نشریه فنآوری تولیدات گیاهی
سال دوازدهم شماره 2 (زمستان 1391)

Indication of the harvest time for spice and aromatic plants could be one of the most important factors on quality and quantity of the essential oil of a plant cultivated in the special region. The present study was conducted to define the suitable time for harvesting of Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) fruits, landrace of Hamedan. Fennel seeds purchased from Hamedan were cultured in college of Agriculture (Tarbiat Modares University) in Tehran. The experiment performed with three replications based on the randomized complete block design (RCBD). Fruits were harvested in two stages (waxy and full ripe). Then dried in the shade and their essential oils extracted by hydro-distillation method using Clevenger apparatus. After evaluation of the essential oil quantity, the quality of essential oil was analyzed using Gas Chromatography (GC) and Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS).The results showed that harvest time influences significantly the quantity of essential oils. Also the results showed that the highest percentage of essential oil obtained in waxy phase (% 3.43). Dominant component in the essential oils at both stages was Anethole which defined to be %76 of total amount of essential oil content.

In this study, fruits of 14 citrus varieties which damaged by freezing and 6 non damaged fruits which obtained from commercial trees were collected from germplasm collection of Citrus Research Institute. After initial evaluation, two main parts of fruit tissues were separated (peel and pulp) and after extraction procedures stored at -80 oC. Evaluating characteristics included number of seeds, peel thickness, TSS, TA, TSS/TA, total phenol, antiradical activity and amount of naringin. The results showed that the peel thickness had a positive and significant correlation with naringin content. Phenolic compounds of peel and pulp taken from non damaged fruits was higher than thus damaged fruits under freezing conditions. There were a significant correlation between peel and pulp Phenolics and antiradical activity. Naringin levels in both tissues were higher in frozen fruits than non damaged fruits. Unshiu which is known as a resistance variety to chilling injury had lower rate of naringin than other damaged fruits. Conclusion, naringin was a main compound in bitter fruits under freezing conditions, which is capable used in the processing industries.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of cut-off irrigation and N amendments (urea fertilizer, poultry manure, cattle manure, poultry manure + cattle manure as 1:1 ratio) on the growth and yield of forage maize. The experiment was conducted as split–split plot treatment arrangement with four replications. Main plots consisted of two irrigation regimes (complete irrigation and cut-off irrigation at silking stage for two weeks) and sub-plots were control (without N amendment) and application of 200 kg N ha-1in the form of urea fertilizer, poultry manure, cattle manure, and cattle manure + urea fertilizer (1:1). Results indicated thatcut-off irrigation had a significant effect on soil moisture, leaf relative water content, leaf weight /stem weight and fresh forage yield, while soil moisture, leaf relative water content, plant height, leaf area index, fresh leaf weight, fresh stem weight, fresh ear weight, leaf weight /stem weight and fresh forage yield were significantly affected by N amendments.Irrigation and N amendment had significant interaction effects for leaf area index and fresh forage yield. The highest fresh forage yield, equal to 60 Mg ha-1, was recorded for normal irrigation and treated soil with solitary poultry manure, without significant differences with urea fertilizer + cattle manure. In general, solitary application of poultry manure or integration of urea fertilizer with cattle manure achieved the highest yield under normal irrigation and drought stress conditions in comparison to solitary application of urea fertilizer

Salt stress inhibits plant growth and impair ionic homeostasis. Plant response to salinity stress is different at the cellular levels. In order to investigate the effect of salinity levels on growth, chlorophyll and ions content, an experiment was conducted in 2008, at the college of Agriculture, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Iran. The experiment was a split plot design on Completely Randomized Design. The treatments included three levels of salinity and cultivars. In this experiment, shoot and root ionic contents were studied in three genotypes of rape plants (Brassica napus L.) that grown hydroponically under three levels of salinity (0, 100, 150 mM NaCl) at growth chamber. Salinity treatments were imposed to seedlings at the 4 true-leaf stage by 8 true leaf stage. Results showed that salt tolerant genotypes had more ability to accumulate toxic ions (Na+ and Cl-) in their shoots. By increasing salt, shoots Cl- content increased and accumulation of NO3- reduced with increasing Cl- in shoots of all genotypes. Concentrations of shoot and root Ca2+ were increased by increasing salinity in all genotypes. In salt tolerant genotypes, more increasing root Ca2+, helped to improve salinity tolerance. Increase in shoots Na+ in salt sensitive genotype, resulted in a decline in chlorophyll a and b and quantum yield of PSII. Results indicated that high Na+ and Cl- accumulations in the shoots, were associated with salt tolerance in rapeseed.

An experiment was conducted to investigate pretreatment effects of Salicylic acid on germination properties of Callendulla officinalis L. under salinity stress condition. The experiment was arranged as factorial design in a randomized block design with four replications. Factors were included salicylic acid at three concentrations (0, 0.5, 1 mM) and NaCl at four concentrations (0, 50, 100, 200 mM). Both of separated and interaction effects were significant on germination percentage, germination rate, vigor index, length of radicle and hypocotyle, dry weight of radicle and hypocotyle and seedling, as well as radicle-hypocotyle ratio. Salicylic acid had a positive effect on germination and encouraged it under stress treatment. There was the highest germination percentage, germination rate, vigor index, length of radical-hypocotyle, dry weight of radical and hypocotyle and seedling by pretreatment with concentration of 0.5 mM salicylic acid. While concentrations of 1mM led to the highest radical/hypocotyle ratio. Not only pretreatment by salicylic acid at concentration of 0.5 mM had resulted in the highest performance in germination properties but also promoted survival of the seedling under salinity conditions compare to control statistically.

In order to study the effect of zinc and sulphur fertilizers application on yield and yield component of corn under different irrigation levels an experiment was conducted in the experimental farm of agricultural faculty, university of Kurdistan in the growing season of 2010. The experiment was arranged in split-plot factorial based on a randomized complete block with four replications. Three irrigation levels consisted of full irrigation (-2 bar), moderate drought stress (-7 bar) and severe drought stress (-12 bar) that was considered as main plots. Two sulphur fertilizer levels included application of zero (control) and 30 kg/ha with two zinc fertilizer levels consisted of application of zero (control) and 1 kg/ha which were allocated to sub plots. The measured traits were: number of ears m-2, number of grain row per ear, number of grains per row, number of grains per ear, ear weight, weight of ear cob, grains weight per ear, seed thousand weight, grain yield, dry matter yield and harvest index of corn. Results showed that drought stress decreased amounts of all studied properties. The number of row per ear, number of grains per row, grain and dry matter yield characteristics were significantly affected by interaction of irrigation levels × sulphur fertilizer interaction. Interaction between zinc and sulphur fertilizers noticeably was significant on traits of number of grain row per ear and number of grains per row. The application of sulphur fertilizer under full-irrigation condition increased grain and dry matter yield and also reduced the effects of severe drought stress on corn yield. The zinc fertilizer application under well-irrigated condition caused to increase in amounts of some properties, but in the major studied traits had not any role in reducing the effect of drought stress.

Seedless grape cultivars (Vitis vinifera L.) are widely grown in Iran. Abortion of zygotic embryos in stenospermocarpic grapes largely limits the efficiency of breeding of seedless cultivars. The present study was designed to investigate effects of exogenously applied putrescine to the grapevines in field condition on ovule development and subsequent embryo rescue of two stenospermocarpic grape cultivars (Askary and Bidaneh Sefid). Concentrations of putrescine were 0, 2, 20 and 30mg/l. Length of berries and ovules were measured in Bidaneh Sefid after 20 days and Askary after 40 days of flower opening then, dissected out of ovules from berries were cultured in Nitsch & Nitsch medium containing 1µM GA3, 1µM NAA, 2 g/l activated charcoal, 20 g/l sucrose and 8 g/l agar. Evaluated characteristics were length of berries and ovules, browned, with callus and germinated ovules. The results showed that different concentrations of putrescine sprays were significant on length of berry and ovule, percentage of browned and germinated ovules at 1% level. Also percentages of ovules with callus were significant in different concentrations of putrescine at 5 %. Application of putrescine at 30 mg/l significantly increased length of berry and ovule, percentage of ovules with callus, germinated ovules and decreased browned ovules. Ovules germination at 30 mg/l concentration of putrescine was 30.018% in Askary cultivar and 24.412% in Bidaneh Sefid.