International Journal of Horticultural Science and Technology
Volume:11 Issue: 2, Spring 2024

In a two-phase experiment during 2018 and 2021, propagation success of avocado was evaluated against three types of grafting (cleft, veneer and splice) and two types of budding (T and patch) practiced at the 3rd week of February, April, June, August, October and December considering the atmosphere of the six seasons (spring, summer, rain, autumn, late autumn and winter, respectively) of Bangladesh. Cleft grafting operated during the spring season demonstrated statistical superiority by exhibiting earlier bud sprouting (25.58 days) and better sapling qualities (16.27 cm scion growth and 14.57 leaves sapling-1), and producing significantly maximum transplantable propagules after ten months of grafting compared to all other combinations. But commercial multiplication couldn’t be satisfied with only 48.00% success rate at the best combination. Thereafter, a post-grafting etiolation was applied to the spring season’s cleft grafts. Out of 72-hour, 120-hour, 168-hour and 216-hour etiolation and control (non-etiolation), etiolation up to 120-hour significantly augmented the success rate compared to control but 216-hour etiolation treatment failed to produce any successful grafts. The earliest bud sprouting (21.37 days) with statistically maximum bud sprouts (86.00%) and transplantable grafts (78.67%) of superior quality was obtained from 120-hour etiolation compared to other treatments, while control treatment produced only 49.33% transplantable grafts. Thus, 120-hour etiolation produced 59.46% more transplants over non-etiolation. T-budding and winter season were noted as the statistically worst technique and time for avocado grafting. Veneer grafting and autumn season were demonstrated as the second best options. Therefore, post-grafting treatment is suggested for vegetative propagation of avocado.

To evaluate the gene effect, heritability and correlations of ajowan (Carum capticum L.) morphological traits ten parents were chosen from a genetically broad-based population and polycrossed to produce half-sib families. The evaluated traits were number of days to flowering, plant height, number of fertile branches, number of umbrellas per plant, number of seed per umbel, seed yield per plant, harvest index, essential oil percentage, essential oil yield. Parents and polycross progenies seeds were grown in a randomized complete block design with three replications in the University of Tehran research field, during 2015-2017. The results showed that in parents and their progenies broad-sense heritability ranged from 0.64 to 0.96. Narrow-sense heritability based on regression of progenies on the parents (h2po) and analyses of progenies (h2n) suggested that additive genes control these traits. Correlation of seed yield with plant height, number of fertile branches, number of umbrellas per plant and number of seed per umbel were positive and significant. The results indicated that there were significant negative correlation between thymol and γ- terpinene both in parents and half-sib families. We concluded that there were significant variation and high heritability for most of the evaluated traits in the ajowan populations to improve seed yield and essential oil yield.

White savory is a medicinal plant native to Iran that is resistance to water deficit conditions. A farm experiment was carried out to evaluate the possibility of dry farming cultivation and describe interactions among different organic fertilizers (O. Fs.). Planting densities were evaluated for their effects on essential oil (EO) and yield-related traits in white savory under dry farming. This experiment was conducted in the Mehregan Research Station of Kermanshah by a split-plot design based on RCBD with three replications, and three fertilizer treatments, i.e. cow manure (30 tons×ha-1), wheat straw enriched by sulfate ammonium (10 tons×ha-1), and farm soil. There were three planting densities, i.e. low-density (2.66), medium-density (4), and high-density (8 plant/m-2) during 2017- 2018 and 2018- 2019 crop years. The highest two-year average of fresh yield (3149.90 kg×ha-1) and dry yield (1611.70 kg ha-1) occurred in response to rotten cow manure × high density treatment. The highest two-year average of EO percentage (2.19%) occurred in response to rotten cow manure × low-density planting. The highest EO yield (32.60 kg×ha-1) occurred in response to enriched straw × high-density planting. The highest plant fresh yield (3434.02 kg×ha-1), plant dry yield (1231.98 kg×ha-1), and EO yield (24.68 kg×ha-1) resulted from the second year of harvest. The dry farming of S. mutica plants is recommended in a modified substrate by 30 tons/ha of rotten cow manure and a row spacing of 50 × 25 cm in mountainous regions, where annual rainfall is more than 450 mm on average.

To evaluate the effects of polyamine foliar application on growth indices and physiological traits of Calendula officinalis L. under salinity stress, a factorial experiment was arranged in a completely randomized design with three replications. The experiment was conducted in a commercial greenhouse in Pakdasht, Iran, in 2021. The treatments included salinity stress induced by NaCl and KCl salts (0, 50 and 100 mg l-1). The salts were applied Ten days after relocating the transplants once in every three days. Putrescine and spermine foliar applications (1 and 2 mM) were applied at three stages, with intervals of 20 days, including at the six-leaf stage, full tillering and first bud emergence. The results showed that the treatments had a significant effect on the measured variables. The highest fresh and dry shoot weight, plant height, number of leaves and flowers were observed in the control. The highest root fresh weight and root volume were obtained in response to NaCl 50 mg l-1+spermidine 2mM. The effects of NaCl 50 mg l-1+putrescine 2 mM led to the highest root dry weight. The highest carotenoid content was obtained in response to KCl 50 mg l-1+spermidine 2 mM. The highest chlorophyll content was caused by NaCl 50 mg l-1+spermidine 2 mM. The highest superoxide dismutase enzyme activity and proline were obtained in response to NaCl 50 and 100 mg l-1, respectively. The results showed that polyamine foliar application, especially spermine, caused the most significant increase in growth indices and physiological traits of pot marigold under salinity stress.

Grapes are one of the richest sources of different phenolic compounds with high antioxidant, antibacterial and nutritional properties among fruits. The aim of this study was to investigate the different classes of phenolic including flavonols, flavanols, flavone, anthocyanins, stilbenes and phenolic acids in eleven Vitis vinifera cultivars. Based on the result, the highest catechin, epicatechin, ferulic acid and chlorogenic acid was related to ‘Yaghooti’ grape cultivar. However, catechin gallat, kaempferol, myricetin and p-coumaric acid of ‘Bidaneh Ghermez’ showed a higher content (p < 0.05) compared to other cultivars. Berry quercetin (as main flavonols) was found to be highest (9.48 μg g-1; p < 0.05) in ‘Yaghooti’ . The berry skin luteolin as a flavone ranged from 0.49 μmol g-1 in ‘Rishbaba’ to 0.88 μmol g-1 in ‘Bidaneh Ghermez’ cultivar. The content of delphinidin-3-glucoside and malvidin-3-glucoside of ‘Yaghooti’, cyanidin-3-glucoside and peonidin-3-glucoside of ‘Angoor Siah’ and petunidin 3-glucoside of ‘Bidaneh Ghermez’ was found to be higher (p < 0.05) compared to other cultivars. Berry resveratrol varied from 22.7 μg g-1 in ‘Monaqa and Fakhri’ cultivars to 54.8 μg g-1 FW in ‘Bidaneh Ghermez’ with an overall average of 36.9 μg g-1 FW. Among different cultivars, the antioxidant capacity of ‘Angoor Siah’ was the highest (71.3%; p < 0.05) and ‘Monaqa’ was the lowest. Also, the ‘Angoor Siah’ cultivar has more antibacterial activity compared to other cultivars. Totally, the berry skin of ‘Yaghooti’, ‘Angoor Siah’ and ‘Bidaneh Ghermez’ showed the highest health promoting bioactive compounds, which could be considered further in future studies.

Moringa oleifera Lam. is a well-known medicinal plant and food source. It is rich in bioactive substances, has several pharmacological properties, and is an introduced species to Armenia. This study aimed to evaluate moringa for its adaptability to Armenian climatic conditions while assessing its antioxidant and antibacterial activities in different cultivation systems. Moringa plants were grown in soil and hydroponic systems (on special substrates: volcanic slag, gravel, volcanic slag mixed with gravel). Growth characteristics, yield, antioxidant activity, and antibacterial properties were investigated. The results showed that moringa can easily adapt to the Armenian climate. It is important to note that leaf dry mass increased by 1.6-1.7-fold in hydroponic-grown plants compared to soil-grown plants, regardless of the growth substrate. A greater antioxidant activity was observed in plants that grew on gravel only and gravel mixed with volcanic slag substrates. A comparative study of the antibacterial activity of moringa leaf water extract revealed that an extract of 5000 µg mL-1 from plants in hydroponic conditions suppressed the growth of gram-positive (Enterococcus hirae) and gram-negative (Escherichia coli) bacteria in 24 hours. Soil-grown plants had similar extracts by concentration that inhibited the growth of gram-negative bacteria. Thus, moringa plants adapted easily to the Armenian climate. The plants performed better in the hydroponic system than the soil system. This superiority in performance appeared in plant growth, yield, antioxidant activity, and antibacterial properties.

Genetic variability in a crop population is essential for successful plant breeding. Fifteen cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) genotypes were evaluated in the greenhouse under the warm condition to estimate the magnitude of their genetic variability and heritability as also morphological and pomological characteristics. Genotypes were also classified in to five groups based on the performance and determination of the highest discriminating characteristic that accounted for more significant variability using cluster analysis and principal component analysis (PCA). The measured characteristics were cucurbit chlorotic yellows virus and fungal severity, off-type plant, stem, internode, leaf, petiole, fruit and fruit trail length, leaf width, male flower percentage, fruit color and groove, fruit diameter, fruit fresh weight, fruit dry matter and ash percentage, fruit pH, EC and TSS, fruit yield, and total fruit number. The IR4 and IR5 genotypes showed the highest fruit yield (460.85 and 425.86 kg/plot) and number (108.72 and 84.22 fruit/plant). IR11 had the highest fruit length of 16.60 cm. High broad-sense heritability was associated with all the traits except for cucurbit chlorotic yellows virus and fungal severity, fruit pH, and total fruit yield. Cluster analysis and its comparison of means showed that IR4 and IR5 from the fifth cluster expressed the best agronomic traits and yield potentials in the warm condition (40°C/32°Cday/night). Hence, selection for any characteristic would favor genotypes in these clusters. The PCA involved fruit dry matter and TSS as the most discriminating trait that accounted for more significant cucumber variability, which should be considered in cucumber improvement programs.

In the Libyan Green Mountains, this study was conducted to evaluate the effects of different elevations and topography on the genetic variation and chemical composition of Spartium junceum. The results indicated a significant difference among the antioxidant activity, phenolic compounds, and flavonoids content of ‎flower extracts obtained from the genotypes of different regions. The total phenol content ranged from 22.74 to 31.66 mg GAE/g, whereas the total flavonoids ‎content ranged from 7.35 to 10.74 mg CE/g DW. The antioxidant efficiency appeared variable among the flower extracts, ranging between 66.81-91.55 μM Trolox equivalents (TE)/g of dry matter.‎ Genetic variation was examined by inter-simple sequence repeats showed a mean value of 0.26 in gene diversity, as well as a mean value of ‎0.21 in polymorphism information content. A total of 26 bands were observed, with an average of 3.25 bands per primer, while 50% of the bands were polymorphic. The most ‎effective primers were BT01, BT09, and BT11 ‎which ‎generated four ‎bands. The least effective primer was BT10 which generated only two bands. Phylogenetic relationships between the genotypes evidently divided the samples into two main groups according to geographical location.

This research was aimed at in vitro propagation of banana. Banana (Musa spp.) is a nutritious fruit but is susceptible to certain diseases. A traditional method of its propagation is through the separation of suckers, although it may culminate in the transmission of nematodes, parasitic organisms, and viral diseases. In the past two decades, plant tissue culture techniques have largely facilitated the production of disease-free plantlets. In the tissue culture of banana, different explants can be used, including shoot tips, suckers, leaves, and flower buds. Each responds differently to the presence and absence of light. In the current research, explant cultures were placed either in light or dark incubation for identical durations, i.e., one to six months, to monitor their growth and development. The culture test tubes after inoculation were kept in culture room at 25±2 °C for growth. The explants brooded for shoot acceptance per expansion were kept up at under white light fluorescence tubes, 25±2 °C temperature, photoperiod (2000-3000 lux) of 16 hours light and 8 hours dark in culture room. The colour intensity of the explants changed in response to different photoperiods. Young flower buds, mature flower buds, and suckers developed a higher colour intensity when placed in light, compared to their placement in dark conditions. However, the opposite was observed in leaf explants which grew optimally in the dark. The best results were obtained from sucker explants which exhibited the fastest growth.

The purpose of this study was to optimize an efficient nutrient system to produce cut Lilium flowers in respect to the severe water crisis in recent and the high cost of chemicals and fertilizers. So, Lilium bulbs (Lilium OT Hybrid cv. ‘‘Zambesi’’) were grown in aeroponic (centrifugal) and ultrasonic systems with variable pulse periods. In an ultrasonic system on/off time in seconds was 10/10, 15/5 and 20/0 and in aeroponic system was 3/27, 6/24 and 9/21 in seconds. A modified Hoagland nutrient solution was applied. Plants were grown to flower then plant growth response in the form of morphological and photosynthetic traits to different systems and operation times was evaluated. According to the results, the growth rate in the vegetative stage and plant height was higher in the aeroponic system, but the effect of pulses was not significant. The highest reproductive growth was observed in 10 and 20% pulses of this system. Maximum root length was obtained in 10% of the aeroponic system operation. The most but not serious bulb rot was observed in 10% of the aeroponic system compared to the others. According to the overall obtained results, 10% of the aeroponic system operation was recommendable for Lilium cultivation. As a considerable finding water consumption in the ultrasonic system was less than half of that of the aeroponic system. Also, although quantum performance of PSII decreased a little, in the time performance of 50% showed better results than the other pulses in the ultrasonic system.