نشریه فیزیولوژی محیطی گیاهی
پیاپی 69 (بهار 1402)

Integrating nature into the buildings through green roofs and walls is considered a sustainable strategy in current city development. However, studies on organic waste growing media that allow appropriate plant establishment in these systems are insignificant and yet challenging. This study aimed to evaluate the stability of the Frankenia thymifolia cover plant in four combinations of growing media (30% cocopeat + 65% perlite + 5% vermicompost, 30% leaf litter + 65% perlite + 5% vermicompost, 30% mushroom compost + 65% perlite + 5% vermicompost, and the typical soil used in the green spaces as the control) in the external green wall conditions. The study was a split-plot arrangement in a randomized complete block design with three replications. The main factor was the different seasons in four levels, and the second was the growing media in four levels. Also, at the end of the study, the characteristics of the substrates were tested as a randomized complete block design experiment with three replications. The morpho-physiological traits of the Frankenia plant and the physicochemical characteristics under different growing media were significantly different (p≤0.01). The results showed that leaf surface features, leaf water content, chlorophyll a, b and total, carotenoid, and all the root-related traits were higher in the plants grown in the organic matter growing medium than those grown in the typical soil. Also, better physicochemical attributes (lower bulk density, porosity, less ash, more air volume, and more acidity) were observed in organic growing medium in comparison with the typical soil. The results of this research confirmed the favorable effect of using washed mushroom compost along with perlite and vermicompost instead of the common imported green wall substrates. It also suggests using the Frankenia in climates similar to Mashhad year-round in the external green wall systems.

A factorial experiment was conducted on Triticosecale Wittma L. based on a randomized complete block design with three replications in Research Greenhouse of the Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Mohaghegh Ardabil during 2020. Experimental factors included salinity levels (non-application of salinity as control and soil salinity of 50 and 100 mM NaCl), and bio-fertilizers (no application of bio-fertilizers as control, application of vermicompost, flavobacterium, vermicompost + flavobacterium + humic acid (foliar application with water as control and foliar application of 2 g.L-1 humic acid). Results showed that the highest leaf area index, root weight and volume, and leaf protein content were recorded in combined applications of vermicompost + flavobacterium + foliar application of humic acid under non-salinity conditions. Also, combined application of vermicompost + flavobacterium + foliar humic acid under non-salinity conditions decreased dry matter translocation from stem, shoot, and its contribution to grain yield by 31.97, 40.8, and 138.84% respectively while increasing grain yield, current photosynthesis, and contribution of current photosynthesis in grain yield by 69.56, 151.44, and 48.3%, respectively compared to no application of bio-fertilizers and humic acid under 100 mM soil salinity. Based on the results, it seems that the application of bio-fertilizers and humic acid can increase current photosynthesis and its contribution in grain yield of triticale by improving leaf area index, root weight, and volume.

In this study, seasonal and diurnal changes in photosynthesis and phenolic metabolism in evergreen jasmin (Jasminum fruticans L.) were examined over a 12-month period. We found the differences in pigment and phenolic contents between the values determined during the autumn and winter months and the values determined during the spring and summer months. During the autumn and winter months, the low seasonality of Chla was accompanied by increases in both carotenoids and phenol levels which play a major role in photoprotection processes. While the maximal quantum efficiency of PSII (Fv/Fm) showed diurnal changes during the winter months, such diurnal changes were not observed for the other seasons. These diurnal changes reflected dynamic photoinhibition, as an adaptation mechanism, which may actually protect the leaves against photodamage under cold conditions. During the winter months, increased O–J phase (from the OJIP chlorophyll fluorescence curve) and decreased I–P phase in parallel with the reduction of Fv/Fm, revealed that the cold stress influenced both the donor and acceptor sides of PSII. Interestingly, we found the relationship between diurnal changes of Fv/Fm and those of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) levels and catalase (CAT) activity during the winter months. Diurnal changes in CAT activity represented the differences between the values determined in warm and cold seasons. Compared with the diurnal changes during the spring and summer months, the maximum activity of CAT was observed at 15:00 h during the winter months, which indicated that CAT may play an effective role in protection of photosystems under a high photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) during cold days.

In order to investigate the effect of cycocel and micronutrient consumption on yield, physiological traits, and antioxidant content of maize under low irrigation conditions at the end of the season, a split factorial experiment was carried out based on a randomized complete block design with four replications in Safiabad Agriculture Research Center in Dezful during two cropping years 2017-18 and 2018-19. The main treatment included water stress with three levels control (without water stress), water stress in female flower formation stage and water stress in grain swelling stage. Also, foliar application of cycocel at three levels of control (no use of cycocel), 442.5 ppm, and 885 ppm and three levels of micronutrient fertilizers, namely control (no fertilizer application), foliar application of 1000 g. ha-1, and foliar application of 1500 g. ha-1 were considered as the sub-factors. Results of the combined ANOVA showed that the interaction of the effects of year, stress, micronutrient, and cycocel on relative water content, proline and grain yield and also the interaction of the effects of stress, micronutrient, and cycocel on hydrogen peroxide, glutathione peroxidase, and soluble proteins were statistically significant (p≤0.01). The results also showed that the highest activity of superoxide dismutase enzyme was obtained under stress conditions at the grain swelling stage, which showed an increase by about 37% compared to the irrigation treatment under optimal conditions. Foliar application of 1500 g. ha-1 micronutrient and 885 ppm cycocel in non-stress conditions increased the average grain yield (11500 kg. ha-1) in the second year by about 85% compared to stressed condition at grain swelling stage and no application of micronutrient and cycocel. In general, to increase grain yield under optimal irrigation conditions and reduce the drop in stress conditions, growth regulators such as cycocel with a concentration of 885 ppm and micronutrient foliar application at 1500 g. ha-1 are recommended.

Viola tricolor L. of the Violaceae family is used for its antioxidant and pharmaceutical compounds. This study was conducted based on a completely randomized design with four replications to investigate the effect of silver nanoparticles on the photosynthetic systems and gas exchange of the Viola tricolor L. Treatments included silver nanoparticles with three concentrations (10, 50, and 100 ppm) and a control (distilled water). Results of the study showed that relative water content, stomatal conductance, chlorophyll a concentration, and total chlorophyll concentration, maximum fluorescence, soluble carbohydrate, and antioxidant activity were higher in the treated plants compared with the control plants. Stomatal conductance showed a significant improvement under 50 mg/L silver nanoparticles compared with the other treatments. Maximum chlorophyll b was observed in 10 ppm concentration of silver nanoparticles. Moreover, the highest chlorophyll a content was observed in the plants treated with 50 mg/L concentration of nanoparticles. Carotenoid contents significantly improved in the plants treated with silver nanoparticles. CO2 content and insoluble carbohydrate were higher in the control group compared with the other treatments. A number of effective flavonoids were assayed, including Rutin, Quercetin, and Apigenin which showed a significant difference compared with the control group in 10, 50, and 10 ppm treatments, respectively. The results of this study showed that silver nanoparticles stimulate antioxidant activity and increase the secondary metabolites (flavonoid content) of Viola tricolor L.

In order to efficiency of different herbicides on weed control, forage yield, crop growth rate (CGR) of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L), an experiment with nine treatments based on randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications at the research field of Iranian Research Institute of Plant Protection located in Meshkindasht, Karaj, during 2014-2016 was conducted. The treatments consisted of Eradicane 4.1 g ai/ha (EPTC), Metribuzin 525 g ai/ha, 2,4-DB 1269 g ai/ha, 2,4-DB 1480 g ai/ha, Bentazon 144 g ai/ha, Imazethapyr 50 g ai/ha (with 200 ml Sitogit), Imazethapyr 100 g ai/ha (with 200 ml Sitogit), non-herbicide control (weedy) and whole-season weeding control (weed free). Among different herbicides, application of Imazethapyr (1L/ha) led to control of Flixweed (Descurania Sophia) and wild mustard (Sinapis arvensis) (control percentage more than 95%). The lowest percentage of dry weight reduction in both weeds (flixweed and wild mustard) was related to Eradicane herbicide, which was 42 and 41% in the first cutting and 40 and 35% in second cutting. The highest and lowest fresh and dry weight of alfalfa (qualitative forage yield in 5 cutting were observed weed free and application of Metribuzin herbicide treatments. Also, index of crop growth rate (CGR) was more in weed free and application of Imazethapyr herbicide (1L/ha) treatments. Therefore, weed control in alfalfa established, application of Imazethapyr herbicide (1L/ha) as post emergence (3-4 leaves of weeds) is recommended.

In order to identify the agrotechnological features on sugar yield and determine the cause and effect relationships between them, 13 different domestic and foreign monogerm varieties of sugar beet were evaluated in a completely randomized design with four replications in terms of 11 important quantitative and qualitative traits in the station Miandoab Agricultural Research Station during three different harvest dates (October 15, October 30, and November 15) in the crop year 2017. The results of analysis of variance showed that the differences between the studied cultivars in terms of all evaluated traits were significant at p≤0.01. Phenotypic and genotypic diversity coefficients were high for most of the traits, which indicates relatively high diversity in the studied cultivars for the evaluated traits. The genetic correlation coefficients between the traits showed that the highest positive and significant correlation was between the sugar yield trait and the pure sugar yield traits (0.88), gross sugar percentage (0.71), and pure sugar percentage (0.65) in this order while there was a negative and significant correlation between the sugar yield trait and the traits of molasses sugar content (-0.62), alkalinity coefficient (-0.58), and root potassium content (-0.52). In the step-by-step multiple regression analysis, sugar percentage traits, gross sugar percentage, harmful nitrogen content and root yield were entered into the regression model in that order, which justified 84% of the total sugar yield. Based on the results of causality analysis, the traits of gross sugar percentage (1.12) and root yield (1.03) respectively had the most direct effect on sugar yield, so selection based on these traits can help us achieve the genotypes with high sugar yields.

Eryngium campestre is a medicinal plant belonging to the Apiaceae family, which is very important in the pharmaceutical industry. The present study was conducted to investigate the effect of glycine, nitroxin fertilizer, and humic acid on morphophysiological traits of Eringum campster. The experiment was conducted in factorial based on a completely randomized design with 3 factors namely, nitroxin (0, 1, 2 ml.l-1), humic acid (0, 1, 2 ml.l-1), and glycine (0, 75, 150 g.L-1) and 3 replications in the greenhouse of Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources in the autumn of 2019. The measured traits included root fresh weight, root dry weight, root length, plant height, number of leaves, leaf surface, and absorption rate of nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus elements by leaves. Results showed that the traits measured under nitroxin, glycine, and humic acid factors separately and in combination with each other were significantly different compared to the control. In general, the results showed that the factors used in this study had the potential to improve the quantitative and qualitative traits of the Eringum campster plant and can be used in commercial production.

In order to investigate the effects of salinity stress and foliar application of silica on Camelina sativa oil plant, a factorial study was carried out in the growth chamber of the laboratory of the Department of Biology, Behbahan Khatam Alanbia University of Technology, in 3 replications based on a completely randomized block design. Treatments included salinity stress at two levels (0 and 100 mM NaCl) and potassium silicate solution at two levels (0 and 5 mM). The physiological and biochemical traits of Camelina sativa under salinity stress were evaluated along with the role of osmotic substances such as soluble sugar and soluble protein in reducing the harmful effects of salinity stress. Results showed that salinity stress significantly reduced the amount of chlorophyll a, b, and total in Camelina sativa, while silica treatment significantly reduced the harmful effects of salinity. Soluble sugar content of leaves in response to salinity stress was 46% lower than in the control plant. Salinity stress combined with silica increased the amount of soluble sugar 27% more than the control plant. Results also showed that in the treatment with silica under 100 mM salinity level, the amount of leaf proteins was almost 10% less than the control plants. The results of measuring the plant’s antioxidant capacity of FRAP showed that in response to silica treatment without salinity, no significant difference was observed in the amount of antioxidant capacity of FRAP, while in the combined treatment of salinity stress + silica it decreased by 9% compared with the control plants. The results of this study supports the beneficial role of silica as an environmentally friendly compound to increase plant resistance to salinity stress.

In the drought conditions of the last few decades, the use of novel scientific methods to increase the growth and production of effective substances of the medicinal and aromatic plants has been essential. This study was done to investigate the effect of foliar application of salicylic acid and proline on the growth traits and essential oil content of Dracocephalum kotschyi Boiss. (Lamiaceae family) under water deficit conditions at the Research Farm of the Research Center of Agricultural and Natural Resources of Chaharmahal va Bakhtiari Province, Iran during the two crop years of 2017-2019. The experiment was performed as a factorial in a CRBD with three replications. Experimental factors included irrigation treatment at two levels of normal irrigation (non-stress, irrigation after draining 30% of F.C.) and deficit irrigation regime (irrigation after draining 50% of F.C.), and three levels of foliar application (control, salicylic acid 1 mM, and proline 1 mM). The essential oil from the aerial parts of the herb at early flowering stage was extracted by water distillation. According to the results, the highest content of chlorophyll a, b, and total (0.96, 0.45, and 1.39 mg/g, respectively) were observed in water deficit irrigation treatment. Also, application of water deficit stress increased the proline content by 70% compared to the control while it did not show a significant effect on the morphological traits of plant height, stem diameter, and plant dry weight. Salicylic acid as a defense factor reduced the negative effects of deficit irrigation conditions on the essential oil, proline, and chlorophylls a, b, and total contents. The highest and lowest contents of essential oils were obtained in foliar-application of proline (1.12 mL/100 g dry matter) and control (0.84 mL/100 g dry matter), respectively. In conclusion, the foliar-spraying of salicylic acid in conditions of deficit irrigation is recommended to reduce the negative effects of stress and increase the content of D. kotschyi essential oil.

An approach to overcome drought stress is using growth-promoting bacteria. This study was carried out to investigate the effect of Azospirillum growth-promoting bacteria under drought stress on yield and biochemical characteristics of Nigella sativa L. in the crop year 2019-2020 in Servak village of Yasouj province in Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad province. The experiment was performed as a factorial split plot in a randomized complete block design with three replications. The main factor was irrigation in three levels (irrigation after using 30% soil moisture (control), irrigation after using 60% soil moisture, and irrigation after using 90% soil moisture) and the sub-factor of Azospirillum growth-promoting bacteria in two levels (no inoculation and inoculation of seeds with bacteria). Results showed that inoculation of growth-promoting bacteria increased yield and carbohydrate under moderate stress conditions. In high stress conditions, carotenoid and malondialdehyde had significant changes. Chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, total chlorophyll, and carotenoids had significant changes under both moderate and severe stress. On the other hand, chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, total chlorophyll, and carotenoids had significant changes in both moderate and high stress. The highest concentrations of total chlorophyll (1.01 mg / g fresh weight) and carotenoids (0.77 mg / g fresh weight) were observed in irrigation after consuming 30% soil moisture and inoculation with bacteria. The highest yield (1072 kg / ha) was observed under consuming 30% soil moisture and bacteria. Measuring the rate of plant growth is suggested at different stages to determine the effect of stress in each period to get a perfect interpretation of the effect of stress on the plant.