Journal of Plant Production Research
Year:2020 | Volume:27 | Issue:1 |Papers Count:19

The aim of this experiment was to evaluate the response of purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea Moench) medicinal plant intercropped with sesame (Sesamum indicum L. ) to Mazandaran microclimate differences. The experiment was carried out in a randomized complete block design with three replicates in Simorgh and Savadkooh regions of Mazandaran province during growing season of 2015. The treatments consisted of sole cropping of purple coneflower (Pc), 75% Pc+25%sesame (Se), 50% Pc+50% Se, 25% Pc+75% Se and sole cropping of Se. Some indices such as land equivalent ratio (LER) and monetary advantage (MAI) of intercropping and actual yield loss or increases (AYL) and aggressivitty (A) of two plant species were evaluated based on sesame seed yield and purple coneflower biomass. The statistical analysis of experiment data was performed by using SAS software and mean comparison of evaluated traits was done by Duncan multiple rang test at 5% level of probability. Results: In this current experiment, the purple coneflower sole cropping in the Savadkooh region had the highest economical yield (3631 kg ha-1) with around 17% increases as compared to the Simorgh region. Also, the 75% purple coneflower+25%sesame intercropping had the same economical yield in two regions and the minimum economical yield was belonged to sesame sole cropping in the Savadkooh region (1716 kg ha-1). According to competitive indices of two species, purple coneflower (Apc) and sesame (Ase) at the range of Apc=0. 02-0. 16 and Ase=0. 10-0. 26 were the dominant species in the Savadkooh and Simorgh regions, respectively. Regarding to temperature and relative moisture severity decreases in the Savadkooh as compared to the Simorgh region during growth season, purple coneflower had a higher aggressivitty and dry matter accumulation because of the optimum environmental conditions. Furthermore, the highest purple coneflower actual yield index was belonged to 50% Pc+50% Se in the Savadkooh region (AYLpc=0. 23) while actual yield loss was observed in 25% Pc+75% Se planting pattern in the Simorgh region (AYLpc=-0. 14). Also, the most sesame actual yield index (AYLse=0. 26) was belonged to 25% Se +75% Pc intercropping. The results indicated that different intercropping were grouped in the same statistical category and showed up to 7% increases in land equivalent ratio as compared to sole cropping. Also, the 25% Se +75% Pc planting pattern had the highest monetary advantage index (MAI=1823). Conclusion: In conclusion, results indicated that the intercropping influenced by two regions microclimate differences. Accordingly, sesame and purple coneflower in 25 and 50 proportion in the intercropping had the best competitive potential in the Simorgh and Savadkooh regions, respectively.

Background and objectives: Insufficient access to water in arid and semi-arid areas has considered water use efficiency as one of the main pillars of sustainable agriculture in these areas. Therefore, in recent years, many efforts have been done to increase water use efficiency, in this regard, the use of superabsorbents and spraying of ecological inputs such as humic acid and salicylic acid are considered as fundamental solutions for saving and optimizing water usage, therefore, this research was conducted with the aim of using factor analysis to determine the affecting factors on water use efficiency of sesame in the conditions of simultaneous application of nitrogen and ecofriendly inputs. Materials and methods: In order to evaluate the effects of different irrigation levels and nutritional treatments and determining factors affecting water use efficiencis of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L. ), sesame (Sesamum indicum L. ) and maize (Zea mays L. ) a split plots experiment based on RCBD design with three replications was conducted during 2015-16 growing season, at Research Farm of Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Iran. Irrigation levels (50 and 100% of water requirement) and nutritional treatments (1-75 kg. ha-1 Nitrogen+80 kg. ha-1 Superabsorbent, 2-80 kg. ha-1 Superabsorbent+6 kg. ha-1 Humic acid+1 Mm Salicylic acid, 3-6 kg. ha-1 Humic acid+1 Mm Salicylic acid+75 kg. ha-1 Nitrogen, 4-6 kg. ha-1 Humic acid+1 Mm Salicylic acid+75 kg. ha-1 Nitrogen+80 kg. ha-1 Superabsorbent and 5-Control) assigned to main and sub plots, respectively. Results: The results showed that the highest seed yield (1672 kg. ha-1) obtained in 100% of water requirement and application of nitrogen+superabsorbent+humic acid+salicylic acid. The role of humic acid and salicylic acid in improving most of the studied traits was significant, so that seed yield, leaf area index, crop growth rate and water use efficiency were 22, 31, 30 and 21% more than treatments without the two inputs, respectively. Factor analysis results showed that variables analyzed to two factors. First factor 59 of variables variance, respectively. First factor included variables of seed yield, seed weight per, plant, crop growth rate, soil nitrogen and phosphorous and water use efficiency and variables of dry matter yield, plant height, leaf erea index and soil pH were assigned in second factor. Conclusion: In general, the results of this research showed that treatments of nitrogen+superabsorbent, superabsorbent+humic acid+salicylic acid, nitrogen+humic acid+salicylic acid and nitrogen+superabsorbent+humic acid+salicylic acid increased water use efficiency 15, 27, 32 and 40% compared to control, respectively. According to the results of factor analysis and variables belonging to each factor, it seems that the first factor is the index of yield and the second factor reflects the inherent characteristics of the spatial arrangement of the plant (high load of plant height and leaf area index on this factor). In general, it seems simultaneous application of nitrogen and ecological inputs can improve yield, growth characteristics and water use efficiency. Factor analysis and high correlation between variables in same group showed that with change of variables that are in same group of water use efficiency, can increased water use efficiency and decreased damages of drought stress.

Background and Purpose: One of the major limiting factors of agricultural production in the world is considered to be drought which is a function of Genotype, temperature, rain and water storage capacity of soil. Grape is one of the most important horticultural product in Iran and many other countries and drought stress is the most crucial growth limiting factor in Mediterranean regions. Enforcing drought stress treatments in lab work and selecting cultivars based on stress conditions is one of the methods to select drought tolerant cultivars which has been suggested by others. This project has been conducted in order to compare tolerant cultivars which were already introduced by others to introduce the most tolerant ones. Materials and Methods: This research carried out with15 drought stress treatments including four ungrafted grapevine cultivars (Samarghandi, Yaghuti, Rotabi and Chafteh) and 110R rootstock (V. berlandieri x V. rupestris) and three water stress treatments; control (no stress), severe (-2 MPa) and high severe (-2. 5 MPa) with three replications as factorial based on randomized block design. Each experiment contained a two-year-old potted grape plant. The measured traits included morphological traits (number of healthy leaves, main and minor branches length, wet and dry weight of root and crown) and physiological traits (total Chlorophyll, ion leakage, relative water content of leaf, Malondialdehyde, soluble sugars, phenol, Glycinbetain and Proline contents). Results: Most of morphological traits, related to external growth of grape (leaf area, leaf number, root length and wet and dry weight of shoot and root) reduced by increasing the severity of drought stress. In comparison with control (no stress) some of the physiological traits (phenol, chlorophyll a and b and relative water content of leaf) decreased; however the ionic leakage, soluble sugar, proline and Glycinbetain increased in severe and high severe stress conditions. Results of analysis of variance showed that the effect of drought stress had significant effect on all measured traits except the dry weight of root and shoot and malondialehyde levels in rootstock and tolerant cultivars. Conclusion: Comparison between average of morphological and physiological traits after standardizing showed that Chafte cultivar has been the most tolerant cultivar in high severe stress conditions in comparison with rootstock and other cultivars. Rotabi, Samarghandi and Yaghouti cultivars were placed in order after Chafte, respectively. . The 110R rootstock was realized as the weakest one because of nonalignment between drought stress tolerance indices.

Evaluation of Incompatibility and Effect Traits of some Plant Growth Regulators on the Quality and Quantity of Red Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna Jacq. ) Background and objectives: One of the cultivable fruit trees that can be cultivated in Iran, It is a typical Hawthorn with the scientific name Crataegus monogyna Jacq. Generally, hawthorn species are scattered in temperate regions of the northern hemisphere. The genus of hawthorn is also distributed in most parts of Iran. Its largest distribution is in the north, northeast, northwest and west. This genus in Iran has 27 species and hybrids. Hawthorn as a plant resistant to air pollution, it is compatible with a variety of soils and ornamental plants. In Europe this plant are widely used in fence building. The fruit of this plant has medicinal and edible value and is used in various forms such as refreshment, juice, jams, jelly and as a flavoring of food. Small size and lack of uniformity of hawthorn fruits set limits on the production and processing of the product. One reason of these restrictions is producing abundant flowers and converting a high percentage of them to fruit. This experiment was conducted to determine the level of compatibility or incompatibility of the hawthorn tree, as well as the effect of different growth regulators on the fruit content and fruit quality. Materials and methods: In this study, the possible incompatibility and effect of some plant growth regulators on the physical and chemical properties of hawthorn fruit were investigated. This study is a randomized factorial design with two levels of pollination (self-pollinated and open-pollinated) and growth regulators gibberellic acid (75 and 150 ppm), NAA (10 and 20 ppm) and ethephon (75, 150 ppm) in three replications. Indices of fruit set percent (3, 7, 10 and 17 weeks after full bloom), seed weight, flesh and fruit, flesh to seed ratio, dry weight and fruit juice percent, TSS, TA, TSS / TA and the number of cells per microscopic field of vision were investigated. Results: Effect of pollination (self and open pollination) and foliar application of plant growth regulators on the percentage of hawthorn fruit set, fruit weight, seed weight and pulp to seed ratio was significant while treatments do not significantly affect the weight of the meat and juice percent. According to the results, qualitative specifications of hawthorn fruit (soluble solids, total acid and ratio of total soluble solids to total acid) were affected by plant growth regulators used in this experiment (GA, NAA and ETHE). So that the number of cells were affected by treatment such that ethephon has greatest impact on the number of cells in open-pollinated and self-pollinated trees in concentrations of 75 and 150 ppm. Conclusion: The results showed that the hawthorn used in this experiment was incompatible and for better fruit set requirement to free pollination (use of pollinators). Also, use of plant growth regulators on the percentage of fruit set and fruit size was effective. The highest percentage of fruit set was obtained by Gibberellin spray and the largest fruits were obtained by spraying with ethephon.

Background and aims: Iran as one of the main areas of plant diversity has desirable genetic reserves for plants, especially horticultural products. Barberry is also a micro-fruit that is susceptible to primary research due to the presence of wild populations throughout the country, including collecting of different genotypes and their examination in order to identify the advantages and disadvantages of this plant and their classification. The aim of this study was to investigate the morphological characteristics of different Northwestern barberry genotypes in Iran and to investigate their relationship with each other. Materials and methods: This study was carried out to evaluate the morphological characteristics of different barberry genotypes in northwestern of Iran at 2017. In this study, 15 different genotypes of barberry were collected from North Khorasan, South Khorasan, Khorasan Razavi and Golestan provinces, and their morphological characteristics, such as leaf and fruit characteristics of barberry genotypes, were investigated and, at the end were done their correlation and cluster analysis. Results: The results showed that the effect of genotype treatment was significant on all studied traits in this study. Regarding these results, it was determined that the number of leaves per node (8. 6 leaves), thoracic length (3. 96 cm) and thoracic angle (106 degrees) in Daregaz 2 genotype were higher than other studied genotypes, while the petiole length (42. 1 cm) in Shirvan 2 genotype was higher than other genotypes. Considering that the cluster length (7. 3 cm) and 100 fruit dry weight (8. 55 grams) of Shirvan3 genotype were more than the other genotypes, but the results showed that Birjand seedless genotypes in terms of number of leaves per cluster (18 leaves per cluster) and fruit tail length (9. 6 mm) were superior to other grain genotypes. The results also showed that Golestan 5 genotype was superior to other genotypes in terms of fruit length (11. 97 mm) and length to diameter of fruit (1. 98). The relationship between fresh and dry weights and the volume of 100 fruits with the cluster length, fruit length and the fruit diameter were positive and with increasing of these traits, barberry fruit fresh and dry weights were increased. The results of cluster analysis at 0. 5 distances were categorized barberry genotypes in five main groups, which in the first and fifth group were Shirvan 3 Daregaz 1 genotypes respectively, which show their differences with other studied genotypes. The Birjand seedless genotype, along with the Shirvan 1, Shirvan 4, Shirvan 2, Derogas 3 and Deragas 2 genotypes, were in one group, indicating the closing of their morphological characteristics. Conclusion: The results of this study showed that various barberry genotypes had a wide range of morphological characteristics that were divided into similar groups by sharing them and could be used for amend purpose of barberry genotypes.

Introduction Predicting leaf area is an important part of the crop simulation models. The ability to predict changes in leaf area index is important to estimate the solar radiation received during the growing season and dry matter production. The knowledge about the leaf area development of safflower is incomplete. Therefore the aim of this study was to quantify leaf production and senescence of safflower 'Local Esfahan'. Materials and Methods A factorial experiment was conducted based on completely randomized block design with four replicates in Research Farm of Vali-e-Asr University in 2012. Factors were included sowing date (5 and 25 April) and plant density (15, 40, 65 and 90 plant/m2). Leaf area was measured from the beginning of the emergence stage to the end of the growing season at an interval 10 days. Furthermore, the number of green and yellow leaves on main stem, the number of node on main stem and the number of total yellow leaf on plant were counted from the beginning of the growing season to the end of the flowering at an interval 3-7 days. Results The results showed LAImax in 15plant/m2 were 3. 91 and 3. 37 in the studied sowing dates, respectively, and its value was decreased with increase in density. The leaf production rate (leaf/° Cd-1) was not significantly different among densities of each sowing date and varied from 1. 73 to 1. 93 leaf/° Cd-1. Leaf production terminated after 1349 to 1395 ° Cd-1 and 1300 to 1384 ° Cd-1 for studied sowing dates, respectively. The results showed that with increase in leaf number during growing season, leaf area increased as power. The slope of increase in leaf area decreased with increase in density and delay in sowing. The results showed that leaf senescence rate occurred with a steep slope for the lower densities of each sowing date and for the late sowings. Leaf senescence rate based on yellow leaf number on plant for different densities ranged from 0. 0025 to 0. 0045 leaf/° Cd-1 for the first sowing date and 0. 0018 to 0. 0037 leaf/° Cd-1 for the second sowing date. Discussion The results showed that leaf area index decreased with increasing plant density. Plant leaf area decreased with increasing plant density due to increasing inter-and intra-plant competition and reducing the number of branches per plant. However, an increase in the number of plants could not compensate the decrease in leaf area index. This is probably due to decreased number of leaves per plant in higher density. The delay in planting resulted in increasing leaf emergence rate and reducing the effective period of leaf production and consequently the final number of leaves was reduced. The node production rate during this period is primarily determined by temperature and then by assimilates availability for leaf growth. With the increase in density, leaf senescence rate was increased. The increase of senescence rate in low planting densities can be attributed to greater inter-plant competition and shading.

Background and objectives: The evergreen tree olive (Olea europaea L. ) is considered as one of the oldest plants cultivated in the Mediterranean basin. Drought is one of the most abiotic stresses that reduces olive yield in tropical and subtropical climates. Hence, identification of tolerant cultivars for cultivation in drought-prone areas is considered as one of important strategies in increasing cultivated areas for this plant. This study was aimed to investigate some of commercial cultivars and promising genotypes of olive using several yield-based drought tolerance and susceptibility indices. Materials and methods: To investigate the effect of drought stress on fruit yield and oil percentage in the 20 commercial cultivars and promising genotypes of olive, an factorial experiment based on randomized complete block with three replications was performed in Taroum Olive Research Station located in Zanjan province, during 2015-2017 cropping seasons. During the endocarp hardening period, drought treatments were applied based on cut of irrigation to the appearance of stress symptoms in the tree. Calculation of nine drought tolerance and susceptibility indices based on fruit yield and oil percentage under drought and normal irrigated conditions, correlations among indices and yields and principle component analysis based on correlation coefficient matric were followed. Results: Based on results, drought reduced fruit yield in all cultivars and genotypes, while it increased oil percentage in some of genotypes. Correlation coefficient analysis showed that all indices except TOL and SSI had significant positive relation with fruit yield and oil percentage under non-stress and drought stress conditions. The results of principal component analysis (PCA) showed that the first two components justified 98. 78 and 99. 59% of the total variation of fruit yield and oil percentage, respectively. The angles between indices in biplots rendered by PC1 and PC2 confirmed the results of correlation analysis. With respect to all three-dimensional graphs rendered by yields and STI index, promising genotype T7 placed in A group and it was selected as the most tolerant genotypes than others. Furthermore, this result was supported by the results of principal component analysis. Conclusion: In general, our results revealed that the genotype T7 was identified as the most drought tolerant than other cultivars and genotypes. Thus, use of this genotype in breeding programs for improving tolerant of olive and also for cultivation in drought-prone environments is recommended. According to this results there was significant genetic diversity between studding genotypes that can be used in any improvement perspectives in the breeding projects.

Background and objectives: Fruits and vegetables are important part of the human diet and among these products cucumber has a particular importance. Field cucumbers usually produce more male flowers than female flowers. The importance of the production of female flower in the formation of fruit and its direct relation to the yield of the product is the reason for the study of the factors affecting the stimulation and production of female flower. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the role of nitrogen and ethephon hormone and their interaction on flower arrangement and the gender of the cucumber flowers. Also, the effect of ethephon and nitrogen nutrition on photosynthetic parameters was investigated to clarify the physiological mechanisms of these two treatments on flowering. Materials and methods: This experiment performed as split plot format in a completely randomized design and Potted in a greenhouse with three replications and six treatments in Sari Agricultural sciences and Natural Recourses University (SANRU) during 2017-2018. The main plot was consisted 0 and 0. 5 mM ethephon and the subplot consisted urea at 0, 2 and 4 g. L concentrations. The first spray started with urea and then three days later it was sprayed with ethephon. The second stage of urea spraying was carried out five days after the first spraying and again, three days after the urea second stage, the ethephon was repeated and this process was carried out for the third stage. In this research, the effect of ethephon and urea fertilizer studied and some parameters including the number of male and female flowers, the flower morphology characteristics such ovary diameter, corolla length and pistil length and certain gas exchange parameters such as transpiration rate, co2 assimilation rate and stomatal conductance evaluated. Results: The highest number of male flower observed in the control (44. 3) and urea 2 per thousand without the use of ethephon (44). In addition, the highest number of female flowers belonged to the urea 4 per thousand without the use of ethephon (24) and 0. 5 mM ethephon without application urea (17. 6) contain treatment. Moreover, the maximum pistil length belonged to urea 4 per thousand without application ethephon spray with a mean of 4. 6 mm, which did not have a significant difference with urea 2 per thousand with the use of 0. 5 mM ethephon (4. 2 mm). The highest transpiration rate observed in urea 2 per thousand without ethephon (3. 54 mmol. m-2. s-1) and 0. 5 mM ethephon without application urea (3. 66 mmol. m-2. s-1) treatments that were superior to control. Treatment of Contain 0. 5 mM ethephon without application urea (241. 5 mmol. m-2. s-1) also showed highest stomatal conductance, which did not show any significant difference with other ethephon treatments and average nitrogen concentration without ethephon. The highest amount of carbon dioxide absorption recorded in ethephon treatment with urea 4 per thousand (8. 6 µ mol m-2 s-1), which was significantly more than control. Conclusion: In general, it can be concluded that nitrogen and ethephon treatments interaction in most of the measured reproductive and vegetative factors, improved the parameters studied. Since one of the research aim is to increase the number of female flower, two treatments of urea 4 g. L without ethephon and 0. 5 mM ethephon without application urea can have a positive effect on the number of female flower in cucumber.

Background and objectives: Rice was the main food of the people of Iran and many countries of the world. As regards to population increase and climate limitations for the cultivation of important crops such as rice, it is necessary to increase rice yield and along with nutritional value. The exploitation of heterosis is a way to increase the grain yield and quality of rice Therefore, purpose this study were evaluation of genetics structure and determination heterosis of the studied traits for breeding programs and selection suitable compounds for production of hybrid rice. Materials and methods: In this experiment, 24 hybrids obtained from 6 lines in 4 tasters (that according to some important traits of nutritional were crossed) were used. Hybrids and parents were evaluated a randomized complete block design with three replications based on 5 nutritional traits (antioxidant activity, phenol content, Fe and Zn elements and protein) and 7 physical qualities (percentage of broken and unbroken rice, milling recovery, chalkiness percentage of grain, length, width and shape grain) along with yield and effect of combining ability of the parents and hybrids, general and narrow sence heritabilities and heterosis of traits were estimated. Results: The results of analysis of variance showed that line x tester was significant for traits, indicating the non-additive effect of gene in control of traits. According to the results of general combining ability, Fajr and Gharib cultivars were recognized as the best combiner for yield and nutritional value. The components of genetic variance for the studied traits showed a greater contribution specific combining ability variance than general combining ability variance, this indicates non-additive gene effect in heritability of traits. In the present study, all traits had the high general heritability (above 95%) and the low specific heritability. Investigation of heterosis phenomenon in the studied of crosses showed the largest of dominance of variance in control of these traits. Conclusion: The results of components of genetic variance and heterosis indicate role of non-additive gene in controlling nutritional value, physical and yield traits. Therefore, the best breeding program was using of heterosis and hybridization method in this study. The results of heterosis showed that for simultaneous breeding of traits such as Fe, Zn and protein along with increase percentage of unbroken rice, milling recovery, grain length and yield and reduction of chalkiness percentage of grain and percentage of broken rice can be used Sepidrud × Onda, Amol2 × Gharib, Amol2 × Fajr, Abji Bojj × Fajr, Musa-Tarom × Onda and Sadri × Onda crosses.

Background and Objectives: Salinity in soil or water is one of the major stresses especially in arid and semi-arid regions and cause plant weak establishment by disturbing the balance of the elements in the soil and this effect depends on the plant sensitivity. In other hand, salicylic acid as an endogenous growth regulator, is one of effective combinations in plant defense system. Goldenberry (Physalis peruviana L. ) belong to Solanaceae family and their geographical dispersal occurs mainly in tropical regions of South America and eastern Asia. Physalis can develop in a huge range of soil and climatic conditions. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of salicylic acid foliar application on the Morpho-physiological and biochemical characteristics of Goldenberry under salt stress condition. Material and Methods: An experiment was conducted at the research greenhouse of Lorestan University (Khorramabad, Iran) in 2018. The experimental design was a factorial based on a completely randomized design with three replications. The treatments were consisted of four NaCl concentrations (0, 35, 70 and 105 mM) and four salicylic acid concentrations (0, 0. 5, 1 and 2 mM). Physalis seedling were grown into the pots containing of soil, sand and manure (2: 1: 1). Plant height, stem diameter, leaf number, leaf area, root, shoot and total dry and fresh weights, relative water content, chlorophyll and carotenoid content, Malone de aldehyde, Electrolyte Leakage, proline and Anthocyanin were measured. Results: The result of ANOVA showed that the main effects of salinity stress and salicylic acid and their interaction effects were significant for most traits. Salinity stress, decreased Plant height, stem diameter, leaf number, leaf area, root, shoot and total dry and fresh weights, RWC, chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, total chlorophyll, carotenoid content, anthocyanin and increased MDA content, electrolyte leakage and proline. Salicylic acid foliar application reduced the salinity negative effects, as the highest mean of the most traits was found in plant control (without salinity) with 2 mM concentration of salicylic acid. The maximum (79. 09%) and minimum (59. 59%) of RWC content were showed in control plants with 2 mM concentration of salicylic acid and plant treated with 105 mM of salinity (without salicylic acid application), respectively. The MDA content maximum was found in 105 mM concentration of NaCl and 0 mM salicylic acid concentration. Conclusion: The obtained results of this research, were showed that increasing salt stress, caused RWC, plant fresh and dry weight and other plant Morpho-physiological and biochemical characteristics decreased and salicylic acid using improved all growth parameters compared with salinity treatment only. Physalis does not tolerate salinity over 35 mM and it seems that sensitive to salt stress. But salicylic acid using in 2 mM somewhat can reduce the salt stress effects. The results of present study suggest that, Physalis plant not recommended for region with salt water.

Background and objectives: Durum wheat is one of the major food for human consumption in the world and its growth and production has mainly influenced by drought stress. One of the possible ways of increasing food in a sustainable agriculture is to produce higher yields in the same cropping area. Mixed cropping as one of the methods and examples of sustainable agricultural try to follow the objectives such as ecological balance, exploitation of resources, quantitative and qualitative increase of yield, reduction of damage of pests, diseases and weeds. Reduction of farmer's dependence on pesticides is one of the other main goals in sustainable agriculture. In general, the aim of this experiment is to evaluate the effect of genetic diversity of genotypes on yield and grain yield components under water deficiency conditions after flowering in durum wheat mixed systems. Materials and methods: This experiment was conducted as split plot based on a randomized complete block design with three replicates at Darab College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Shiraz University, Darab. The factors included of two water regimes after flowering (normal and Water deficiency) and planting systems including pure culture of four durum wheat genotypes (pure culture of DW-92-4, pure culture of DW-94-14, pure culture of Shabrang, pure culture of Behrang) and their binary mixed culture (mixed culture of DW-92-4+ Shabrang, mixed culture of DW-92-4+ DW-94-14, mixed culture of DW-92-4+ Behrang, mixed culture of DW-94-14+ Shabrang, mixed culture of Shabrang+ Behrang, mixed culture of DW-94-14+ Behrang and quadruple mixed culture of DW-94-14+ Behrang+ DW-92-4+ Shabrang). Results: According to the results of this experiment, maximum grain yield was observed in the treatment of binary mixed culture of Behrang+DW-94-14 genotypes with an average of 8815 kg ha-1, which did not have a significant difference with the quadruple mixed culture of 4 genotypes in normal irrigation conditions. The minimum grain yield observed in mixed culture of Behrang +Dw-92-4 with the average of 2233 kg ha-1 in water deficiency condition. Also, group comparison of treatments showed that the highest grain yield was obtained in quadruple culture of 4 genotypes with the average yield of 8799 kg ha-1in normal irrigation conditions. The analyses of correlation coefficient in this experiment showed that the highest positive correlation coefficient obtained between grain yield and biological yield (r = 0. 76**) in water deficiency conditions. Also, the highest positive correlation coefficient was observed between grain yield and biological yield in normal irrigation conditions(r = 0. 90 **). Conclusion: The use of mixed cropping of different genotypes of durum wheat affected yield and yield components in this experiment. Mixed cropping of genotypes of durum wheat showed the highest yield under normal irrigation conditions compared to water deficiency conditions. Overall, it seems that mixed cropping can be recommended for higher yields potential either under normal irrigation conditions or water deficiency conditions. Keywords: Drought stress, Genetic diversity, mixed varieties.

Background: Phalaenopsis (Phalaenopsis amabilis) is a kind of tropical orchids that in recent years has been very popular as a pot and cut flower plants in the Iranian market. Due to Specific methods of cultivating and inability of plantlet producing in our country, growers have to import Phalaenopsis seedlings from other countries. Despite many problems such as transport losses, hard quarantine, high prices and production costs, import of plantlets have always been increasing. Introducing of new cultivars with high quality, beauty and attractiveness to satisfy world markets, had led to strengthen and intensify of this permanently dependence. Finding a way to reproduce the cultivars of this plant is the first step to get rid of this dependency. therefore, goal of this research was assessment of the effects of light spectra, plant growth regulators and wounding effect to find suitable conditions for inducing somatic embryogenesis and mass clone production of this plant. Materials and Methods: To conducted this research, after seed culture, 3-month-old in vitro protocorms were used as explant which cultured in cutted and intact form on a 1/2 MS medium containing 0 and 3 mg g-1 TDZ concentrations and were exposed to six Lighting treatments include (Blue, Red, White, Green, Blue-Red, Red+ Far-red that supply of LED lamps) and Dark condition too, for 4 mounth. subculture were repeated every 3 weeks. Twice imaging of fluorescence has done to evaluation of the maximum efficiency of photosynthetic II (QY-max). Results: The results showed that different light spectra and plant growth regulator affected the inducing and formation of embryos but wounding had no effect on embryo induction. Intact protocorms had The highest percentage of direct embryogenesis (100%) in treatment with 3 mg L-1 TDZ and Red+ Far-red spectrum without significantly difference compared to red spectrum. The lowest rate of embryogenesis was observed in Blue spectrum, Dark condition and Blue-Red spectra, respectively. In the first imaging the highest QY-max level was observed in blue light treatment and in the second imaging, the highest QY-max was observed in white and green light treatments. Conclusion: use of the red-red optical spectrum with plant growth regulator (TDZ) is generally recommended for the successful induction of embryogenesis in this kind of orchid. According to the fluorescence measurement of chlorophyll in somatic embryos, blue spectrum for embryo inducing and then white or green spectrum for embryo development can be used to achieve the maximum efficiency of the photosynthetic system.

Background and objectives Narcissus that is one of the most important ornamental and medicinal plants that its various species are grown in throughout the world except for tropical regions. Narcissus cv. Shahla is a perennial bulbous plants which is used as cut flower, garden and pot plant. Considering that the narcissus plant is one of the most important economic and cultivating crop in Iran. On the other hand, the drought crisis and salinity of water and soil are one of the serious problems of agricultural production. Knowledge of the tolerance of this plant to drought and salinity stresses in order to produce optimal product is essential. The aim of this study was to investigate the combined effect of drought and salinity stresses on some reproductive and biochemical chracteristics and sodium and potassium ion concentrations of N. tazzeta flower. Materials and methods This pot research was conducted as factorial based on completely randomized design, with 3 replications. The first factor was drought stress at four levels of 90% (control), 70%, 50% and 30% field capacity (FC), and the second factor was salinity stress of irrigation water caused by sodium chloride at four levels of 0 (control), 20, 40 and 60 mM. Application of drought and salinity treatments lasted about 4 months and then the traits were measured. The investigated traits were included flower number, flower diameter, total chlorophyll content, carotenoid and total flavonoids of leaf, activity of catalase and guaiacol peroxidase enzymes of leaf, and the sodium and potassium elements of leaf and bulb. Results The results showed that the effect of drought and salinity stresses and their interaction on flower number was not significant, but these stresses reduced flower diameter. The highest and lowest flower diameter was obtained from control and 60 mM NaCl × 30% FC treatments. The simple effects of salinity and drought stresses and their interaction on total chlorophyll content was significant and decreased, so that 60 mM NaCl × 30% FC treatment reduced total chlorophyll content by 72% compared to control. Salinity and drought stress reduced leaf carotenoid content, so that the amount of this trait at the highest levels of salinity and drought decreased by 26 and 25% respectively, compared with the control. The results showed that with increasing levels of salinity and drought stress, the activity of catalase and guaiacol peroxidase enzymes increased, so that the highest enzyme activity was obtained from the highest levels (salinity 60 mM and 30% field capacity). In the interaction of two stresses, the highest activity of catalase enzyme was obtained from 60 mM × 30% FC with a 4. 5-fold increase compared to the control. With increasing salinity and drought stress, the amount of potassium in leaves and bulb decreased, but the sodium content of leaf and bulb increased with increasing stresses level, especially salinity stress. Conclusion The results showed that all levels of drought and salinity stress improved the antioxidant enzymes (catalase and guaiacol peroxidase) and non-enzyme (total flavonoid) of N. tazetta flower, but under drought and salinity stress conditions, flower diameter, carotenoid and total chlorophyll content decreased. Under the conditions of salinity and drought stresses, the amount of sodium accumulation in the leaves was higher than that of the bulb. The results showed that the sensitivity of N. tazetta plant to salinity stress was more than drought, which was exacerbated by simultaneous application of two stresses. In general, the results showed that cultivation of N. tazetta flower up to 70% FC and iriigation salinity about 3 dS/m did not have a significant negative effect on yield and plant quality and it is recommended.

Background and Objectives: Application of bacteria as bio-fertilizers is one of the key issues for sustainable agriculture development whose most important result is the reduction of environmental pollution by reducing the need for chemical fertilizers. Faba bean is cultivated for two important reasons: nutritional value of grains, ecological value for nitrogen fixation and application in cereal alternations. The present study aims to investigate different rates of Pseudomonas fluorescens in combination with and without Rhizobium leguminosarum on some growth factors and yield Characteristics of Vicia faba. Material and Methods: Farm experiments over the years 2015-2016 and 2016-2017, was conducted in complete randomized block scheme in the form of split plots. Rhizobium leguminosarum was considered as the main plot and Peseudomonas fluorescens bacteria were applied in five levels (0, 9×103, 9×105, 9×107, 9×109) as sub-plots. The plant height at the time of physiological maturity, leaf area index (LAI) at pod time, number of seeds and pods per square meter in a sample of 10 plants and the weight of 100 seeds were measured. Grain yield with 11% moisture content in the first year and 9% in second year, green pod yield and biological yield in per unit area were obtained. Also harvest index was measured from the ratio of economic yield to biological yield. Results: Results for two years showed that the effectiveness of bacteria is influenced by climatic conditions. In the first year, number of seeds and pods per square meter were affected by the interaction of Rhizobium and Pseudomonas. Application of inoculant with Rhizobium and a total of 9×105 Peseudomonas fluorescens bacteria per ml was the best choice. In addition, Peseudomonas fluorescens (9×105) increased significantly (p˂ 0. 05) the green pod yield in comparison with the control. . Inoculation rate of 9×105 Pseudomonas/ml resulted in 14% greater green pod yield for Faba bean in comparison with the non-inoculation case. Decrements in mentioned yield were observed when the number of Pseudomonas increased from 9×105 up to 9×107. By increasing the number of (9×109), green pod yield increased again, whit no significant difference with rate of 9×105 Peseudomonas/ml. In the first year, application of inoculant with Rhizobium resulted in 10% greater seed yield for Faba bean in comparison with the non-inoculation. In the second year, the effectiveness of Rhizobium was reduced and the greatest effect was related to application of inoculum with the number of 9×105 Peseudomonas bacteria, with no significant difference with the higher populations of this bactria. Conclusion: This study revealed that the overall effect of Pseudomonas fluorescens on the yield and its components has more stability than Rhizobium in different environmental conditions. The best population of Pseudomonas fluorescens for inoculation of Vicia faba seeds was determined 9×105 living bacteria per ml of inoculant that seems it is the response threshold for Vicia faba.

Background and objective: Determining the relationship between morphological, physiological and biochemical (qualitative) characteristics is necessary to increase the production and quality of horticultural products, such as strawberries. Over time, a variety of statistical approaches have been emerged in order to evaluate the relationships of variables, and old-fashioned statistical solutions have gradually replaced with new ones with more scientific and reliable results. Meanwhile, the new PLS-PM approach, due to its new methodology and more reliable and attractive results, has more applications than classical sttatistical methods. Materials and methods: Some morphological traits, flower, fruit, qualitative (biochemical) and yield in eight genotypes of strawberry were studied in a randomized complete block design with three replications for four years. Different statistical methodologies were utilized i. e. estimating correlation coefficients, stepwise regression, simple path analysis, and to gain a more accurate relationships, data analysis algorithm performed with advanced PLS-PM approach (including Cronbach's alpha, factor load coefficients, path coefficients and coefficient of determination, the goodness of fit and cross-loadings). Results: The results showed that despite genetic variation among cultivars, there was a significant correlation between fruit yield with fruit traits, number of leaves, flourescence characteristics and number of crowns per plant, and fruit size and anthocyanin level. The number of flourescence, size, volume and number of fruits, date of formation of runners and flowering period accounted for 88. 3% of the variation of yield and its most important components. Number and size of fruit had the most direct effect on the increase of fruit yield. Flowering had the most effect on fruit yield and then morphological traits had the most effect on biochemical and inflorescence traits. The size and volume of fruit was affected by morphological traits more than others. Conclusion: In this study, various statistical approaaches have been used for understanding the relationship between evaluated traitsin of strawberries, where none of them was as suitable as the recent but unfamiliar PLS-PM approach, indicating the important effect of flowering characteristics on increasing the fruit yield of strawbwrry. Applying the new PLS-PM method in comparison with the old statistical methods, and by categorizing the traits, it was concluded that due to their different nature, in relation to the increase in the yield of fruit yield, flowering traits were more effective compared to the other traits, and the morphological traits including: height of inflorescence, number of leaves, ear length, crown length, start date, number of runners and leaf area are also influential traits that can be used to manage strawberry breeding programs and economic production.

Background and objectives: Broomrape has no chlorophyll and is absolute parasites for dicotyledonous plants that Its more scattered range in warm and dry and semi-arid areas in temperate and Mediterranean countries, eastern Europe and south America and the middle east, including Iran. parasitic weed especially broomrape due to reduced yields and increased production costs in cucumbers has special importance. The aim of this study was to determine the susceptibility of cucumber to glyphosate and sulfosulfuron herbicides and determining the appropriate rate and frequency of application. So, an experiment was performed in research field of university of Kurdistan. Materials and methods: The experiment in the spring and summer (25 May to the end of September) was carried to potted method the field in the free space in 2018 in a randomized complete block design with four replications in each iteration consists of 25 herbicide treatments, as follows: treatment 1) controls were infected with broomrape and without of application herbicide, treatments 2-5) glyphosate herbicide (SL36%) 20, 40, 60 and 80 g. ai/ha one time application, treatments 6-9) sulfosulfuron herbicide (WG 75%) 25, 50, 75 and 100 g. ai/ha one time application, treatments 10 and 11) glyphosate herbicide 20 and 40 g. ai/ha twice application, treatments 12 and 13) sulfosulfuron herbicide 25 and 50 g. ai/ha twice application, treatments 14-16) glyphosate herbicide 20, 40 and 60 g. ai/ha three times applications, treatments 17-19) sulfosulfuron herbicide 25, 50 and 75 g. ai/ha three times applications, combined treatments 20-22) herbicides sulfosulfuron 25 + glyphosate 20 g. ai/ha twice application, glyphosate 40 + sulfosulfuron 50 g. ai/ha twice application and sulfosulfuron 50 + glyphosate 40 g. ai/ha twice application, combined treatments 23-25) herbicides glyphosate 20 + sulfosulfuron 25 + glyphosate 40 g. ai/ha three times applications, sulfosulfuron 25 + glyphosate 40 + sulfosulfuron 50 g. ai/ha three times applications and glyphosate 40 + sulfosulfuron 50 + glyphosate 40 g. ai/ha three times applications. The first stage of application of the treatments was 15 days after emergence of cucumber seeds and the interval between two replications was 14 days. Results: The results of this study showed that cucumbers were more susceptible to sulfosulfuron herbicide. Application of sulfosulfuron 75 g. ai/ha with one-time application, sulfosulfuron 25, 50 and 75 g. ai/ha with three times application, sulfosulfuron 50 + glyphosate 40 g. ai/ha with twice application, and combined treatments were used three times in all studied traits in host and broomrape compared to control at 1% level. However, control broomrape effect phytotoxicity on plant host and therefore their application was not recommended. due to the sensitivity of cucumber and the lower toxicity effect, glyphosate treatments of 20 one time application and three times application (g. ai/ha) and glyphosate 40 one time application (g. ai/ha) respectively with 247%, 215% and 151% increase compared to control treatment and in addition to control of broomrape, less Phytotoxicity was observed on the host plant. Conclusion: The best results considering both broomrape (P. aegyptiaca) control and selectivity in cucumber was obtained by one times application and three times application at 20 (g. ai/ha) and one times application at 40 (g. ai/ha) of glyphosate.

Background and objectives: Diabetes is a disease that the body loses its ability to control blood sugar also it is directly associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Synthetic hypoglycemic drugs can cause serious side effects. Herbal drugs have potential therapeutic applications because they are effective, have fewer side effects and are of relatively low cost. The Momordica charantia (Linn Family: Cucurbitaceae), whose fruit is known as Karela or bittergourd. Karela is one of the famous vegetables of South Asia, India and is grown in the Amazon, East Africa, Islands in the Caribbean and South America to provide food and medicine. An anti-diabetic agent Polypeptide-P, a 172 amino acid polypeptide isolated from MC seeds. The content of Polypeptide-P in cultivated plants is relatively low and varies widely with tissue, variety, origin and harvest season. Due to impurities such as polysaccharides, the effective ingredient will be less. Gene cloning and expression of this polypeptide in microorganism is a quick and useful alternative for solving such problems. Therefore, in this study the sequence of p-insulin gene from Karela was detected by RT-PCR then sequenced. Material and method: RNA was sampled on ripen and unripen fruit from pericarp, seed aril, and seed. Quantification and qualification of extracted RNA was done by spectrophotometer and electrophoreses respectively. Then the RT-PCR reaction was done by p-insulin specific primers and purified by gel electrophoresis and cloned in T-vector plasmid. The recombinant plasmid was extracted and verified to carry p-insulin gene. Then, the recombinant plasmid was done to sequence the p-insulin gene. The 3D structure of p-insulin protein was evaluated by Phyre 2. 0 (www. sbg. bio. ic. ac. uk/phyre2/) software. Results: The electrophoresis of extracted RNA from Karela tissues showed the two 18SrRNA and 28SrRNA bands. A 750 base pair RT-PCR product was amplified by p-insulin specific primers. Also, the RT-PCR result depicted that the p-insulin gene was expressed in aril tissue more than other parts of the fruit. The result showed that the cloning process of p-insulin gene consist of purification of p-insulin PCR production, the ligation reaction and transformation of it’ s into the E. coli was successful. Then, the Karela isolated p-insulin gene was sequenced for the first time in Iran. Blasting the plant insulin protein sequence in uniprot database (www. uniprot. org) detected the most important candidate domains including FDA-binding monooxygenase at the N terminal and Prolipoproteindiacyl glyceryltransferase at C terminal of protein. Conclusion: The low expression of p-insulin and the presence of polysaccharide impurities in Karela reduces the effect of a blood glucose-lowering agent. Therefore, in this study, p-insulin gene of Karela was isolated and sequenced. The sequencing of p-insulin gene will allow its heterologous expression in microorganisms and pure production of p-insulin protein.