Iranian Journal of Horticultural Science
Year:2010 | Volume:41 | Issue:2|Papers Count:10

Mango is one of the most important tropical fruits, rich in nutrients and nutritious components. In this study, the relationship among 48 quantitative and qualitative traits related to leaf, flower, fruit and seed of 48 Mango genotypes was evaluated. The traits included leaf length, width and shape, petiole length, fruit weight, length, width and shape, seed weight, length, and width, flower features, quantity of seed fiber, fruit vitamin C, fruit juice TSS, fruit acid%, fruit juice pH as well as yield of tree. Analysis of variance showed that the genotypes bear significant differences in most of the investigated traits. Significant positive as well as negative correlations among some important traits were found. Factor analysis was used to assign the number of main factors. It showed that the characteristics of fruit, seed, fruit quality as well as flowering date were the main traits. Effective traits were divided into 16 groups distributed to 83.7% of the total variances. Factor loading values more than 0.6 were considered as significant. Cluster analysis by these factors and using Ward Method based on Euclidean distance divided the genotypes into 2 main clusters including: group 1, Pakistani genotypes and group 2, Indian genotypes. Bi-plot analysis by using the first two factors also separated Pakistani and Indian genotypes.

The autotetraploidy was achieved in Basil using tip meristem treatment of seedlings with various concentrations of Colchicine solution (0, 0.05, 0.1, 0.2, 0.5 and 0.75% (w/v) pH=6). A significant increase in the essential oil content was observed in tetraploids as they carry the potential of productivity of 69% more oil over the diploids. A field experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of autotetraploidy on some such quantitative and qualitative characteristics of Basil as: leaf area, fresh and dry weight, chlorophyll content, leaf width and thickness, the number of latral branches, cluster number and length, plant height, flower and stem diameter, as well as period of flowering. This study demonstrated that autotetraploidy significantly increased dry and fresh weight, chlorophyll content, leaf width and thickness, stem diameter and number of lateral branches. On the other hand increase in ploidy level caused decrease in leaf length, cluster number, seed germination percentage and rate, as compered with diploid plants.

To evaluate the morphological diversity of some almond cultivars and genotypes, an experiment was carried out on 55 Iranian and foreign genotypes. Twenty-nine quantitative and qualitative characteristics of nuts and kernels as well as 4 phenotypic characteristics of almond trees were evaluated. Analysis of variance and means comparisons indicated that all the characteristics of the examined cultivars were significant, showing high variability in the cultivars and in their characteristics.Results of simple correlation analysis showed the existance of significant, positive as well as negative correlations among some important traits. Cluster analysis showed that, in Euclidean distance of 25, all cultivars and genotypes were divided into two main branches. With decrease in the Euclidean distance from 25 to 5, the cultivars and genotypes were divided into six main sub clusters. Cluster analysis revealed that the.Traits of nut length, shape, nut weight, shell thickness and hardness, as well as the traits of kernel length, shape, weight, percentage as well as the flowering time were the main characteristics separating the genotypes. Also, factor analysis was employed for defming the determinant factors and the characteristics constituting in each factor.Factor analysis revealed that the traits of nut length, diameter, shape, weight, along with kernel length, diameter, shape, weight, thickness, and hardness, kernel percentage, patterns of outer shell and suture opening of shell were some of the characteristics that constituted the main factors. The effective traits were categorized within nine factors and accounted for 83% of total variance. Within each factor, characters with coefficient values of more than 0.6 were considered significant. Plot analysis showed that cultivars and genotypes that had soft shell, longer of nut and kernel length, more kernel percentage characteristics were distingushed from others with hard shell, lower kernel wieght, less kernel percentage, smaller nut and kernel length but more thickness of shell and double kernel and higher nut weight in the different groups. According to the obtained results, 'Shahrood 12', 'Shahrood 7', 'Shahrood 8B', 'Zarghan7', 'Ferragnes', 'Shahrood21', 'Mamaei', 'Nonpareil', 'Monterey', 'Sonora', 'Ne Plus Ultra', and 'Yalda' cultivars, and also 'K-12-4-4', 'K-I-16', 'K-1l-40', and 'K-I0-15' genotypes were of better quality than the other cultivars and genotypes.

Tuberose cut flower is considered one of the most important cut flowers from the viewpoint of production and export. The failure of developing buds into open ones and the abscission of floret are two of the common problems in the postharvest of Tuberose cut flower that diminishes its longevity and therefore its market quality This research was conducted to investigate the effect of 2, 4-D sucrose and CaCl2 on open flower percent and abscission on bud flower of tuberose cut flower (Pearl cultivar) in the laboratory of agricultural college of Abhar Islamic Azad University in 2007. The experiment was arranged in a factorial design based on a completely randomized design and 3 replications. Tuberose cut flowers were experimented taking into account the factors of: 2, 4-D at levels of 0, 50, 100 and 200 ppm, sucrose; 0, 1.5, 3.5 and 5.5 percent; and CaCl2 at levels of 0, 200and400ppm. One hundred ppm of Al2So4 was added to all the treatments. Percent of flowering, bud abscission, longevity, RWC and calcium content of pedicle were assessed. The results showed that 2, 4-D significantly increased calcium content, while significantly decreasing the open flower percentage, longevity as well as RWC percent. Any of the sucrose and CaCl2 treatment alone significantly increased the open flower but it was observed that the most open flower percentage, RWC and flower longevity occurred at 3.5 percent sucrose and 200 ppm CaCl2 treatment. This treatment increased the open flower percent 92 percent (in comparison with control) and decreased the abscission of floret percent to only 5.33 percent. This finllay can be recomended for somehow solving the problem of postharvest, in the case of tuberose cut flower, cv. Pearl.

Sweet cherry (Prunus avium L.) is considered as one of the most important temperate zone fruits worldwide. It is an economical fruit with high demand because of its early ripening fruits that enter the market early in the season. Most sweet cherry cultivars are self-incompatible, not able to produce commercial fruit without being pollinated with a compatible pollinizer. In the present study, flowers of cv. Zarde Daneshkadea were hand pollinated using collected pollen from Sefid Rezaeieh, Napoleon, Abardeh, Bing, Shabestar cultivars as well as pollen from itself. The experiment was arranged in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with 6 treatments and 3 replicates. The pollen germination test of all the examined cultivars resulted in high germination percentages (>65%). Zarde Daneshkada, with zero.percent fruit setting, was proved to be a self-incompatible cultivar. The cultivars, Shabestar, Sefid Rezaeieh and Napoleon were compatible with cv. Zarde Daneshkade, with fruit setting of 56.33%, 51.83% and 47.49%, respectively which were recommended as pollinizers for 'Zarde Daneshkadea'. Bing and Abardeh cultivars showed to be mainly cross-incompatible with Zarde Daneshkadea as their fruit set percentages were 2 and 0.66, respectively.

Anise hyssop is a prennial herb belonging to the Lamiaceae family. Essential oil of this plant is used in food, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics industries as well as flavoring liqueurs. Since water stress affects the growth, productivity, as well influences the active principles governing medicinal plants, in this research the effect of different water deficit stresses on such morphological traits as plant height, length and number of axillary shoots, stem diameter, leaf number, leaf area, fresh vs. dry weight of leaf, stem and roots, ratio of dry weight of roots to shoots, plant yield and essential oil content as well as yield was evaluated under a Randomized Completely Block Design (RCBD) with three replications. The treatments were 100% of field capacity (Fe), 85% of FC, 70% of FC, 55% of FC, 100-85% of FC (100% at vegetative and 85% at reproductive period), 100-70% of FC (100% at vegetative and 70% at reproductive stage), 85-100% of FC (85% at vegetative and 100% at reproductive phase). All the mentioned traits, except the essential oil content, showed their highest and lowest degrees at 85-100% vs.55% FC, respectively. In contrast, the highest amount of essential oil content was observed at 55% FC and the lowest one at 100-70%.

Table grapes (Vitis vinifera L. cv. Shahroodi) were stored for 45 days under modified atmospher packaging (MAP) with four gas combination treatments including GC1 (Control or air), GC2 (10%Co2+5%O2), GC3 (10%Co2+15%O2) and GC4 (10%Co2+60%O2) using two types of polymeric films PP (Polypropylene) and PE (Polyethylene) at 1oC and 80-90% RH. Measurements were carried out after each 15 days at 1oC and after being placed for 1 day at room temperature. Results showed that GC4 was the most suitable gas combination to control gray mold during the storage period. In addition to the lowest infection, the grapes which were packed under this gas combination showed the highest L*, C*, lowest berry browning and pedicle desiccation indices along with better taste. A comparison of the two polymeric films indicated that PP film led to lower infection and better fruit taste than PE in similar experimental conditions.

The aim of this research was to evaluate the influence of rooting cofactors including hydrogen peroxide, boric acid and thiamine along with indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) on rooting of olive cuttings cv. Rashid in autumn 2007 and spring 2008. The study was carried out as a factorial experiment in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with three replications, and five cuttings in each replication. Results indicated that these cofactors individually or in combination with IBA could improve such rooting indices as rooting percentage, root number and length. Rooting of cuttings was promoted 6%, 16% and 20% with adding thiamine, boric acid and hydrogen peroxide, respectively. Adding one or two of these cofactors to IBA increased rooting of the cuttings, too. And they simultaneous with addition of IBA almost doubled the rooting of cuttings. Application of these cofactors increased rooting indices more in autumn than during spring.

In order to evaluate the effect of different levels of drought stress on some physiological parameters in grapevine, a potted experiment with Iranian grapevine cultivars 'Sahani', 'Bidane-sefid' and 'Parkhii' was conducted in summer of 2008.The experiment was performed while employing four drought stress (water potential of soil, Ys=-0.2, -0.6, -1, -1.5 MPa) treatments each in three replications. The experimental design was a factorial one on the basis of a randomized complete block design. Such physiological parameters as: leaf Relative Water Content (RWC), Membrane Stability Index (MSI), net photosynthesis (A), stomatal conductance (g), transpiration (E), sub stomatal CO2 concentration (Ci) and water use efficiency (Algs), were assessed in grape leaves subjected to different drought stress conditions and recovery of these parameters following rewatering. The study shows that RWC, MSI, A, gs, E, were decreased as soil water content was reduced. AIgs was maximum in all cultivars under -1 MPa. 'Sahani' benefitted from a higher photosynthesis, than 'Bidane-sefid' and 'Parkhii' under control as well as under -1 MPa treatments.'Sahani' had a higher stability in gas exchange as compared with other cultivars. Ci value was first reduced and then increased in the three cultivars. Water use efficiency (Algs) increased with increase in drought stress severity until -1 MPa. There was a close relationship observed between A and gs in all the cultivars. Results of the present experiment showed that gas exchange recovery (following rewatering) was fast under mild and moderate drought stress conditions, while under severe drought stress conditions, gas exchange recovery needed at least four days.

Such different factors as days following full bloom till harvest, exterior change of fruit color and percentage of soluble solids have been suggested for determining the suitable harvest time. These factors are on the other hand greatly dependent on yearly climatic factors, type of fruit, and position of fruit on the tree as well as on orchard management. In this research, some of the above mentioned factors along with some other supplementary factors as change in firmness, percentage of dry material, percentage of acidity, fruit juice pH and changes of starch were comparatively investigated in a four months period during the growth season and as well during 2 months following the storage of the fruits. Nine cultivars of foreign and local pear including Spadona, Barttlet, Beyrouti, Dargazi, Dutchesse, Shah Miveh, Felestini, Coscia and Louise Bonne were studied. Percentage of soluble solids and pH of fruit juice increased while acidity of the fruits decreased in the same process. Dry material percentage of Intuits was approximately stable. Therefore, the use of this index in determining the suitable fruit harvest time was impossible. The firmness of the fruits decreased and followed the same behavioral pattern in the fruits on different parts of the tree. Since starch test did not reveal significant changes, it was not considered as an effective and practical test to determine the maturity in different pear cultivars.Results showed that fruit firmness can be considered as one of the effective indices to determine commercial fruit maturity of different pear cultivars.