مجله علوم باغبانی ایران
سال پنجاه و چهارم شماره 3 (پاییز 1402)

Genetic diversity and the use of different cultivars and genotypes are important in pomegranate breeding and cultivation. Although, the quantitative and qualitative fruit characteristics of pomegranate genotypes have been studied in different regions of Iran, there are still regions, including Kurdistan province in the west of Iran, where no report has been published about the pomegranate genetic diversity. The present experiment investigated the quantitative and qualitative characteristics of fourteen pomegranate genotypes collected from four regions in Oraman, Kurdistan. Investigating the biochemical characteristics of fruit juice showed that the amounts of total acidity and ascorbic acid, total phenol, and total flavonoids were significantly different, but total soluble solids, taste index (soluble solids/acidity) and Brima-A index were not different. Also, the examination of fruit color indices showed significant differences in total anthocyanin, color intensity, pure red color intensity, and the ratio of total phenol to anthocyanin. Results showed that identifying and collecting pomegranate genotypes in other regions of Kurdistan province can increase the genetic diversity information of pomegranate. Furthermore, these studies can be utilized to introduce suitable genoypes in Kurdistan province or to implement breeding programs to introduce new pomegranate cultivars adapted to the climatic conditions of Kurdistan.

Mushroom (Agaricus bisporus) cultivation is strongly dependent on biological (type and activity of microorganisms) and non-biological supplements in the culture medium. This study was performance to investigate the effects of Manganese and Iron as chemical and Azotobacter chroococcum, Pseudomonas putida, Azospirillum lipoferum, Bacillus subtilis, Enterobacter cloacae, mixed cyanobacteria as biological supplements on the growth and yield of button mushrooms. Two separate experiments were conducted based on a completely randomized design with three replications. Results showed that addition of Azotobacter chroococcum (18.9%) and Pseudomonas putida (8.2%) into substrate had a positive effect on yield compared to the control (p≤0.05). Among the bacteria, Azotobacter chroococcum and Pseudomonas putida showed more effect than other bacteria. Although the addition of chemical supplements (Mn+Fe) affected the time of harvesting and the weight of the harvested mushrooms in the first flash, no significant difference was observed in the total weight and yield of the produced mushrooms compared to the control. However, the mushroom yield increased by 11.2% compared to the control. The amount of microbial respiration in the compost of the casing run stage and spent mushroom compost in the biological treatment was greater than the control treatment, which indicated the more microbial activity and more decomposition of organic carbon compounds during the growth period of edible mushroom.

Evaluation of phytochemical diversity among wild populations of a plant species is the first step for its conservation and domestication. Rhus coriaria L. is a shrub with valuable fruits in viewpoint of medicinal properties, due to its essential oil, fixed oil, phenolic compounds, vitamins, proteins and carbohydrates. In the present study, fruit essential oils of eight populations of sumac (Paveh, Kasnazan, Somaqlu, Kani Guyz, Kamaleh, Dagaga, Bakhan and Ziviyeh) from Kurdistan and Kermanshah provinces were extracted by clevenger and analyzed by GC-MS and GC-FID, and correlations of essential oil components with environmental factors were investigated. The considerable variations were observed among populations in viewpoint of number, type and amount of essential oil compounds. The dominant components of essential oil in different populations had significant differences. Cembrene A, one of the important constituents of sumac essential oil was present in all populations and the highest (41.2%) and lowest (13.4%) amounts of cembrene A were determined in Paveh and Dagaga populations, respectively. Principal component analysis grouped essential oil compounds into seven components, which accounted for 100% of the total variance between populations. The first two components explained 52.14% of the total variance, and (E,E)-2,4-decadienal, β-pinene, (2,E)-undecanal, camphene, and cis-ocimene (with factor coefficients of 0.926, 0.879, 0.85, 0.834 and -0.875 in PC1, respectively) were the most effective compounds in the separation of populations. Cluster analysis divided the populations into five different groups. Significant correlations were obtained between essential oil compounds and environmental factors, which can be used in the domestication process of sumac.

Harvest at inappropriate time is the most important factor in reducing the fruit quality, marketability, and postharvest life of kiwifruit. In this study, the effect of different harvest times on fruit quality, nutritional value, and organoleptic characteristics of two novel kiwifruits of yellow and red flesh was investigated. Fruits from promising genotypes were harvested at 130, 140, 150, 160, 170, and 180 days after full bloom (DAFB). The results showed that fruits harvested after 180 DAFB showed higher weight, length, diameter, dry matter, soluble solids content, and total soluble sugars. Meanwhile, titratable acidity was lower than fruits harvested earlier. The values of soluble solid content ranged from 6.80 to 11.66° brix in golden kiwifruit and from 6.90 to 13.70° brix in red flesh kiwifruit. With delayed harvest, total phenols, ascorbic acid content, DPPH and FRAP antioxidant capacity and hue angle in outer and inner pericarp decreased in both genotypes. Ascorbic acid content in the red-fleshed genotype decreased from 90.34 to 75.57 mg/100 g and in the golden genotype from 74.83 to 50.62 mg/100 g. Fruits from the red-fleshed genotype had the higher antioxidant capacity and nutritional value compared to the golden genotype. There was a positive significant correlation between ascorbic acid content and antioxidant capacity measured by DPPH (r=0.98) and FRAP (r=0.95) methods. In conclusion, novel golden and red flesh kiwifruit genotypes reached the minimum soluble solid content and hue angle for commercial harvest with favorable organoleptic properties only at 170 DAFB and the delay in harvest increased the organoleptic properties in both genotypes. However, the content of their antioxidant capacity was slightly lower compared to the early harvest.

In this study, tea shoots of Kashef and Lahij cultivars were plucked from tea shrubs of Lahijan Fajr research station in three seasons (spring, summer, and autumn), and tea was made in four methods on the laboratory scale (green Orthodox, green Crush Tear Curl (CTC), black Orthodox, and black CTC). The chemical properties of tea samples, including the amounts of total polyphenols, antioxidant activity, theaflavin, thearubigins, and organoleptic score, were determined. The experiment was conducted in a factorial split plot based on a completely randomized design with three replications. The main factor was harvest time and sub-factors were the cultivar (in two levels) and tea-making method (in four levels). The results showed that the highest amounts of qualitative characteristics such as sensory score, theaflavin, and ratio of theaflavin to thearubigin, antioxidant activity, and polyphenol for all tea making methods were observed in the Kashef cultivar. The black CTC tea obtained the higest scores for quality characteristics, especially for the ratio of theaflavin to thearubigin compared to Orthodox tea in both cultivars. The antioxidant activity of green tea was not significantly different between cultivars (p≤0.05). In both cultivars, Orthodox green tea had a higher score than CTC green tea due to differences in the color of brewed beverage.

The effectiveness of LED lamps was evaluated as an alternative to other supplementary lights in different conditions in terms of the growth stage of each plant and the purpose of the cultivation. A factorial experiment was carried out based on completely randomized design. The first factor was the terminal cuttings of three different cultivars of chrysanthemum, given codes of (C1:440), (C2:542) and (C3:567) and the second factor was the light levels of L1, L2, L3 and L4 which represent red-blue, red, blue and white, respectively. Cuttings were planted in the pots filled with small sized perlite, then transferred to the growth chamber. Characteristics such as leaf surface and number, root and stem characteristics, chlorophyll a and b and total, photosynthetic quantum performance index (Fv/Fm), PIabs, malondialdehyde, proline, leaf anthocyanins and soluble carbohydrates were measured. Based on the results, the highest amount of total chlorophyll content was observed in the red-blue combined spectrum, the highest amount of photosynthetic quantum performance index (Fv/Fm) in C1 cultivar under the blue spectra, the maximum amount of leaf anthocyanins in C1 under red light and the lowest amount of malondialdehyde in C2 under the white light. Meanwhile, the maximum value of leaf area was related to C3 under red-blue light treatment and the maximum number of leaves to C1 under red-blue light. The best characteristics of the root were belonged to the C1 cultivar under combined red-blue light. As a result, in terms of physiological and morphological indicators, among the used LED lights, red-blue lights and monochromatic blue light were the best treatments in the growth chamber conditions.

Zinc and iron deficiency in Sistan soils, no use of micro- nutrients fertilizers by gardeners, and low yield are problems facing yaghoti grape production as an earliest- ripening grape cultivar in Iran.This experiment was carried out in the form of factorial based on a randomized complete block design with three replications. The first experimental factor was fertilizing methods included: 1- control (Fm1), 2- foliar spraying of zinc and iron (Fm2), 3- localized placement method of zinc and iron (Fm3) and 4- localized placement method of zinc and iron + foliar spraying of zinc and iron (Fm4) and the second factor was fertilizing stages included 1- bud swelling (Fs1), 2- emergence of bunch (Fs2), 3- verasion (Fs3) and 4- leaf fall (Fs4). The concentration of iron and zinc elements in the fruit in Fm4×Fs3 condition increased by 21.3 and 30.7%, respectively, compared to the control. In the Fm4×Fs2 treatment, bunch length and width, and berry diameter increased by 19, 16.3 and 23% compared to the control, respectively. Also, berry weight, number of berries per bunch, bunch weight, bunchs/vine and fruit yield in the Fm4×Fs1 treatment were increased by 15.7, 18.5, 19.5 and 19%, compared to the control, respectively. The traits measured in this experiment increased each year compared to the previous year. Considering the positive role of zinc and iron elements in improving fruit characteristics and yield, fertilizing Yaghouti grape trees by a combination of localized placement and foliar application methods, with a 19% increase in yield, is recommended.

Due to the high genetic diversity in the apricot population of Iran, the first step in cultivar breeding is the pomological evaluation of this population and the identification of superior genotypes. Therefore, in order to identify superior apricot genotypes in the Karaj climate, the quantitative and qualitative traits of 29 apricot genotypes were evaluated based on the Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) during two consecutive years (2016-2017). The results showed a high genetic diversity in the studied apricot population in terms of morphological and pomological characteristics. The highest fruit weight was recorded in the Shahroud -43 (51.57 g) and Shahroud -50 (50.85 g), while the lowest fruit weight was recorded in the Shahroud -42 (15.77 g) and Shahroud -48a (13.90 g) genotypes, respectively. The genotypes Shahroud -50, Shahroud -32, Shahroudi, and Shahroud -15 showed the longest fruit length. In addition, the highest amount of total soluble solids was measured in the Shahroud -13, Nasiri and Ghorban-Maraghe genotypes. Both Moorpark and Shams cultivars also had the highest pH of fruit juice. Based on the obtained results Shahroud -39, Shahroud -50, Shahroud -58, Shahroud -49 and Shahroudi cultivar and genotypes were introduced as suitable genotypes for use as fresh fruits. Also, Shahroud -13, Nasiri, Ghorban-Maraghe, Shahroud -48, Shahroud -37 and Shahroud -43 are suitable genotypes and cultivars for both fruit processing and fresh fruits, due to high sugar content and other desirable characteristics.

One of the most important factors for the preservation of plants, medicinal plants in particular, is the use of biotechnological methods for increasing the production of secondary metabolites. This study was performed with the aims of evaluating and enhancing the secondary metabolites contents of Teucrium polium under in vitro culture by application of methyl jasmonate as elicitor. For callus induction, immature leaf explants were obtained from the plants grown under hydroponic condition and were cultured on MS medium supplied with various concentrations of Benzylaminopurine (BAP) (0, 0.5, 1, and 1.5 mg/L) in combination with Naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) (0, 0.5, and 1 mg/L). Regarding the highest percentage of callus induction frequency and mean of calli dry weight, the selected cultures were treated with methyl jasmonate (50, 100, and 200 μM). The content of different groups of phenolic compounds and antioxidant capacity were evaluated. The highest percentage of callus induction (100%) was achieved in the medium supplemented by BAP individually as well as in combination with NAA. The maximum fresh and dry weights of calli were achieved at 1.5 mg/L BAP + 0.5 mg/L NAA, 1.5 mg/L BAP, and 1 mg/L BAP. The calli treated with 50 μM methyl jasmonate yielded the maximum contents of phenolic compounds, flavonoids, flavones, O-diphenol, phenolic acids, and rosmarinic acid that differed significantly from calli obtained from other methyl jasmonate concentrations. The highest antioxidant activity with IC50 of 2.066 ± 0.24 µg/mL using DPPH assay, and 383.79 ± 33.61 mg Fe+ 100g-1 DW using FRAP were in 50 μM methyl jasmonate and 1.5 mg/L BAP + 0.5 mg/L NAA treatment. Based on the results, methyl jasmonate in optimal concentration can play a promotive role in increasing the effective pharmacological compounds of T. polium and can be considered as a stimulus for the synthesis of phenolic compounds and further increase of the antioxidant power in callus.

Salinity has a negative effect on plant growth and metabolism that results in reducing yield. So, understanding the mechanisms of salinity tolerant is a valuable tool for alleviating the destructive impacts of salinity. This research was conducted as a pot-plant outdoor experiment to investigate the responses of eight different plum (Prunus cerasifera) genotypes to different concentrations of NaCl (0, 40, and 80 mM) in a factorial experiment (genotype × salinity concentration) based on a randomized complete block design. The concentration of 80 mM NaCl compared to control caused a decrease in the leaf area (5-28%), total dry matter (13-41%), chlorophyll fluorescence (Fv/Fm) (18.7-21.6%), total chlorophyll content (30.7-49.7%) and Carotenoids content (22.3-46.5%) and an increase in the shoot Na+ content (28.6-72%), ion leakage (11.3-33.8%), leaf flavonoids content (17-44%), root flavonoids content (5.2-47.7%) and PPO activity (9.6-30.2%). In some genotypes, there was a non-significant increase (2.4-8.8%) in shoot K+ content, while there was a decrease (13.3-21.7%) in others. The shoot K+/Na+ (4-5.3), Na+ content (shoot/root) (1-2.5%) and K+ content (shoot/root) (4.9-8.2) in the control plants, respectively, reached 0.9-4, 1.4-8.15 and 7.6-12.5 in the treatment of 80 mM NaCl. Total protein content in some genotypes showed an increase of 11-14.2% and in others it showed a decrease of 7-13%. All genotypes experienced a decrease in growth and damage to their photosynthetic apparatus when exposed to salinity stress, but they displayed differences in the response rate to other traits. In this study, Genotypes UTPR1 and UTPR5 were recognized as the most sensitive and tolerant, respectively.