Journal of Plant Biological Sciences
Year:2017 | Volume:9 | Issue:33 |Papers Count:6

Persian walnut (Juglans regia L.) belongs to the family Juglandaceae is one of the most important nut crops in Iran. In this research, morphometric and genetic variations among some genotypes of Persian walnut collected from different parts of west Iran were evaluated based on nut characteristics and RAPD markers. In the first experiment, 29 traits related to nut and kernel were used to evaluate genetic potential of 119 walnut genotypes. The primary results of fruit morphometric characteristics showed that there is high variability in the some evaluated traits such as fruit shape, nut diameter and Kernel removal from nut in studied genotypes. Also, in the second experiment, the genetic diversity among 50 genotypes of walnut was evaluated using 13 RAPD markers. A total of 87 alleles were produced in the 13 RAPD markers with their sizes ranging from 140 to 2500 bp. The number of observed alleles for each locus ranged from 4 (OPA-18 and OPA-13) to 11 (OPA-09), with an average of 6.46 alleles per locus. Shannon' s information index (I) value was observed to be highest (3.20) in the OPA-09 locus, while the OPA-13 locus had the lowest value (0.70) with an average of 1.66 among RAPD locus. The Jaccards’ genetic similarity coefficient ranged from 0.08 to 0.79 among genotypes. Finally, our results demonstrate some of these genotypes have been desirable traits and must be conserved as valuable genetic resources, from the perspective of breeding.

In higher plant, boron and iron are two necessary micronutrients and reduce access to those can seriously influence on the vital processes. To study the effect of boron and iron deficiency in sorghum, sterile seeds of two cultivars (Kimia and Sugar-graze) were cultured on modified medium of Murashige and Skoog including lacking H3BO3 or half concentration of iron. Seedlings were harvested after 21 days. Then contents of the photosynthetic pigments, carbohydrates, phenolic compounds and activity of the phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL) were measured. The results showed that compared to the controls, contents of the chlorophyll a and b were remarkably increased in Kimia, 58% and 38% by B deficiency and 85% and 75% in Fe deficiency. In treatment of Fe deficiency, carotenoid content significantly increased 8% in Sugar-graze and 80% in Kimia. During boron deficiency, the carotenoid content showed 24% reduction in Sugar-graze and increase of 26% in Kimia cultivar. In the root of Sugar-graze, polysaccharide and reducing sugar contents were increased more than two fold under B deficiency, whereas under Fe deficiency, enhancing of the reducing sugar content was about 58% in the root of Sugar-graze. In the seedling Kimia, under B deficiency, there no significant increase in reducing sugar content was observed and under Fe deficiency only about 25% increase was occurred in the root. Decrease of access to those elements caused to reduce content of the phenolic compounds in root tissue of both cultivars about 20 to 35%, while no significant difference among the aerial parts recorded. In the root of sorghum under deficiency stresses, there was a positive correlation between PAL activity and phenolic content of the plants. Since in sorghum root, decrease in the storage of the phenolic compounds was accompanied by a reduction in PAL activity. It seems that in early growth stages of the sorghum seedling, the increase in the carotenoid and reducing sugar contents and exudation of phenolic compounds from root can be a part of a deal factors against to oxidative stress arising from nutrient deficiency.

In order to compare the physiological responses of linseed (Linum usitatissimum L.) in drought and salinity stress conditions and salicylic acid foliar application, a greenhouse experiment was conducted based on completly randomized design with three replications in Yasouj university in 2015. Treatments including different levels of salinity and drought with similar osmotic potentials (-2, -4, -7 and -9 bar) in 8 levels and a control treatment were applied in Hoagland solution. Second factor was salicylic acid foliar application in 2 levels (0 and 0.5 mM). Salinity and drought applied using sodium chloride and polyethylene glycol 6000, respectively. The results showed that leaf protein content, catalase activity, total chlorophyll and carotenoid significantly decreased compared to control by increasing salinity and drought levels, however salicylic acid could prevent this trend. Proline soluble sugars and malodealdehide content significantly increased compared to control by increasing salinity and drought. However salicylic acid could not prevent this trend. Shoot and root dry weights significantly decreased in salinity and drought stress treatments, compared to control and salicylic acid could prevent this decrease. Generally regarded to the most of the measured traits, impact of drought was more than salinity and salicylic acid could compensate the stress impacts on linseed.

Falcaria vulgaris is a biennial herbaceous pastureland plant belongs to Apiaceae family, which has been recorded in Iranian traditional medicine. In this report developmental reproductive steps were studied. Flower buds at different developmental stages were collected and fixed in FAA then maintained in Ethanol (%70). After preparation and embedding samples in paraffin, the samples were sectioned by microtome and stained with Hematoxyline-Eosine respectively. Results showed that initiation patterns of flower and floral organ development is acropet. Stamen and gynoecium formation occurred with the time interval. Several schizogenical secretion channels exist in the ovary wall. The flower consists of five sepals, five isolated petals, five stamens and the inferior ovary with two carpels. The anthers are tetra sporangiate type and pollen grains are binuclear and have three colpates. Ovule is anatropous, unitegmic and tenuinucellate. Embryo sac is formed corresponding to the polygonum type.

Investigation on the shape of the curve for responses of plant species to environmental gradients is one of the basic topics in the science of rangeland ecology. The objective of this study was investigation on the response of Bromus tomentellus and Festuca ovina species to some environmental variables using the generalized additive model (GAM) in the rangeland of Galandrood watershed in Mazandaran province. Towards this attempt, 153 quadrates of 1m2 along altitudinal gradient were taken. The sampling method was randomized-systematic. In the area sampled, presence of B. tomentellus and F.ovina, altitude, slope and aspect were recorded. Soil samples were taken from 0-20 cm in each quadrate. In each quadrate, soil properties including: pH, N, EC, organic carbon, the percentage of sand, silt and clay were measured. In order to study the shape of response curve in relation to the mentioned variables, GAM model was used with binomial distribution function. The data were analyzed by R ver.3.0.2 computer program. Results showed that altitude was the most important variable affecting the presence of B. tomentellus, While variables such as temperature and slope were the most important factors affecting the presence of F.ovina species. Clay and silt content in the soil were parameters that had significant negative impact on B. tomentellus and F.ovina species distribution. So, with an increase in clay and silt content of the soil, the possibility of the B. tomentellus and F.ovina presence were reduced.

The aim of this research was to identify the plant species, introducing the flora, determination of life forms, and plant geographical distribution of Nova Mountain, Kermanshah province. This area is locate in south west of Kermanshah province with 7000 hectares, where the amount of annual precipitation is 348.1 mm and means annual temperature is 13.7oC. The altitude of this mountain is 2500 m (above sea level). The method of plant collection in this region was classical method of regional plant taxonomic studies.800 plant samples were collected from different parts of the area between 1600-2500 m during two growing seasons 2010-2011 and are deposited in herbarium of Islamic Azad University, Boroujerd Branch and herbarium of Kermanshah Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center. The life form of plant species was determined by using of Raunkiaer’s method. The position of this area within Iran’s phytogeography classification was studied based on geographical distribution data and references. From 177 identified species in Nova Mountain, 136 dicotyledons and 41 monocotyledons are present. These species belong to 37 families and 129 genera. The important families are Fabaceae, Asteraceae and Poaceae with 16.69%, 16.69% and 11.86%, respectively. Therophytes with 69 species (38.98%) were the most frequent life form.97 species (54.8%) belong to Irano-Turanian region; 8 species of them were endemics of Iran.