Journal of Agricultural Science and Sustainable Production
Year:2012 | Volume:22 | Issue:3|Papers Count:12

Demand for organic fruits due to higher nutritional value, quality and appropriate maintenance is increasing rapidly. In this research, the effects of organic and conventional production systems on the fruit storage life of kiwifruit cultivar ' Hayward' were compared in two consecutive years. Traits such as, total soluble solids (TSS), titratable acidity (TA), TSS/TA, fruit firmness, vitamin C, total phenol, total flavonoids and antioxidant capacity of fruits were evaluated at harvest time, 30, 60 and 90 days storage at temperatures 1±0.5oC and relative humidity 90±5%. Results from this study showed that the weight loss in organic fruits during storage, were significantly lower than conventional systems as they kept their firmness during storage period. Vitamin C, total phenol, total flavonoids and antioxidant capacity of organic fruits at harvest and during storage were higher than conventional fruits. Total soluble solids (TSS) content at harvest time and in the end of storage was higher at conventional systems, but acidity levels in organic fruits at harvest time and storage period were higher than of conventional fruits. Overall, productions of organic fruits in addition to their high nutritional value were showed more longevity in the cold storage.

To evaluate response of bread wheat recombinant inbred lines to drought stress, an experiment was conducted using split plot based on completely randomized blocks design with three replications at research station of agriculture college of Islamic Azad University of Tabriz during 1389. The main factor included three irrigation levels (80, 120 and 160 mm evaporation from class A pan) and sub-factor consisted of 23 recombination inbred lines along with their parents (Super head and Roshan varieties). In this study five stress tolerance indices i.e. Stress Susceptibility Index (SSI), Tolerance Index (TOL), Mean Productivity (MP), Geometric Mean Productivity (GMP) and Stress Tolerance Index (STI) based on grain yield of the lines were calculated under stress and non- stress conditions. Highest Mean Productivity, Geometric Mean Productivity and Stress Tolerance Index at 120 and 160 evaporation were common belonged to the lines number 212, 224, 255, 277 and Roshan variety. Line number 244 had the minimum SSI and TOL at 120 mm, whereas line 241 had the lowest SSI and TOL under 160 mm. The study of correlation between the indices and mean grain yield showed among the criteria MP, GMP and STI are reliable indices for screening of the lines under stress and non-stress conditions. At cluster analysis based on quantitative criteria for stress resistance at 120 and 160 mm evaporation, lines number 224, 255, 277 and Roshan variety were grouped in superior cluster.

Trialeurodes vaporariorum Westwood, 1736 is a worldwide pest that severely damages host plants especially in greenhouses. In this study respiratory toxicity of Mentha spicata and Cuminum cyminum essential oils was investigated on eggs, first instar nymphs and adults. The experiments were carried out at 27±2 oC, 70±10% RH and 16:8 h (light: darkness) photoperiod. The effect of these essential oils was evaluated at five concentrations. The results showed that M. spicata essence has been more toxic than C. cyminum as it caused a higher mortality (72, 86, and 83% respectively on eggs, nymphs and adults) at the highest concentration. First instar nymphs were more sensitive to the essences than both eggs and adults.

The flies of the tribe Terellini (Tephritidae) with feeding on seeds of asteraceus plants cause decreasing the seed amount of them as well as their gradual and sustainable control. In order to identification of fruit flies of the tribe Terellini in Ajabshir region, a survey was conducted during 2009-2011. In total, thirteen species belonging to four genera were identified which all are new recorded for the studied area and Chaetorellia jaceae Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830 is newly reported for the Iran insect fauna. Identification keys to genera and species are provided. All the identified species are as biocontrol agents of the asteraceus weeds.

To investigate the relationship of plant density and grain yield of two pinto bean cultivars at four different sowing dates, a split plot factorial experiment based on randomized complete block design (RCBD) with four replications was conducted in Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, the University of Guilan in 2009-2010. Two pinto bean cultivars (seed coat with black and red mottles) were sown at four different sowing dates (20 August, 30 August, 9 September, and 19 Sept.) and three plant densities (15, 25, and 35 plants/m2). Pods and seeds per plant, plant height, pod weight, and grain yield were significantly affected by sowing date and plant density. The interaction effects of sowing date and cultivar were also significant for pod length, pods per plant and pod weight but interaction effects of sowing date and plant density were only significant for pods per plant and grain yield. All these traits were decreased with delaying in sowing date. Number of sub branch, number of node brunch and pods per plant decreased, but pod weight and grain yield per unit area increased, with increasing plant density. The results indicated that delayed sowings reduced grain yield of low densities more than that of high densities. Consequently, estimated optimum economic densities for delayed sowings were more than those for early sowings. Therefore, it is necessary to increase seeding rate at delayed sowings, in order to prevent or to reduce the yield loss.

In order to evaluate the effects of some forage and medicinal plants on yield and yield components of maize var. to single cross 504, an experiment was carried out in 2011 in Research Farm of faculty of agriculture at university Tabriz, in a factorial arrangement with the base of randomized complete block design in three replicates. Factors including different type of forage and medicinal plants in 4 levels (Red clover, hairy vetch, basil and dill) and sowing dates of the forage plant with 2 levels, simultaneous with maize and 15 days after maize sowing. The results showed that the weeding treatment had the highest yeild (5716.01 kg/ha) and yeild component. The results showed that sowing of maize and clover at the simultaun cultivation had the highest effect on corn yield and yield components. Sowing time had significant effect on corn yield and yield components, The simulation cultivation, sowing of forage and medicinal plants with corn than the 15-day delay due to better control of weeds in the early stages of growth had significant effect on performance. Although, in comparsion with conventional forage plants (clover and hairy vetch), basil and dill were less effective, but increased the corn yield about %40, and %36, respectively. It seems that further study was needed for using the medicinal plants as companion crop.

In order to investigate the effect of application sulfur (S) and cattle manure (CM) on oil and protein percentage and some yield components of canola (Hayola 401) in two calcareous soils, a pot experiment was conducted as factorial based on randomized complete block design with four replications during 2009-2010 cropping season. Treatments included two levels soil texture (loam and clay loam), three CM levels (0, 25 and 50 ton ha-1) and four S levels (0, 1500, 3000 and 4500 kg ha-1) with 2% inoculation Thiobacillus. Results indicated that, soil texture and cattle manure had significant effect on the amount of oil, protein, total dry matter, pod, grain number per pod and 1000-grain weight. But, the effect of soil texture on grain number per pod was not significant. The highest amount of grain protein was obtained in 50 ton CM ha-1 treatment, But, application of different levels of sulfur had no significant effect on the amount of grain protein. Also, the application of S and CM together increased total dry matter and the highest total dry matter was obtained in M2S2 (3000 kg S with Thiobacillus+50 ton CM ha-1) treatment. The interaction effect between T×CM×S on the amount of oil grain and pot number had significant effect and the highest on the amount of oil grain and pot number were obtained in T1M2S3 (loam+4500 kg S with Thiobacillus+50 ton CM ha-1) treatment.

To evaluated the changes in yield and harvest index of Matricaria chamomilla at different irrigation regimes (irrigation after 50, 100, 150 and 200 mm evaporation from pan class A) and amounts of super absorbent polymer (0, 60, 120, 180, 240 and 300 kg/ha), a field experiment was conducted as factorial based on randomized complete block design with three replication at Urmia University in 2008. Results of ANOVA showed the significant effect of irrigation on the yield of dried flower and essential oil with 4 hours extracting standard, and significant effect of polymer on the yield of essential oil with 2 hours extracting standard as well as the significant effect of interaction between irrigation and polymer on the yield of biomass, harvest index of dried flower, harvest index of essential oil with 2 and 4 hours extracting standards. The highest yield of biomass (1216 kg/ha) was obtained from irrigation after 50 mm evaporation from pan without polymer application and the minimum one (164 kg/ha) obtained from irrigation after 200 mm evaporation and 120 kg/ha of polymer use. The maximum yield of dried flower (117 kg/ha) was obtained from irrigation after 50 mm evaporation, but prolonged interval and sever water stress in irrigation after 150 mm evaporation caused the significant reduction of yield (76 kg/ha). The highest (2.19 kg/ha) and the lowest (1.06 kg/ha) yield of essential oil with 2 hours extracting standard, were occurred at 180 and 60 kg/ha of super absorbent polymer, respectively. However, the maximum (2.06 kg/ha) and minimum (1.35 kg/ha) yield of essential oil with 4 hours extracting standard, belonged to irrigation after 50 and 150 mm evaporation from pan, respectively. The highest harvest index of dried flower and essential oil with 2 and 4 hours extracting standards (39, 0.45 and 0.77 %, respectively) belonged to irrigation after 200 mm evaporation from pan class A and 120 kg/ha of super absorbent treatment. In conclusion, increasing irrigation interval up to irrigation after 100 mm evaporation caused to reduce the yield of anise, in that super absorbent polymer application improved the yield.

Intercrops have been associated with grater yields and pest and weed control in comparison with sole crops. In this field experiment, some agronomic characteristics and weed suppression were investigated by two crops-spring chickpea (Cicer arietinum) and barley (Hordeum vulgare) -alone and intercropping at the agricultural research station, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Bu-Ali Sina during 2010 growing season. Experiment was conducted as split plot bases on randomized complete block design with three replications. Weed control as main factor in two levels (non-weed (WI) and Weedy (WF)) and five different planting patterns were considered as sub-plots (sole crop of chickpea (C100), sole crop of barley (B100), replacement intercropping of chickpea 75+%25% barley, (C25B75), 50% chickpea+50% barley, (C50B50), 75 %chickpea+25% barley, (C75B25)). Weed biomass and density at non control treatments were analyzed based on randomized complete block design (RCBD). Results showed that the effect of treatments on weed biomass and density was significant. The different patterns of intercropping reduced weed biomass and density in comparison with sole treatment crops especially sole crop of chickpea. The highest (60.67 plant/m2) and lowest (30.66 plant/m2) number of weeds/m2 and highest (152.03 g/m2) and lowest (60.50 g/m2) weed dry weight achieved at WIC100 and WIC50B50 treatments, respectively. The highest biological and grain yields of chickpea, 260.07 and 119.47 g/m2, respectively, were belonged to WFC75B25 treatment. Also, maximum biological and grain yield of barley, 1112.20 and 522.93 g/m2, respectively, were obtained at WFC75B25 treatment. Land equivalent ratio (LER) in all crops treatments combination were more than unit (LER>1). The highest value of LER (1.56) was achieved at WIC75B25 treatment.

In this study, larval midgut a-amylase activity of the Mediterranean flour moth reared on wheat flour under laboratory conditions was studied. Enzyme activity was evaluated by using a commercial kit and an autoanalayzer device. Specific enzyme activity was measured as international unit per mg protein (IU/mg Protein). In this study, some a-amylase enzyme properties such as optimum temperature and pH of enzyme activity, enzyme activity during different hours of the day and night, enzyme activity at different developmental stages of adult male and female, effect of starvation period, and the effect of storage conditions of enzyme at specified periods in two different temperatures were studied. The results revealed that incubation temperature significantly affected enzyme activity for both sexes and optimal enzyme activity was detected in 40oC for both male and females. pH values also significantly affected enzyme activity and the optimal pHs for amylase activity in both sexes were 5. Effects of enzyme concentration on a-amylase activity were significant in both sexes. Increasing the concentration of enzyme in both sexes caused a sharp increase in enzyme activity. Storage period in -20oC did not decreased enzyme activity significantly in both sexes, but storage period in 4oC in males significantly decreased the activity in comparison with the control. The results of studying enzyme activity during 24 hr. periods showed significant differences during day and night and the most and the least enzyme activities in both sexes were recorded in 12 and 24 o'clock, respectively. Enzyme activity in different developmental stages showed significant differences and the most enzyme activities were detected in 5th female larvae, 5th male larvae, 4th male and females, female and male pre-pupa, and female and male adults, respectively. In male and female pupae, no detectable activity was observed. Enzyme activity in male and female fifth instar larvae showed Significant difference. Starvation periods significantly affected the digestive enzyme activity in both male and female larvae and the trends of enzyme activity during 4 days of starvation was the same in both sexes. The most and the least enzyme activity were detected 2 and 4 days after starvation, respectively.

An experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of some media (vermicompost, peat and coco-peat) on the growth and flowering quality of carnation flower, based on completely randomized design with 10 treatments and 8 replications in Sarein's Municipal research greenhouse in 2010. Various levels (20, 40 and 60 percentages) of each these materials were used in this experiment as experimental treatments. Leaf number, plants height, shoots and flower diameter were studied. Plants treated with 60% vermicomoost were died, hence, neglected in statical analysis. Also, results has shown that vermicompost treatments had unfavorable effect on all of experimental criteria, which at 20 and 40% significantly decreased leaf number, plant height, shoot and flower diameter. Coco-peat at 20% enhanced leaf number and plants height, but at 40 and 60% decreased leaf number, plants height, shoot and flower diameter. But this compound at 20% increased shoot and flower diameter significantly (P<0.05). Peat treatments increased leaf number, final leaf number in peat treatment were either more or equivalent to control, But there was no significant difference between peat treatments and control. Peat at 60% in comparison to 20 and 40%, increased shoot diameter. In case of flower diameter, biggest flower devoted to peat 20% in first stages of flowering time, but the biggest final size of flower observed in peat 40% treatment. Hoewer, in this experiment, coco-peat at 20% and peat at 20% had positive effects on growth and development of carnation compaired to control and other treatnents.

In order to study the effects of intercropping maize (Zea mays L.) with some legumes on forage yield and quality of maize, a two year field experiments was carried out based on randomized complete block design with three replications at the Agricultural Research Station, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Tabriz, Iran, during 2006-2007. Two maize hybrids (SC704, SC301), vetch (Vicia villosa), bitter vetch (Vicia ervilia), berseem clover (Trifolium alexandrinumL.) and common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) sole crops as well as intercrops of maize hybrids with each of the legumes were used. Results of analysis of variance showed that dry matter (DM) yield of corn in intercropping with vetch and bitter vetch decreased. The corn dry matter yield loss in intercrop treatments in comparison with the sole crop of maize was 15.80 percentages. The study of forage quality characteristics indicated that maize ash and crude protein (CP) content in intercropping was increased because of having complementary effects in nutrients absorption. On the average of two years, the highest ash and CP content were achieved in intercropping of maize hybrids with berseem clover and bean. Amount of increase in ASH and CP for maize hybrids (704 and 301) in intercropping as compared to their monoculture was 9.43, 11.02, 14.52 and 18.42 percent, respectively. Thus, maize intercrops with bean and berseem clover had higher CP and also more CP yield in relation to its monoculture. The reason for this finding could be the larger transfer of fixed N from these legumes to maize and also smaller reduction of maize yield in intercropping with these legumes as compared with the vetch and bitter vetch.