms of weed species richness produced nearly identical results in this study; however, the overall results of the calculation of biodiversity measurement indicators indicated that the organic sesame farm has a relatively good biodiversity condition. Farmers can readily benefit from the cultivation of cover plants and the application of animal manure to maintain and improve biodiversity in agricultural ecosystems as one of the most desirable ecological solutions. To obtain a more accurate and reliable result, however, it is recommended that the role of manure application and the cultivation of cover plants be investigated during a multi-year study on the biodiversity of weeds.

Karela (also known as Bitter melon or bitter gourd) is a tropical annual plant of the Cucurbitaceae family with the scientific name Momordica charantia. Due to the plant's complex chemical structure, industrial production of many of its useful compounds is not feasible. Therefore, propagation using in vitro culture technology is an efficient method for increasing these valuable compounds by optimizing various factors and compounds in the culture medium. Various factors, including plant hormones, genotype, and temperature, as well as the plants' response to in-vitro activities, as well as the response of plant cells and tissues to hormonal balance during cultivation and propagation, influence the success of in vitro organogenesis. In general, the control of differentiation processes depends on the presence of auxin and cytokinin, as well as their equilibrium and interaction, which results in the production of aerial parts and roots. Traditional medicine recognizes karela as a distinctive and valuable plant due to the presence of its valuable constituents. Using various techniques such as gas chromatography (GC) and mass spectrometer, some of these compounds have been measured, identified, and introduced in extracts of cell suspension, root, leaf, and fruit.

In order to study the micropropagation of Karela plant, certified seeds were obtained from the DURGA company in Chandigarh (India) and transferred to the University of Zabol's tissue culture laboratory. The seeds were washed with running water and a few drops of liquid dish soap for 15 minutes before being rinsed three times with distilled water. under a laminar airflow hood, seeds were immersed in 70% ethanol for 60 seconds, followed by 0.1% mercuric chloride for 240 seconds, and then rinsed in distilled water. Calluses obtained from the optimal combination were transferred to culture medium containing varying concentrations of BAP (1, 2, 3, and 4 mg/L). The cultures were incubated at 28°C with 2000 to 2500 lux of light and a 12-hour light/12-hour dark cycle.In order to determine the secondary metabolites, plant extract, cell suspension, roots, leaves, and fruits were ground with liquid nitrogen and subjected separately to ethanol (96%) and distilled water for 72 hours. Using GC-MS, the Compounds of ethanolic extracts from control samples and tissue culture treatments were identified (Agilent, USA). On the basis of the results-obtained curve, the presence of secondary compounds in various plant parts was determined. The experiment was conducted using a completely random design with three replications, and the data were analyzed using SPSS 22 software. The F test was used to analyze variance, and the Duncan's multiple range test was used to compare means at a 5% probability level.

Induction of callus from germinated seeds began after 10 days in MS medium containing various concentrations of 2,4-D (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 mg/L), whereas no callus was induced in the absence of 2,4-D. There was a significant difference between these treatments in terms of callus production, with the highest callus induction occurring at 3 mg/L 2,4-D.Calluses obtained from the best concentration of 2,4-D were transferred to regeneration MS medium containing different concentrations of BAP and NAA (0.1mg/L). The results showed that the number of stems per callus increased with increasing amounts of BAP, up to 2 mg/L, and the highest number of stems per callus was obtained in the culture medium containing 2 mg/L BAP. Due to the inhibitory effects of this growth regulator on the regeneration process, The addition of BAP at concentrations greater than 2 mg/L decreased the rate of shoot regeneration.The evaluation of secondary metabolites revealed that the highest concentration of active substances (46 compounds) was found in the fruits of plants grown in tissue culture, which may be due to the physiological changes of the plant as well as the presence of numerous precursors in the in vitro culture medium. This issue can be caused by the ripening of the plant as well as the natural inherent process of transferring effective substances from other organs to the fruit in the fruit filling phase.

The use of 3 mg/L 2,4-D led to the highest percentage of callus formation, and 2 mg/L BAP led to the highest percentage of regeneration, according to the results. Among the various explants, including leaves, roots, and fruits, it was discovered that the fruit contained the greatest number of secondary metabolites and, due to its high performance, can serve as a significant source for extracting effective substances. In addition, the roots had the highest concentration of effective substances, making them a suitable platform for investigating the role of the compounds used in the culture medium on the type, concentration, and extraction of effective substances, and aiding in a proper understanding of the tissue culture and micropropagation effects on the over-expression and formation of secondary metabolites in karela plants.

Arsenic is toxic to plants and accumulates in minute quantities within the majority of species. The amount of arsenic absorbed by a plant is contingent upon its source and solubility (Gonzalez et al., 2021). Arsenic mobility and availability are strongly influenced by soil type, pH, and the use of chemical fertilizers such as phosphorus and potassium. Arsenic and phosphorus share chemical similarities and compete for carrier and membrane carrier absorption (Taati et al., 2021). Basil was chosen for this study due to its rapid growth and ability to absorb contaminants such as heavy metals.This study's objective was to use phosphorus and potassium fertilizers to reduce the toxicity of arsenic and optimize basil growth in arsenic-contaminated soils. The effects of varying concentrations of arsenic, phosphorus, and potassium, as well as their interactions, on arsenic toxicity, crop growth, phosphorus and potassium uptake, and arsenic accumulation in two basil cultivars were investigated.

This study was conducted in the greenhouse of the University of Zabol during the winter of 2013 and the spring of 2014. Two seed cultivars, Keshkeni Luvelou and landrace of Zabol, constituted the first factor, while types of fertilizers, including 50, 150, and 250 mg of phosphorus and potassium per kg of soil for triple superphosphate and potassium sulfate, constituted the second factor. Arsenic sulfate was added to all containers at a constant rate of 15 mg per kilogram of soil. Plant height, number of lateral branches, number of leaves, fresh weight of shoots, and arsenic concentration in plant shoots were measured. The number of leaves per plant, the number of lateral branches per plant, the height of the plant, the diameter of the main stem, the length of the roots, and the fresh weight of the plant were also measured. After harvesting the plants, they were separated into shoots and roots, dried, and weighed. To measure the heavy metal arsenic, plant samples were dried and ground using the dry digestion method. The arsenic concentration in the extract was determined using atomic absorption spectrometry.

Results indicated a 1 percent level of significance for cultivar effects on plant height, number of leaves per plant, number and length of lateral branches, fresh weight, and leaf area. In all growth-related characteristics, the local cultivar differed significantly from the modified cultivar. The addition of arsenic decreased plant growth and increased arsenic concentration in plant organs. The study of the relationship between phosphorus and arsenic revealed that in both cultivars studied, the concentration of arsenic in the shoot decreased as the amount of phosphorus increased. In the interaction between arsenic and potassium, the most arsenic was found in the aerial portion at the lowest potassium concentration. The landrace of Zabol grew better than the modified cultivar due to its adaptation to the local environment. The results of the control treatment on both cultivars revealed that only the addition of arsenic at a concentration of 15 mg/kg soil can inhibit plant growth in comparison to other fertilizer applications. This could be due to the absence of heavy metal contamination in the region, as studies have shown that arsenic can cause stress in plants and inhibit their growth. It can be said that the interaction of phosphorus and potassium with arsenic in other treatments mitigates the negative effect of arsenic on the landrace, whereas the modified cultivar exhibited a type of growth stimulation.

By acting on arsenic absorption, phosphorus and potassium fertilizers can reduce the concentration of this substance in plant food, thereby reducing the risk of toxicity. In the interaction between phosphorus and arsenic, as the amount of phosphorus used increased, the concentration of arsenic in the plant's shoots decreased, indicating competition for absorption. At low phosphorus and potassium levels, soil arsenic uptake increased. Landrace of Zabol was superior to breeding cultivar in the majority of vegetative traits, which can be explained by the greater compatibility of breeding cultivar with regional conditions. Landrace of Zabol absorbed less arsenic in the control treatment; however, arsenic had a significantly negative effect on the growth of this cultivar compared to other treatments. In contrast to the landrace, in the control treatment of Keshkeni Luvelou, low concentrations of arsenic stimulated plant vegetative growth.

Environmental stress limits the yield of crops, and as a result, a significant difference is observed between the potential yield and the actual yield of crops. Due to their resistance to abiotic stresses such as drought stress and salt stress, quinoa plants are extremely valuable. In addition, due to the excessive use of chemical fertilizers, groundwater contamination, and soil salinization, nano fertilizers are highly efficient and effective.

This study was conducted at the Bahoklat Agricultural and Natural Resources Research Center Station in the city of Chabahar during the two crop years 2018-2019 and 2019-2020 using a split factorial experiment with a randomized complete block design and three replications. Irrigation at three levels (control every 14 days (regional custom), 21 and 28 days) was the main factor, while three levels of nano fertilizer (no fertilizer (control), silicon chelate nano fertilizer, and complete micro-chelate nano fertilizer at a rate of two parts Per thousand) and two cultivars of quinoa (Q12 and Q26) were sub-factors.

The results of the comparison of means indicated that the use of nano-fertilizers under full irrigation conditions increased the efficiency of element uptake and, consequently, the production and transfer of photosynthetic material to grain and grain yield components through the availability of microelements. Increased number of seeds per spike (15.6), weight per 1000 seeds (2.44 g), and grain yield (923 kg.ha-1).It appears that in the treatment of watering once every 21 and 28 days, the reduction of irrigation through the reduction of leaf area index and disturbance in the absorption and transfer of nutrients has decreased the supply of cultivated materials and caused alterations in yield components and a decrease in grain yield. There are numerous reasons why insufficient watering inhibits the development of flower stem cells. Due to the loss of pollen grains, reducing irrigation during the pollination and fertilization stages reduces the number of seeds. Typically, the number of seeds on a spike determines the capacity of a plant's reservoirs. any factor that increases the number of seeds also increases the yield.The increase in yield during the second year of the experiment at the full irrigation level is attributable to the increase in yield components such as the number of spikes per plant and the weight of one thousand seeds at this irrigation level. It may be possible to attribute the increase in the weight of 1,000 seeds in the second year of the experiment to the increased efficiency of water consumption brought about by the use of complete micro nano chelate fertilizer, through the provision of microelements and the enhancement of the production and transfer of photosynthetic materials to the grain and grain yield components.Under the conditions of using a complete micro nano-chelate fertilizer, the greatest weight per thousand seeds was achieved. It can be stated that the amount of seeding is determined by the photosynthetic materials stored during the flowering period, and that the lack of nutrients reduces the weight of the seeds by reducing the photosynthetic materials.Quinoa cultivar Q12 yielded the greatest number of seeds per spike. This can be attributed to the prolonged flowering stage. The number of seeds in a spike is primarily determined by the genetic potential of the plant before the spike emerges. After the seeds have been fertilized, the continued growth and development of the plant depends on the delivery of photosynthetic materials from the source that produces the grown materials. Due to the availability of photosynthetic materials during the flowering stage, it is evident that more flowers were inoculated in the quinoa variety Q12, resulting in more seeds.It appears that the higher seed yield of quinoa variety Q12 compared to quinoa variety Q26 is the result of a greater number of seed yield components in this variety. Given that the weight of one thousand seeds is one of the most influential factors in grain yield, this trait has the potential to increase the grain yield of the Q12 quinoa variety. By increasing the green area of the plant and lengthening the seed filling period, the Q12 quinoa cultivar was able to transfer more photosynthetic substances to the seeds and increase the weight of 1,000 seeds.

To achieve maximum grain yield, it is recommended that the quinoa Q12 cultivar be grown under irrigation conditions every 14 days (regional custom) and with the addition of a complete micro-nano-chelate fertilizer.

Peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) is one of the most valuable and economically significant oilseeds in tropical and subtropical regions, primarily grown for its oil, protein, and carbohydrates. The peanut is a summer-growing, South American legume that is well-adapted to the warmer regions of Australia. If conditions permit, it can behave as a perennial and live for multiple years. Peanuts, like other legumes, do not rely on soluble nitrogen in the soil to meet their nitrogen needs. Contrary to other legumes, this plant grows underground and has four leaflets per leaf instead of three. Typically, peanut pods consist of an outer shell containing two kernels. It is an annual plant belonging to the Leguminosae family and the Arachis genus, with a straight main root.The peanut seed contains 43-55% oil and 25-28% protein and is rich in edible oil. Providing peanuts with nutrients in a typical manner is essential for maximizing agricultural yield. From the time of pollination until two weeks prior to harvest, peanuts will need irrigation. Lack of proper management of herbicide use and weed density is a significant factor in the reduction of peanut yield in the province of Guilan. In addition to reducing harmful environmental effects, the effective use of herbicides can provide the desired weed control at a lower cost to the region's farmers. The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of the herbicide R-methyl haloxyfop and the density of foxtail weeds on the yield and agricultural characteristics of peanuts in the study area.

This research was conducted in 2017 and 2018 in Astaneh Ashrafiyeh city.In terms of climate, this region was one of the temperate and humid regions. The experiment was conducted over the course of two years using a split-plot design in the form of a randomized complete block design with three replications in the field. The experiment has the main factor of the amount (dose) of the herbicide haloxyfop R-methyl in 6 spraying levels with doses of 0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.4, 0.8 and 1.6 L/ha the effective ingredient and secondary factor of foxtail weed density in five planting densities was including 0, 60, 120, 180 and 250 plants per square meter. Goli, a local, large-seeded cultivar and the dominant cultivar in the region, was utilized.

The evaluation of the model revealed that, at a level of 5%, the interaction effect of herbicide concentration and plant density was significant on biological yield, pods, and seeds. At a concentration of 0.4 L/ha and a density of 60 plants per square meter, an average seed yield of 2,798 Kg/ha was observed. With an average of 78.5% fruiting and 109.4 g/m2/day, the highest fruiting percentage and crop growth rate were obtained at a concentration of 0.4 L/ha and the density of the control plant. The highest seed weight and specific leaf area averaged 86,3 and 157,6 g/m2 at concentrations of 0.4 and 1.6 L/ha, respectively. At a density of 60 plants/m2, the highest levels of seed oil and leaf surface index were observed, with 24% and 3.9%, respectively.

The results demonstrated that the interference of weeds with peanut plants decreases the leaf area index and the level of its field distribution. The herbicide haloxyfop R-methyl can significantly reduce weeds in peanut fields and improve conditions for the plant's growth. According to research findings and taking into account peanut yield, the optimal management for herbicide consumption and plant density is 0.4 liters/ha for weed-free plants and 60 plants/m2for the entire area is recommended.

Wheat's economic significance and contribution to human and animal nutrition are indisputable. This makes it the third most important crop in terms of global production. The rising global demand for wheat is due to its ability to produce specialized foods. In particular, the unique properties of the gluten protein allow wheat to be processed into bread. Wheat contains and consists of numerous healthful components. Therefore, plant breeders should be able to select for both increased crop yield and improved health benefits. Wheat landrace genotypes are more genetically diverse than the majority of breeding programs, and this diversity includes adaptation to a variety of local conditions. Wheat breeders face the challenge of maximizing genetic productivity gains while minimizing yield gaps and ensuring environmental sustainability.Wheat's efficiency and utility in plant breeding programs are determined by its genetic diversity. Improving grain yield is regarded as the most important objective of wheat breeding and the most efficient method of increasing production. The estimation of genetic variation in crops is indispensable for breeding programs and the conservation of genetic resources. Hybridization and subsequent selection is one of the most essential wheat breeding techniques. Selecting the parents is the first step in a hybridization-based plant breeding program. The purpose of this research is to identify wheat genotypes with superior agronomic traits, classify them using cluster analysis, and reduce the measured traits using principal component analysis.

To evaluation of genetic diversity of rain-fed wheat genotypes, an experiment was carried out in a randomized complete block design with 24 genotypes and four replications in Research Station of Dryland Agricultural Research Institute (Maragheh) at 2015-2016. This study evaluated plant height, grain filling period, days to physiological maturity, days to spike emergence, vigor, grain yield, straw yield, number of spikes per m2, weight per 1000 grains, number of grains per spike, spike weight, number of spikelet per spike, spike length, biological yield, and harvest index. Before conducting an analysis of variance, assumptions were examined. Analysis of variance and comparison of means (Least Significant Difference) was performed. The relationship between the studied traits was determined using Pearson's coefficient of correlation. Principal component analysis (PCA) was utilized to reduce the data, and cluster analysis based on the Euclidean distance coefficient and Ward's algorithm was employed to classify the genotypes under study. The SPSS software was utilized for data analysis.

Difference between rain-fed wheat genotypes were significant for the majority of traits, indicating a high degree of genetic diversity. The genotypes 1 and 23 have the highest and lowest grain yield values, respectively. Positive and significant correlation exists between grain yield and vigor, straw yield, harvest index, number of spikelets per spike, spike weight, and number of grains per spike. Cluster analysis categorizes 24 genotypes into four groups based on their evaluated traits. The first cluster contains genotypes 22, 24, 1, 15, 7, 13, 3, 21 and 17. The second group included genotypes 2, 6, 20, 11, and 19. The third group consisted of the genotypes 9, 18, 14, 10, 8, and 16. The fourth group consists of extra genotypes. In principal components analysis, five main components account for 83.80% of the variation. High positive coefficients were observed for grain yield (0.702), harvest index (0.714), and vigor (0.797) in the first component. The initial component can be identified as the grain yield component.

Based on the results, the yield component was determined to be the first principal component. These genotypes are appropriate for selection and breeding programs and objectives in rain-fed environments, and can be used to boost wheat grain yield.