PLANT AND ECOSYSTEM
Year:2013 | Volume:8 | Issue:33-1 (SUPPLEMENT)|Papers Count:9

For investigating the effects of salinity on the germination and growth of five medicinal species, an experiment carried out in 2010. Five medicinal species including Hypericum perforatum, Foeniculum vulgare, Cuminum cyminum, Anthemis persica and Achillea millefolium were analyzed at four levels of salinity (0, 50, 100 and 150 mM of sodium chloride in Petri dish) using a completely randomized, factorial design with four replications. The traits under analysis included the percentages and rate of germination, the length of root and shoot, the length of seedling, S/R (shoot/root), the fresh and dry weights of the seedling, and the vigor index. The statistical analyses at germination and seedling growth levels indicated that an increase in salinity significantly decreased all of the traits at P<0.01 and S/R at P<0.05 in the five species under analysis. The highest percentage and rate of germination belonged to Anthemis persica and Achillea millefolium, and the lowest effect of salinity on the percentage and speed of germination was observed in 50 mM and control concentrations. The obtained results regarding the length of root, shoot, and seedling indicated that this decrease was more in 50 and 150 mM concentrations in comparison to 100 mM one. It must be noted that the 100 mM salinity level had the lowest amount of S/R.

Elm-leaf blackberry or Rubus anatolicus (Focke, i.e. Focke ex Hausskn.) belongs to the Rosaceae family and Rosoiedeae subfamily. It is a wild plant which grows in abundance in Golestan region. It is used as a strong anti-inflammatory and antiseptic substance in conventional medicine. In this study, un/ripe elm-leaf blackberries were randomly gathered from two different regions of Golestan (i.e. Hasan Abad village of Jelin and Livan-e-gharbi village in Bandargaz). The total amounts of polyphenol and flavonoid in the methanol and ethanol extractions and the bramble juice were respectively determined using the folin-ciocalteu reagent and the aluminum chloride colorimetric procedure by means of a Spectrophotometer. The amounts of the two phenol compounds were higher in the ripe brambles in comparison to the unripe ones. Considering the regional differences, there was only a significant difference among the unripe brambles regarding the methanol extraction in the phenol content. However, there was a significant difference (P<0.05) between the two types of brambles, regarding the flavonoids obtained from both of the methanol extractions and the juice. Respectively, the total amounts of phenol and flavonoid in the methanol and ethanol extracts were generally higher than the other two extractions.

This experiment was carried out in an attempt to compare the chemical compounds in the root, leaf, and fruit essences of the capparis sponisa in the farm and in its natural habitat. Once the plant was fully grown and the fruits were ripe, root, leaf, and fruit samples were simultaneously gathered from the farm and the natural habitat of the plant in Darzin area of Kerman. The essence of the samples was extracted using water distillation procedure. The analysis and identification of the compounds comprising the sample essences, which were obtained from the habitat and cultivation farm, were carried out by means of GC and GC/MS instruments. Generally speaking, 37, 39, and 42 compounds were respectively identified in the root, leaf, and fruits essences of the cultivated farm and 24, 31, and 29 compounds were found in the essences obtained from the habitat. The dominant compound, which had the highest percentage in all of the essences, was Sulphour mol. From among the identified compounds, 19 fruit, 16 leaf, and 11 root compounds are the same in the samples obtained from the farm and the habitat. In addition, similar compounds including 2buten-1-one, 1- (2, 6, 6 trimethyl-1, 3 cyclohexadien), tetracontane 3, 5, 24 trimethyl-1, 2-benzene dicarboxylic acid, decanedioic acid , methyl, and esters were observed in all of the samples. The results indicated that the essence yield obtained from the farm sample was more in comparison to the one from the habitat, but the percentage of each compound was higher in the sample obtained from the habitat and the percentage of the main compounds in the farm sample decreased. This phenomenon might be due to the similarities between the plants regarding the formation of these compounds that due to the differences in the climate and cultivation conditions caused changes in the compounds of the essences.

For investigating the effect of phosphatic bio-fertilizers and plant density on the the quantitative and qualitative characteristics of essence of anise (Pimpinella anisum), an experiment was carried out in Varamin Agricultural Research Station in the spring of 2009. The study was carried out in 4 replications following a random-full-block factorial design. The experimental treatments included the phosphate solubilizing bacteria which was applied in three ways, i.e. control (non-inoculation), inoculation, and application at two different times (inoculation with seed and with plant base). The plant density was analyzed at four levels (67, 34, 23 and 17 plants per square meter). The analyzed traits included the biological yield, seed and essence, harvest index, and dry seed and plant weights. The results indicated that the phosphate solubilizing bio-fertilizers and plant density significantly affected the seed and essence yeilds at P<0.01. Similar resutls was obtained regarding the interaction effect of phosphate solubilizing bio-fertilizer and plant density on the biological yield, harvest index, and plant and seed dry weights. The results of the mean comparison revealed that the density of 67 plants per square meter and the phosphate solubilizing bio-fertilizers used during inoculation (with seed and with plant base) had the highest positive impact on the aforementioned traits.

The effect of different levels of plant density and the amount of nitrogen on some of the agronomic characteristics of the Indian mustard was analyzed in a split-plot study based on the randomized, complete block design (RCB) with three replications during 2009-2010 in the Agricultural Research Station of Takestan. In this experiment, the plant density in the subplots was analyzed at three levels of 80, 100, and 120 plant per square meter and different amounts of nitrogen fertilizer in the main plots were also investigated at five levels including 0, 50, 100, 150, and 200 kilogram per hectare. The results obtained from the variance analysis indicated that the plant density and different amount of nitrogen had significant effects on the seed and oil yields, 1000 seed weight, the harvest index, the biologic yield, and the percentage of the oil. The highest seed and oil yields (2961 and 1159 Kg/ha respectively) were obtained from the density of 80 plants per square meter and use of 200 Kg/ha nitrogen.

For investigating the effects of vermicompost and amino acids on flower yield of chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla L.), an experiment based on randomized complete blocks (RCB) factorial design was carried out in with three replications in the Alborz Medicinal Plant Research Station in Karaj in the Spring of 2010. The experiment treatment included 5 levels of vermicompost (0, 5, 10, 15 and 20 ton/ha) and amino acid spraying at 3 levels (i.e. the budding stag, the flowering stage, and the budding plus flowering stage). The results indicated that the vermicompost and amino acid spraying had a significant effect on all of the traits under analysis. The highest plant height (41.8 cm), fresh flower yield (3335.7 kg/ha), and dried flower yield (653.8 kg/ha) were obtained by using 20 tons vermicompost per hectare. Similar results were obtained from the third level of amino acid spraying (i.e. the budding plus flowering stage). The interaction effects indicated that the simultaneous application of 15 ton/ha of vermicompost and two times spraying with amino acids (at budding plus flowering stage) resulted in the highest fresh and dried flower yield.

This present ecological research was carried out in an attempt to determine the environmental factors comprising the natural habitats and their relation to the canopy and density of Artemisia Persica Boiss in Kerman. After developing the maps of the habitats of this species, four well known habitats were selected for investigating the climate, the topographical and edaphical factors, and the vegetation indexes. Information regarding the slope, direction, and the height of these habitats were determined in the topographical maps (1: 25000 scale) using Arc-GIS software (version 9.3). The temperature and monthly rainfall indexes were measured for each site. The parameters of density and frequency of the Artemisia Persica Boiss in the habitats were analyzed by relevee. The canopy cover parameter was investigated using the transect procedure. The soil samples were collected in each site from the 0-50 cm depth using a randomized complete blocks (RCB) design. These variables were analyzed using Duncan’s mean comparison method by means of the SPSS package. For identifying the ecological factors influencing on the canopy coverage and plant density of Artemisia Persica Boiss a stepwise regression was carried out. The results indicated that this tragocanth species grows in all of the geographical directions in areas at 2547 to 3546 meters above the sea level with 35.76-62.85 % slops. The average annual rainfall and temperature in these habitats were 250-500 mm and 5/17-10/9 Co, respectively. The depth of the soil in these habitats is usually very shallow with a light texture filled with gravel. There was a significant difference between the habitats regarding a number of parameters including the percentage of the lime, silt, nitrogen, and absorbable potassium. The canopy cover, density and frequency of this plant were 2.5-11.7%, 423-2020 n/ha, and 58-90%, respectively. The regression analysis indicated that this plant had the highest canopy and density percentage in watercourses of the mountainous regions where the amount of clay and lime is very high and there is very little gravel.

The purpose of this research is the analysis and identification of the effective components in two kinds of medicinal plants, i.e. Echinacea purpurea and Ononis spinosa. The aerial parts of this plant possess branch-shaped trichoms, which have adhesive secretions containing flavonoid combinations. The subspecies of this plant, called Ononis Spinosa Subspleiosperma, grows in many regions of Iran such as Isfahan, Kohkeloyeh, and Markazi. The plants analyzed in this study were gathered in June from Dasht region in Markazi. After extracting the essence and conducting the separation fractions by the chromatography column based on TLC and Hplc; the rutin, hyperosid, and chlorogenic acid compounds (forms of flavonoid compounds) were identified in this plant which is considered an indigenous species of Iran. The quantity of the identified materials was significant in comparison to Echinacea Purpurea.

Hazelnut (corylus avellana) is native to Europe, Asia Minor and the Caucasus. Hazelnut tree cultivation have been common since ancient times Its cultivation has has developed in Europe from the fourteenth century and gradually extended in Mediterranean countries. Romans and Greeks were aware of its therapeutic properties and nutritional value. Hazelnut tree cultivation has benn common in Iran from old time. It is originated in Neolithic geological age but the exact time of culture is unknown. In this study effect of ethanol extract of leaf and shaton of hazel on eight bacteria including Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus aureus, Micrococcus luteus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumonia and Yersinia enterocolitica were studied and compared to ceftizoxime and ciprofloxacin. Results showed differences among different habitats. Leaf extracts had more antimicrobial activity. The planted trees had more antimicrobial properties than plants belonged to natural habitats.