Year:2009 | Volume:21 | Issue:4 (81 IN AGRONOMY AND HORTICULTURE)|Papers Count:32

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of salinity on concentration of Potassium (K), Sodium (Na) and Chloride (Cl) ions, in Kinnow mandarin budded on four citrus rootstocks, Bakraii (mandarin x sweet lime), Volcameriana, Sour orange and Mexican lime in a glasshouse. The design of experiment was a completely randomized with factorial arrangement and four replications. Results showed that rootstocks had grate effect on concentration of ions in scion. Concentration and distribution of ions were significantly varied in control and other treatments. Salinity increased Na and Cl ions in shoots and roots, but the rate of increase varied among rootstocks and treatments. Lowest concentration of Na and Cl ions were in shoot of scion on Mexican lime. Under salinity stress K concentration decreased in shoots of scion on Volkamerina and increased it on other rootstocks. Generally it was concluded that under the condition of experiment, Mexican lime and to some extend Bakraii could induce salinity resistance in Kinnow mandarin scion.

Boron (B) is an essential micro-nutrient for normal growth of plants. Toxicity of this nutrient occurs in arid and semi-arid areas because of high levels of its concentration in soil and irrigation waters. This study was conducted to determine the status of water, leaf and soil B concentration and compare its concentration in the main pistachio growing areas of Iran. Boron in three depth of soils (0-40, 40-80 and 80-120 cm) was determined using saturation and hot water extraction methods. Boron concentration was measured by a colorimetric procedure using the Azomethin-H reagent in soil, leaves extracts and irrigation water samples. The mean values for water B concentration in pistachio growing areas of Rafsanjan, Zarand, Sirjan, Kerman, Khorasan, Semnan, Ghazvin and Yazd were 4.2, 1.2, 2.5, 2, 1.8, 1.5, 2.5 and 3.1 mg L-1, respectively. A significant positive correlation was obtained between leaf B concentration and boron in two subsurface depths by saturation extraction method in Anar and Nough areas. The mean values for leaf B concentration in Rafsanjan, Zarand, Sirjan, Kerman, Khorasan, Semnan, Ghazvin and Yazd were 557, 213, 247, 212, 319, 179, 215 and 218 Mg gr-1 D.M, respectively. EC, clay and silt had a significant positive correlation with soil boron concentration (p£0.01) whereas a negative significant correlation was observed for sand (p£0.01). Results indicate that saturation extraction method should be used to evaluate soil B concentration in Anar and Nough areas. Water, soil and leaf boron concentration in Zarand, Sirjan, Kerman, Khorasan, Semnan, Ghazvin and Yazd areas was lower than pistachio growing areas of Rafsanjan. Relatively high leaf B concentration especially in Koshkouieh and suburbs suggest a suitable management is needed to sustainable pistachio production.

In order to study of planting density and seed-minituber size on some quantitative and qualitative traits of potato an experiment carried out in 2005 in Ardabil Agricultural and natural resources research center.The experimental desing was split-plot with four replications in randomized completely block desing. In this experiment row spacing (8, 12 and 16 cm) belongs to the main factor and seed-minituber size of Agria cultivar (0-10, 11-20 and 50gr) belongs to sub-plot. Planting density significantly affected emergence date, flowering, tuber initiation, stem hight, diameter of main stem, main stem per plant, tuber per plant, tuber mean size (weight), yield and dry matter percentage (a=1%) and stolon production (a=5%).The seed-minituber size had significant effects on emergence date, flowering, tuber initition, stem hight, drymatter percentage (a=5%), diameter of main stem, main stem per plant, tuber per plant, tuber mean size (weight) and yield (a=1%). In 16 cm intra row spacing, the highest diameter of main stem, main stem number per plant, tuber mean size (weight) and drymatter percentage was obtained. When intra row spacing decreased (16 to 8cm) and minituber size increased (1-10 to 50gr), tuber yield increased 52.33% and 37.31% respectively. So, dry matter percentage increased 9.98% and 19.44% respectivly, when intra row spacing was increased (8cm to 16cm) and minituber size was increased (1-10gr to 50gr).

Following to drought in the state during the years 1997 and 1998 and decrease of rain fall in Autumn and Winter and therefore to decrease of soil moisture in primary stages of Roudbar olive flower development and increase in shot berry percentage compared with last years, attention was paid to the necessity of study of the effect of Winter irrigation of Roudbar olive gardens on flowering characteristics and yield increase on the strength, A study preformed in complete randomized block design with five treatments and three replications with stress on time factor on Roudbar local olive trees, cv Zard during agronomical years of 1999 and 2000. Each experimented unit consisted of two trees (high product & low product and low product), totally thirty trees used to complete this experiment. For each of the used trees one guard plant tree was considered. In this study each square meter of canopy was irrigated by five hundred liters of water in two phases (8th, 22nd) during Winter. For assessment of the project results, inflorescence length, number of flowers in inflorescence, fruit set percentage, intact fruits and shot berry percentages were counted in the selected branches (four branches in four different directions of the tree). The study results showed that winter irrigation had significant effect on increase of inflorescence size, number of flowers in inflorescence, fruit formation percentage, intact fruit and shot berry percentages in such as way that a significant difference was observed among different treatments and control trees with a view to inflorescence size, number of flowers in inflorescence, fruit set percentage and intact fruits percentage. A significant difference was observed among different times of Winter irrigation with a view to inflorescence size, fruit set percentage and intact fruits percentage. Treatments of control trees and irrigation irrigation had least effect on increase of inflorescence size, number of flowers in inflorescence, fruit set and intact fruit percentage. The study results showed that with decrease of irrigation, the shot berries percentage were increased too.

Kiwifruit is an important economical fruit crop in North of Iran. 24-48 hours after harvesting it should be transferred to cool storages. Pathogens attack kiwifruits in storage period. Postharvest diseases are the major problems of fruits and Gray mold is the most important kiwifruit disease in cool storages. The fungus grows below zero centigrade degree and causes rot of fruits. In this survey we want to identify the fungal agents that cause fruit rots in cool storages. Sampling was done after harvesting, from kiwifruit cool storages. Samples were cultured on PDA medium, then isolated and purified. The following fungi were isolated from the fruits: Penicillium italicum, P. digitatum, Alternaria alternata, Botrytis cinerea and Mucor sp.Result of pathogenecity tests of the Penicillium and Botrytis in 5 and 20 and Alternaria in 20 centigrade degrees were positive.

Effects of soil solarization, fumigation with metam sodium, cow manure and their combinations on fusarium wilt of carnation, were investigated using randomized complete block design in three replications in greenhouse condition under artificial inoculation at Mahallat. Region In this study, population density ofFusarium oxysporum was reduced considerably in upper 10cm layer of soil in solarization, fumigation, and combination solarization with cow manure and solarization with metam sodium treatments. During the 9 months after treatments, the amount of fusarium decreased in solarization and metam sodium treatments but increased in combination of salarization and metam sodium and stabilized in combination of solarization and cow manure. The amount of wilt in carnation at end growth season reached to minimum in solarization, metam sodium and combination of solarization and cow manure treatments. Relate of the disease was resemble in combination treatments and fumigation retarded the disease considerably but had not significant different with solarization. Combination of solarization and cow manure had highest amount of flower in plant and vase life. The other quality and quantity properties have not significant different in treatments. In consider to best effect of combination of solarization with cow manure on quality properties of carnation and decreasing of infected plants, this treatment could be a suitable alternative for pre-plant treatment for control of this disease.

Molassesa by-product of sugar cane industry is an organic compound containing high amount of carbohydrates with proteins, gum, wax and pectin that in this research the possibility of using cane molasses as amendment for calcareous soils has been investigated. The soil samples were collected from the 0-30 cm depth of a cane field in Haft tappeh and a region of Lowshan in Khoozestan and Guilan provinces, respectively. Treatments with regards to the soil bulk densities and 0-30 cm depth were 0, 2.5, 5, 10, 20 and 40 ton/ha of molasses, 10 ton/ha of molasses with 10 ton/ha of elemental sulfur and 10 ton/ha of molasses with 40 ton/ha of cane bagass. The molasses (mixture with water) was added to 500 gr soil in plastic pots. Soil moisture content was adjusted to near field capacity and changes pH, EC, total nitrogen, organic matter and available phosphorus and potassium were determined at 1, 30 and 60 days. Results indicated that the molasses decreased soil pH in all molasses treatments to some extent compare to blank. Elemental sulfur significantly decreased soil pH, but bagass no influenced it. Molasses increased EC that this was considerable in 40 ton/ha treatment.Molasses increased total nitrogen, but decreased available phosphorus. Total nitrogen and available phosphorus increased in some treatments and decreased in other treatments during the time incubation. The amount of increase in available potassium was proportional to the amount of molasses used. Elemental S had not considerable effect on total N and available P and K, but the bagass had significant effect on available P and K. Results indicates the molasses can be used as a soil amendment in calcareous soils. It is suggested that the effect of molasses on plant growth and chemical characteristics of calcareous soils be studied under greenhouse and field conditions.

A total of 30 accessions of multi-cut Persian clover (Trifolium resupinatum) from three types (early, middle and late ripening) were planted in three Randomly Complete Block designs with 3 replications in the experimental field of SPII in Karaj. The mean of days to flowering, in the first and the second years, and days to ripening in the second year, and results of t-test for paired samples in 3 groups confirmed the classification of the germplasms.Entrance of days to flowering traits to regression equations for forage and seed yield also confirmed using of this trait to grouping Persian clover germplasms. Finally, distribution of accessions on biplot of discrimination analysis completely separated early, middle and late ripening of Persian clovers. F-test analysis was not significant for days to ripening in the early ripening group whereas it was significant in other groups. This test was also performed for others traits/ Non-significant differences in F-test means that all materials of each type had the same potential. Therefore, the selection can be performed based on other traits. All of the germplasms were grouped based on Duncan test for each trait. Combined analysis of variance was performed for all of two years recorded traits.Two years results showed that 50TN0185 and 50TN0161 were earliest and last ripening accessions, respectively.Because of high potential of agronomic traits in these materials, these germplasm can be used for different purposes of Persian clover breeding.

During 2003-2005 fusarium species involved in head blight of wheat were investigated in Khuzestan. fifty six isolates of fusarium species were collected from different parts of spike using common and specific culture media.F.culmorum, F.proliferatum, F.equiseti, F. moniliforme, F.crookwellens, F.lateritium, F.xylarioides, F.subglutinans and F.semitectumwere identified on the basis of valid keys and also their pathogenecity was studied, in a completely randomized design experiment, in green house. the statistical analysis showed significant differences in pathogenecity among species at 1% level. on the basis of available literatures F.crookwellens is isolated for the first time from wheat spike in Khuzestan.

Leaf, stem and nut of Pistacia vera (Ohady and Kaleh_ Ghochi) were examined during this study to characterize their anatomy structure with electron and optic microscope; also the effects of salinity on anatomy structure of leaf were studied. From an anatomical study they appeared that between two varieties, density of simple and glandular trichomes in leaf surface, the density of wax, the thickness of leaf, the length of epidermal cells, palisade parenchyma cells, the density of crystals in mesophyll and the manner of compatibility two varieties to salinity are different; But there is no difference between two varieties about anatomy structure of stem. Salinity, increase density of simple trichomes and glandular trichomes especially in adaxial surface and decrease density abaxially. The results, in this research (references to tables and figures) were proved that compatibility in Ohady variety is more than Kaleh_ Ghochi. In Iran, the highest incidence of deformity of pistachio nut occurred during April when shells were developing (Deformity nut is smaller than normal nut and Endocarp is not safe). In this research, the effect of salinity and mechanical wounding on deformity of nut was studied. The results showed mechanical wounding (that anyhow is symbol of sting of insects or hailstone or rain) has not effect on deformity of nut. With enter stroking until 15 days after full bloom all nuts fall in. But after 15 days, some Pistachio nuts remain that these nuts have safe endocarp and the shape of these is normal. So there is direct relation between growth of nut and its resistance. Also salinity increase resistant of nuts to mechanical wounding. The results of this study suggest that In EC=7.6, 12.6 deformity of nut is not related to crop load.

Birds are one of the important key pests to sunflower. To identify harmful birds on sunflower crops, this survey was conducted in different parts of Iran (Mazandaran, Golestan, Tehran, Qom & Khoy regions) during 2002-2003 on ripening sunflower heads. In this survey, 2866 sunflower heads were randomly selected. Six species were damaging on ripening seeds of sunflower heads. The injurious bird species were identified and distributed as follows: Rock Dove (Columba livia Gmelin), Karaj & Qom; European Goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis L.), Golidagh; House Sparrow (Passer domesticus L.), Karaj, Qom, Khoy, Gonbad& Mazandaran; Magpie (Pica pica L.), Karaj; Rook (Corvus frugilegus L.), Karaj & Khoy; Hooded Crow (Corvus corone L.), Karaj. In this survey, damage rate of 2866 sunflower heads were estimated both in farm fields and agriculture research stations.In farm fields, the damage was low (0.98% to 3.62%), while in research fields was high (43.5% at Karaj and 24.6% at Khoy).Morphometric measurements were consist of head height from ground surface (cm), head diameter (cm), sterile to head diameter ratio (%), head shape, form of stem and head angle. These factors were analysed with bird damage rate. Pearson correlation was used for the first 3 factors and ANOVA for the second 3 factors. Pearson correlation was significant only for the sterile (p<0.01). ANOVA showed significant differences between the groups of head angle (p<0.01) and head shape and stem form (p<0.05). According to the results, low sterile, concave and flat shapes, stem with no angle and head angles 16-25o were preferred items to select sunflower heads for researches of sunflower breeding.

In this article, researcher try to recognize and study various effective economical, social, educational and etc.acquaintances in elite farmers in Isfahan province in regarding to acceptance methods of sustainable agriculture.Because of important role of elite farmers in technical leadership of farmers society in each region, they can play a major role in extension and diffusion methods of sustainable agriculture to other farmers. Population of the research, include selected elite farmers -by Ministry of Jihad Agriculture (MOJA)-during 2005 & 2006 in Isfahan province, that by census method necessary information collected from them. Main instrument for data collection in this research was been questionnaire, plus methods of data collection in qualitative research method such as observation, interview, participation, maps, documents and etc. Findings of the research show necessity for making emergency and great changes in approaches, policies and alternatives in different sectors of Iranian economic and society-specially in Ministry of Jihad Agriculture (MOJA) and its important sub-system, namely Agricultural Knowledge and Information System (AKIS) for accessing to sustainable development of agriculture, and also show high interest and awareness of elite farmers about sustainable development issues in agricultural sector.

About 48 scholarly journals are published in Iran in the area of agriculture and related fields which are responsible for the scientific communication among Iranian researchers and scientists of the area. The present research aimed to examine the accessibility degree of these journals on the web. The results show that these 48 journals have published 1921 issues by the end of March 2007. about 31% of these issues have been converted into electronic form (19% in full text form and 11.9% as abstract) and are available through the internet. While 30 publishers have provided direct access to their journals (through their independent or affiliated websites), 11 publishers have made available indirect access to their journals through some mediator websites. The results also indicate that the journals that came into existence in recent years tend to make their content available in electronic form. Almost none of the preceding issues of 1997 have been converted into electronic form. According to the findings of this survey, the number of issues providing full text papers has gradually increased. On the other hand, a review of the journals’ websites also shows that about 60% of them are up to date, 89% of them have an archive of their previous issues, and 57% of the journals provide their users with search/ browse facilities.

The main purpose of this study was investigation of researcher’s mental and practical attitude to agricultural sustainable development and answering to these questions: What is cognition of researches to agricultural sustainable development concept? What is their mental to agricultural sustainable development? and what is their behavioral to agricultural sustainable development? This research using quantitative research approach and research methodology was measurement of attitudes that measuring the researchers attitude to agricultural sustainable development. Dependent and independent variables were researchers’ individual and organizational characteristics, researchers’ attitude to agricultural sustainable development and researchers’ knowledge to agricultural sustainable development concept.The main technique for data collection was questionnaire and the population includes all of researchers employed at agronomic research centers and sampling with census. The findings indicated, researches activities of respondents direct to solving of agricultural problems after determination of research needs and problems and using from other researchers cooperation with different specialty at doing of researches activities. In the responses views, their research findings must be have consequences such as increasing in agricultural performance, protection of agricultural production at the long term, protection of agricultural and natural resources and increasing in farmers productions and income. However the finding indicated that researchers have positive attitude and high knowledge to agricultural sustainable development concept but they have low attention to using of farmers participation and its farms at doing of research projects.

Regarding to the fact that agricultural insurance is very important to decrease production risks, it seems identifying the factors affecting adoption of farmers to insurance system and policymaking according to these variables, would increase demand for agronomic crops insurance will. The main purpose of this research was investigation of factors affecting adoption of insurance in some selected agronomic crops including wheat, barley and cotton in Zarindasht district. Logit model was applied to analysis factors affecting demand and farmer’s insurance attitudes. Results show that variables such as income from agronomic crops and farmer’s age had significant effect on three selected crops.Variables such as awareness of insurance objectives and ownership were also significant. Age was found as the most elastic variable. Variables of Awareness of insurance objectives in accepting wheat and cotton insurance and age in barley insurance had the most marginal effects. Finally, policy implications are presented for appropriate policy making in order to promote insurance adoption by farmers.

The goal of this study was to determine the professional development process components of the trainers in Agricultural-Jihad training centers, based on which to plan for their professional development. Research method was descriptive-correlation and also data gathering instrument was researcher made questionnaire. The validity (authorities view) and reliability (Cronboch alfa coefficient=94/65%) after designing were assessed. The population survey consisted all trainers of Agricultural Jihad Training Centers (N=490). Sample quantity was 107 people which in order to select them, classified random sampling was used (In regard with the qualification of trainers training the Agricultural-Jihad Training Centers was classified into three degrees, A, B, C, by The Institute of Technical & Vocational Higher Education). Based on mean results the view of trainers in all aspects of process components were in a satisfactory standard. In addition factor analysis show 5 factors with nearly 61% variance. Means comparison test (kruskal-wallis) based on the level of educational centers showed that New learning based on past experiment was significant.

Onion thrips, Thrips tabaci Lindeman, is one of the most important pests of ornamental plants in Iran. This pest causes a serious damage on cut flower products, especially carnation, gladiolus, chrysanthemum and tuberose. Incorrect pest management and applications of chemicals in several times, result in increasing production cost, environmental pollution and hazard effects on producers and consumers. Several experiments were conducted to compare the effect of different control methods on thrips in National research station of ornamental plants of Mahallat and private greenhouses during 2002-2003. The results of conducted experiments during 2003 revealed that integrated pest management (IPM) was the most effective control method with 90.22% pest mortality in large scale in comparison to yellow cards, blue cards, deltametrin, imidaclopride and biological control methods. An experiment was also carried out as randomized complete block design (RCBD) with 3 treatments and 10 replications (each replication=10 rows of Carnation) in Mahallat during 2005-2006. The treatments were application of pesticides and IPM (application of pesticides and release of 3 Orius albidipennis (Reuter) per plant) and six greenhouses were considered as control. There was significant differences among treatments (p<0.01). Number of thrips per flower was 6.8-7.7 in control; whereas it was 1.1-3.1 in sprayed greenhouse and 0.25-0.4 in integrated control. Therefore, correct greenhouse management and integrated pest management program with sufficient training of farmers were recommended to produce cut flowers without pesticide residue and lower thrips damage on Carnation.

Because of to the existence of salinity and high temperature and sensitivity of some plant in most regions of Iran, there are a lot of difficulties in the planting and husbandry of lawn. Experiment was carried out under and laboratory condition, to investigate the effect of five and six level of salinity as irrigation with hand made salinity of 1, 2, 3, 4 and 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 ds/m on the growth and development of three type of lawn namely: Lolium perenne, Cynodon dactylon, Poa pratensisin the form of a 3*5 and 3*6 factorial with a completely randomized design in 4 and 3 replication respectively. Total germination, germination rate, fresh and dry weight of leaves and shoot length were recorded in each experiment. According to the result it was reveald that effect of salinity Genus and interaction were significant on all parameters. In all salinity levels, Cynodon dactylon in comparison with the other two genus displayed the highest fresh and dry weight of leaves. Total germination was reduced significantly in second experiment (Green house) at a salinity of 8 and 10 ds/m. It was also appeared that at salinity the germination ofCynodon dactylon reduced more than other genus.

Iranian native lily (Lilium ledebourii) has high ornamental value because of beautiful flowers which is endangered.Application of in vitro propagation technique could offer the possibility of producing large number of uniform plants for breeding programs. Conventional methods have low rate of propagation compared with tissue culture method. Due to rapidly decreasing of the number of the species, micro propagation of Lilium ledebourii can be used as a useful tool for saving this species from extinction. Fresh bulbs of Lilium ledebourii were collected in winter. Basal and distal segments of scale was culture on MS medium supplemented with NAA and BAP (0, 0.01+0.5, 0.1+0.1 and 0.5+0.5 mg.L-1), and three concentration of sucrose (30, 60 and 90 g.L-1). The experiment was designed in factorial on the basis of completely randomized with three replications. Bulblet production was observed in all treatments. The highest number of bulblets was recorded in MS medium supplemented with 0.1 mg. L-1 NAA+0.1 mg. L-1 BAP and 90 g.L-1 sucrose. The highest fresh weight was formed on medium supplemented with 0.01 mg.L-1 NAA+0.5 mg.L-1 BAP and 60 g.L-1 sucrose.Basal segments were showed the best responses in all treatments. The result showed mass propagation bulblet of Lilium Ledebourii with suitable weight in Winter harvesting bulb is possible.

This research has been carried out in Khorasan Agricultural and Natural Resources research center to study the effect of microwave radiation on storage time and control of peach fruit rot. Peach cultivars (Alberta, Red, White and Green of Mashad) were harvested in the first and second decades of June, July and September, sorted and stored at 4oc for 12 hours. Then fruits were treated with a Microwave with the Frequency at 2450 MHZ and two intensities, low (200 w) and high (800 w) for 30, 60 and 120 seconds, the treated and control fruits were laid on in plastic trays, packed in perforated polyethylene bags and stored in cold storage (0oc and 90-95% relative humidity) for 2 months. The qualitative tests including fruit rot, total soluble solids, titrable acidity, weight loss, firmness and color were assayed after 15, 30, 45 and 60 days. Sensory attributes were measured after 60 days storage. The experimental design was factorial in frame of completely randomized design. Multiple range test (Duncan) were used to compare the means. The results showed that treating the fruit with microwave decreased the fruit rot and increased pH, flesh firmness and total soluble solids of treated peach. Microwave radiation with the 800w for 60 seconds maintained the qualitative characteristics of fruits.Panel test confirmed these results.

Accelerating growth rate and shortening the period between seed sowing and budding have great import on nursery production of fruit trees. Nitrogen is the most important nutrient element in most fertilization programs, especially in the nursery where high plant densities and rapid vegetative growth is desirable. Nitrogen form (Ammonium and Nitrate) and the amount of application and also accompanying ions may cause different reactions on seedlings. In this experiment seedlings of three citrus rootstocks (Sour orange, Trifoliate orange and Troyer citrange) were planted into plastic bag containers (25x35cm), filled with a mixture of sand, aged cow manure and clay loam soil (1: 1: 1). The seedlings were irrigated with nitrogen fertilizer (ammonium sulfate, ammonium nitrate and urea) at rate of 0, 75, 150 and 300 mg N/week/pot at weekly intervals and vegetative growth parameters and mean leaf mineral composition of these three citrus rootstocks were studied. Nitrogen forms affected seedling height, mean leaf area and manganese concentration in leaf but did not affect other measured characters. In all treatments increasing amount of nitrogen application resulted in increase in the growth indices including seedling height, stem diameter and mean leaf area. Also this resulted in increased nitrogen, potassium and manganese but decreased the Fe in the seedling leaves.

The effect of different concentration of Ammonium (0.0, 1.0, 3.0 meq. L-1) and Molybdenum (0.05, 0.1, 0.15 mg. L-1) in nutrition solution on TSS, TA, DM%, Vitamin C, P, Ca, K, Mg and yield in cv. Sultan and Ruba-S was studied. The experimental design was factorial-split-plot with complete randomized design in two cultural times and in each time we have two sampling by one mount period. Statistical analysis showed that ammonium increasing cause to increase P and K. Cultural time have significant effect on TA, TSS, Vit. C, Ca and Mg and harvesting time have significant effect on DM% Ca, K and P but molybdenum increasing don’t have significant effect on this factors and 0.05 mgr. L-1 nutrition solution is sufficient level for cucumber.

To investigate the present situation and determining the production problems and also presenting the guidance for quantitative and qualitative improvements of peach, apricot, cherry and plum, a research was conducted form 2003 to 2004. First, using the statistics published by Ministry of Agricultural Jihad, 18 provinces of important fruit producing and a few cities in each province was determined. Then, using a questionnaire, all aspects of information from these centers were gathered. Provinces selected were east Azarbayejan, west Azarbayejan, Ardebil, Isfahan, Tehran, Chaharmahal Bakhtiari, Razavi Khorasan, Zanjan, Semnan, Kurdestan, Kerman, Kohkiluieh and Boyerahmad, Golestan, Lorestan, Markazi and Hamedan. The results showed that due to some problems in cultivation of these fruits, especially early spring frost most of early-fruiting species like apricot and peach trees are damaged. The mean average yields per hectare of peach, apricot, cherry and plum are less than mean average yields of two important countries in Europe (France and Italy).In the year of 2004, according to FAO report, mean average yield per hectare of peach in Iran was 15.29 tons. While in France and Italy were 20.52 and 17.35 tons, respectively. In the same year, these statistics for apricot were 8.9, 10.3 and 12.45 tons, respectively, for Iran, France and Italy. In the case of cherry, mean average yield per hectare for Iran was 5.67 tons and in France 4.83 tons and in Italy 3.11 tons. Similarly, mean average yields per hectare of plum were 10.14, 11.86 and 12.79 tons for Iran, France and Italy, respectively. The results of this investigation showed that in the years of the study there were many problems in production of these fruits including the lack of suitable storages for keeping the fruits till the time of selling or sending to processing factories and consequently having some after harvest spoilage. Also, the lack of cooperatives and insurance for these crops. Operations like unsuitable training and pruning, excessive irrigation and spraying, not enough processing factories etc. are the main reasons for lowering the yields. It can be concluded that in Iran the potentials for increasing the yields of these crops for internal consumptions and export are present.

Citrus leaf miner is an important pest in citrus nurseries of Jiroft, Iran. In this study the population fluctuations of the insect was studied by weekly sampling and numbring of the total larvae and last larval stage percentage, in 3 different nurseries. Results showed that citrus leaf miner is emerged from the mid October and increased its population gradually to the end of fall. Because of the cold weather, the population density decreased from the mid January and reached to the minimum in the middle of February, and in the beginning of spring increased again and reached to its maximum in May. The larval percentage dynamic curves showes the pest has several generations a year in Jiroft. In laboratorial studies which leave traps used under 25oc and 70% RH conditions, average duration of egg, larval, prepupal and pupal stages were 3.65±1.37, 8.95±1.85 and 7.5±1.91 days respectively. Meanwhile a larval parasitoide was collected from pupae and identified as Pediobius sp.