JOURNAL OF CROPS IMPROVEMENT (JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURE)
Year:2017 | Volume:19 | Issue:3 |Papers Count:17

To study the effects of organic and bio-fertilizers on quantity and quality of essential oil of dragonhead(Dracocephalum moldavica L. ), an experiment was conducted as randomized complete blocks designwith eight treatments and three replications at agricultural research field of the Company of Ran inFirouzkuh of Iran during the growing season of 2014-2015. The treatments were 20 t/ha manure, 10 t/havermicompost, biofertilizer (2 lit/ha nitroxin + 2 lit/ha bio-superphosphat), 10 t/ha manure + 5 t/havermicompost, 20 t/ha manure + biofertilizer, 10 t/ha vermicompost + biofertilizer, 10 t/ha manure + 5t/ha vermicompost + biofertilizer and chemical fertilizer (NPK: 80, 70 and 80 kg/ha). The results haveshown that the highest essential oil percent, essential oil yield, geraniol percent and linalool percent wereobtained in essential oil at the treatment of application of 10 t/ha vermicompost and the maximumgeranial percent, neral percent and neryl acetate percent were observed in essential oil at the treatment ofintegrated application of 10 t/ha vermicompost and biofertilizer. Also, the highest geranyl acetate percentwas obtained in essential oil at the treatment of chemical fertilizer application (control). Generally, thehighest percent and yield of essential oil and essential oil quality were obtained using 10 t/havermicompost application.

In order to study the effects of planting date and seed priming on yield and physiological traits of twocumin ecotypes, an experiment was conducted as factorial experiment based on randomized completeblocks design with three replications in the 2014-15 crop season at field research of medicinal plants, Shahed University. The factors were priming with two levels of control and osmopriming (KCL 4%), planting date with three levels of 25 February, 10 March and 25 March and ecotype with two levels ofNeishabour and Sabzevar. The results showed that the interaction between priming and planting date andecotype on seed number per plant grain yield and biological yield significant in statistical level of 5%, while the number of lateral branches and umber number per plant were significant in statistical level of1%. There was a reduction on grain yield and biological yield due to delay in planting date from 10 Mar. to 25 Mar. Application of osmopriming led to a significant increase in percentage and yield of essentialoil in Sabzevar ecotype. The chemical components of essential oils significantly decreased by delay insowing date. Generally, cultivation of Sabzevar ecotype on 25 February lead to best quality and quantityin yield.

In this study, collecting of management information from about 700 wheat farms in Golestan provincewas conducted during two growing seasons of 2013-2014 and 2014-2015. In each of region, potentialyields, the optimum crop management and simultaneously the percentage of wheat farms out of theoptimal ranges were identified in both irrigated and rainfed conditions using boundary line analysis. Todo this, the information was analyzed in three parts of irrigated, high-and low-yield rainfed conditions. By plotting farm’ s yield data scatter, against management factors, highest yields in different levels ofinput or management factors were selected and a boundary function was fitted to the upper boundary ofdata points. According to the results, potential yield for irrigated, high-and low-yield rainfed wheat wereestimated equal to 6816, 5791 and 3932 kg ha-1 with a yield gap of 42, 31 and 50 percent, respectively. The optimum ranges of sowing date, seeding rate, plant density, frequency and the amount of nitrogenfertilizer applied, the amount of nitrogen applied after sowing, the amount of phosphorus (P2O5) andpotassium fertilizers (K2O) applied and irrigation frequency were determined according to the results. Consider the optimum managements, farmers in each region can shrink the yield gap and reach potentialyield result in increasing the amount of wheat production in Golestan province.

This experiment was conducted in order to investigate the morphological and physiological responses ofvetiver grass (Chrysopogon zizanioides L. Roberty), to water deficit stress and salicylic acid applicationat Department of Horticultural Sciences, University of Zanjan in 2015. After 6 months of plantingtransplants into pots, three soil available water levels (40, 70 and 100%) and salicylic acid concentrations(0, 1 and 2 mili Molar) were applied in a factorial experiment based on completely randomized designwith three replications for six weeks. Salicylic acid applied through foliar spray weekly. Generally, waterdeficit reduced root and shoot dry weight and leaf chlorophyll content. Root length, total phenol, prolineand electrolyte leakage of leaves were increased by reducing the amount of available water. Salicylic acidapplication improved negative effects of water deficit in all attributes and its effect was more pronouncedin 40% available water treatment. In all available water levels, there was no significant differencebetween 1 and 2 mili Molar salicylic acid treatments in root dry weight and leaves total phenol whereas inother factors. 2 mili Molar salicylic acid application had better result and plants in this treatment hadhigher shoot dry weight, proline and chlorophyll content and less electrolyte leakage than 1 mili Molarsalicylic acid treatment, suggesting that in order to increase water deficit tolerance of vetiver grass, higherconcentration of this plant growth regulator must be evaluated.

In order to evaluate the effect of some bio-stimulators on yield and fruit quality of apricot cv. ‘ Shekarpareh’ management functions were studied in the spring of 2014 in Abarkouh of Yazd province. Theexperiment was based on randomized complete blocks design with seven nutritional treatments includedcontrol (water spraying), humic acid one and two per thousand, aminol forte three and six per thousandand humi forte 0. 5 and 1 per thousand in four replications. Bio stimulators were applied just spray twiceduring the growth period including two weeks after full bloom and a month after it. Results showed thatthe bio-stimulators effects significantly affected the measured traits except for the titratable acidity (basedon malic acid), firmness and maturity index. Humic acid treatment reduced physical properties, totalsoluble solids and vitamin C. Aminol Forte with three per thousand concentrations increased most of thephysical and chemical characteristics, but three per thousand to six per thousand concentrations had theeffect of decreasing. Humi forte also increases fruit's carotenoid and vitamin C. Therefore, it seems thatbetween treatments, aminol forte bio-stimulator enhanced yield and improve the quality of apricot fruit. Therefore, it can be recommended to spraing of aminol forte with three per thousand concentrations at thesuitable time.

In order to evaluate the effect of manure and super absorbent polymer on some morphologicalcharacteristics and fennel (Foeniculum vulgar Mill) essential oil production under drought stressconditions, an experiment was conducted as spilt-plot in a randomized complete block design with threereplications at University of Shahrekord in 2015. The main factor was different levels of drought stressincluding three levels of control (50 mm), moderate stress (100 mm) and severe stress (150 mm)evaporation from class. A pan and sub-factor was considered different ratios of animal manure and superabsorbent polymer in six levels (D1: lack of manure and super absorbent polymer, D2: 25% manure +75% super absorbent polymer, D3: 50% manure + 50% super absorbent polymer, D4: 75% manure + 25%super absorbent polymer, D5: 100% manure (40 t. ha-1) and D6: 100% super absorbent polymer (200Kg. ha1)). The results showed that the maximum number of umbel, grain yield (146. 66 g/m2), harvestindex and essential oil yield (2. 99 g/m2) from control treatment and D6, the maximum number of lateralbranch, floret and plant dry weight (165. 62 g/m2) from control treatment and D4 and the maximumthousand seed weight and plant fresh weight, from control treatment and D3 and D2 were obtained, respectively. The maximum essential oil percentage (3. 09) was obtained from severe stress and D5treatment. The maximum plant height and number of main branch was obtained from D6 and D4treatments, respectively and under control conditions. Since the superabsorbent polymer while reducingthe effects of drought, increased grain yield, harvest index and oil yield of fennel, thus, control treatmentwith 100% super absorbent polymer consumption can be offered to maximize grain and essential oil yieldunder the same conditions.

In order to evaluate the effect of drought stress on morphological, physiological and agronomicalcharactristice of tolerant, semi-tolerante and sensitive chickpea genotypes, a greenhouse exprimemt wasconducted as factorial based on completely randomized design with three replications. The first factorsincluded of no water deficit stress, mild stress and sever stress and second factor included of 11genotypes. Analysis of variances results indicated significant effect of genotype factor between all thetraits exept relative water content and all intractions of genotype irrigation were significant except rootdry weight, shoot dry weight, root diameter, shoot length and primary branch numbers. The greatestpercentage of trait changes belonged to shoot dry weight, shoot fresh weight and biological yields in highdrought stress and the lowest percentage of trait changes belonged to rate of water lost. The tolerantgenotype of Fars shahpoor-3659 with low canopy temperature had the highest root fresh weight, shootfresh weight and shoot length under non stress conditions and the sensitive genotype of Fars shahpoor-3723 with high canopy temperature had low biomass yields, root fresh weight, shoot fresh weight andshoot dry weight which showed reduction of root diameter, primary branch numbers and relative watercontent under high stress, too. Thus, these two genptypes could be used as indexes for identification oftolerant and sensitive varirties in later experimets.

In order to investigate the role of methyl jasmonate on salinity tolerance of cowpea, a factorial potexperiment was conducted in the basis of completely randomized design with three replications in theRey region in 2015. Treatments included three levels of seed soaking in methyl jasmonate solution (0, 25and 50 μ M) for 20 hours and three levels of salinity (0, 50 and 100 mM NaCl). The results showed thatby increasing salinity levels, lipids peroxidation, antioxidant enzymes activity (superoxide dismutase, catalase, ascorbate peroxidase and glutathione reductase) and Cl-concentration in the leaves increased, while the concentration of N, Ca2+ and Mg2+ decreased as well as K+/Na+ ratio. These changes eventuallyled to decreasing seed yield. Seed treatment with methyl jasmonate had not significantly effect on anymeasured traits under normal conditions, however this treatment (especially 50 μ M) under salinity stressconditions caused further activity of antioxidant enzymes, declining lipids peroxidation, reducing theconcentration of Cl-in the leaves, increasing the concentration of N, Ca2+ and Mg2+ as well as K+/Na+ratio, and finally improved seed yield. These findings suggest that methyl jasmonate plays a pivotal rolein inducing salinity tolerance of cowpea plants via enhancing antioxidant enzymes activity and alteringnutrients composition.

Salinity is one of the most important plant growth limiting factors, which using the anti-stress materials isconsidered as an important approach in moderating its effects on plants. In this research, the date plumseedlings response to salinity stress and two compounds putrescine and chitosan to reduce salinity stresswas studied. The experiment was conducted as a factorial with three levels of sodium chloride (0, 30 and60 mM), and five treatments of control, putrescine (1 and 2 mM) and chitosan (0. 25 and 0. 5%), based ona completely randomized design with four replications at Shahed University in 2016. The results showedthat date plum was sensitive to salt stress in the early stages of growth and sodium chloride salinity stressresulted in significant decrease in vegetative traits such as fresh matter weight and length of shoots androots as well as leaf chlorophyll content in compared to 0 salinity. In addition, the leaf blight percentage, sodium content, electrolyte leakage and malondialdehyde content were increased in plants treated withsalinity. Putrescine treatment, especially at 2 mM concentration effectively reduced the effects of salinityon date plum seedlings and improved vegetative growth of stem and root, while chitosan had nosignificant effect in reducing the harmful effects induced by salt stress in this experiment. According tothe results, Diospyros lotus seedlings were sensitive to salinity and using treatments such as putrescine iseffective in increasing its resistance to salinity stress.

In order to evaluate the adaptation and ornamental potential of Allium spp endemic to Iran, an experimentwas conducted in Agricultural Research Station of Lorestan University under Khorramabad climaticconditions during 2014-2015. A completely randomized design was used for the experiment with 21treatments (species-location) with three replications. Phonological and morphological characteristic atgrowth stage was recorded. Analysis of variance showed significant (p<0. 01) differences among specieson all traits indicating genetic diversity of the studied species. Cluster analysis and principle componentanalysis were used to assess the ornamental potential of the studied species and the most importantornamental characteristics i. e. scape length, the diameter of the inflorescence, flower longevity and flowercolor were evaluated. Biplot were depicted on the basis of both the first and second component thatshowed 54% of variations. In the biplot and cluster analyses, the species were placed into distinct groupsassociated with their potential ornamental value. According to the results, Allium iranicum collected fromthe Alborz-Dizin with large inflorescence (63. 28 mm), beautiful flower color (purple) and being green inwinter, and Allium oschaninii species collected from Khorasan-Chenaran with great flower longevity (54d), beautiful form and large scape length (95 cm) were identified as good potent ornamental species.

In order to study the effect of grafting on growth and fruit quality of melon under deficit irrigation theexperiment was conducted as a split plot in a randomized complete block design with three replicationsduring 2014 on the experimental farm of Imam Khomeini Higher Education center of Jihad-e-Keshawarziin Karaj. Treatments consisted arrangement of four grafting (melon grafted on Shintozwa and Ferro-RZ, self grafted and ungrafted melon) and three irrigation levels 60, 80 and 100 percent, based on totalavailable water depletion. The mean comparision showed that maximum (25. 54 mg/g FW) and minimum(16. 98 mg/FW) sucrose content of fruits was obtained in non-grafted plants under irrifation 80% andSouski Zard grafted on Souski Zard in irrigation 60% respectively. Also, the maximum (13. 2%) andminimum (8. 48%) of soluble solids was related to fruit of non-grafted plants under 80% irrigation leveland non-grafted plants in irrigation 60%, respectively. The highest (7. 58) and the lowest (5. 29) learnpoints by the jury (panel test) related to fruit quality were irrigation 80 and 60 percent respectively. Also, there was no signifincant difference between deficit irrigation 80% and irrigation 100% in terms of totalphenol content of fruit. The results showed that the fruit harvested from Soski Zand plant grafted onShintozwa had better quality compared to control plants under deficit irrifation.

In order to evaluation the pattern of assimilates distribution to seed under late season drought stress, 11promising lines of winter wheat along with Orum, Zareh, Mihan, Zarrin and Pishgam cultivars wereevaluated in two levels of irrigation (full irrigation and cutting irrigation from flowering to maturity) atthe Agricultural Research Station of Miandoab during 2013-2015 growing seasons. Experiments wereconducted in split plot based on randomized complete block design with three replications. Resultsshowed that water deficit stress significantly increased remobilization rate, contribution of remobilizationand source restriction and decreased the amount of spike weight, peduncle weight, sink restriction byremoving leaves other than flag leaf, sink restrictions by removing flag leaf, grain yield and harvest index, so that terminal water deficit stress increased remobilization by 45. 45% and the total yield contribution ofremobilization of 18. 30% in normal conditions increased to 43. 33% under stress conditions. Among thegenotypes, ‘ Zarrin’ and ‘ Mihan’ under normal moisture conditions and ‘ Mihan’ genotype under terminaldrought stress conditions produced the highest grain yield. In this study under terminal drought stressconditions, there were significant positive correlations between grain yield with remobilization rate andcontribution of remobilization. It can be concluded that the varieties and genotypes afforded adequateremobilization and contribution of remobilization in grain yield in both conditions are appropriate forcultivation in optimal conditions, as well as areas that are faced with terminal water deficit stress.

In order to study the effect of mycorrhiza and foliar nano (Fe and Zn) oxide spraying on yield and somebiochemical traits of spring safflower (cultivar Padedeh) under water limitation condition, a factorialexperiment was conducted based on randomized complete block design with three replications at theresearch farm of the Islamic Azad University, Ardabil Branch in cropping year of 2014. The experimentalfactors were included arboscular mycorrhiza application in two levels (with and without mycorrhiza), foliar application of nano zinc oxide in four levels (non-foliar application and foliar application of nanoiron oxide, nano zinc oxide and nano zinc oxide + nano iron oxide) and irrigation in three levels [fullirrigation as control, irrigation with holding at 50% of flowering and heading-bud stages (moderate andsevere water limitation respectively)]. Results showed that water limitation was increased proline content, the activity of catalase, peroxidase, polyphenol oxidase enzymes. Mycorrhiza application and foliar nano(Fe and Zn) oxide spraying improved these traits under water limitation condition and normal irrigation. Means comparison showed that maximum of grain yield (2278. 52 kg ha-1) was obtained at application ofmycorrhiza, nano oxide of Zn+Fe and full irrigation. Minimum of it (834. 25 kg ha-1) was obtained in nonmycorrhiza, no application of nano oxide and irrigation to heading-bud stage. Application of mycorrhizaand nano oxide of Zn+Fe increased grain yield by 35. 9% as compared with non-mycorrhiza, non-foliarapplication of nano oxide under severe water limitation. It seems that mycorrhiza and nano oxide ofZn+Fe application is usable for profitable safflower production under water limitation condition.

The goal of this study was to investigate climatic factors, crop management and plant growth traits, usinga simple model to simulate growth and yield of soybean in Tehran climatic condition in order to be use asan efficient tool to study effective factors on yield. The model was evaluated under Tehran condition. Soybean is one of the important resources of herbal oil and protein. At the current study, production andpartitioning of dry matter in vegetative parts and grains of soybean were investigated by changing theparameters of base temperature, the maximum leaf area index and the fraction of crop total dry matter atthe beginning of grain growth. Decreasing and increasing of base temperature caused to decrease andincrease the phenological stages, changing the production of dry matter and the allocation of dry matter tovegetative organs and grains. Decreasing and increasing of the fraction of remobilized dry matter tograins lead to enhance and reduce harvest index, respectively. To model evaluation, some statistics ondifferences between observed and simulated values were used. The simulated yield ranges were within1890-2220 kg. ha-1 with mean values of 1982. 5 kg. ha-1 and the observed yield ranges were 1632-2254kg. ha-1 with mean values of 2014. 5 kg. ha-1. The RMSE was 178. 48 kg. ha-1 that was equal to 9% ofaverage of observed and predicted values. All data points were included at the 80% of 1: 1 line and itindicated that the model had suitable accuracy to predict soybean yield in Tehran climatic condition.

In order to evaluate the responses of two ecotypes of Damask rose (Rosa damascena) to exogenousethylene, an experiment was conducted based on a completely randomized design (CRD) at the laboratoryof Postharvest Physiology, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran. Damsk rose cut stems containgflower buds and/or open flowers, single buds, or multiple flowers were exposed to exogenous ethylenefor 24 h. Plant organs were placed into hearmatically seald glass chambers, where ethylen was injected, toachieve 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4 μ l/l concentrations. Biocehmival characteristics, enzyme activities andmorphological characteristics including flower life, contents of anthocyanin, flavonoide, and proline weredetermind in Kashan and Azaran ecotypes of Damask rose. The lowest psotharvest life was observed at 3and 4 μ l concentration of ethylene and the highest abscission was observed in Azaran ecotypes at aconcentration of 4 μ l/l of ethylene after four days. Anthocyanin and proline content and catalase activityreduced in both ecotypes studied. For both ecotypes, the lowest content of anthocyanin, proline and thelowest catalase activity (48/77 Δ A 240/mg protein) were observed in those treated with ethylene at 4 μ l/l. The highest malondialdehyde (3. 63 μ mol/g petal fresh weight) was found in Azaran ecotype flowerstreated with 4 μ l/l ethylene concentration. Decrease of total protein in Kashan flowers (0. 32 mg/g freshpetal) was much less than that in Azaran flowers (0. 2 mg/g fresh petal). Based on these results, Kashancould be recommended as a tolerant ecotype to be used in breeding programs.

Incomplete pollination of kiwifruit flowers could be the main limiting factor which reduces marketablekiwifruit quality. Therefore, at the current study effect of pollen suspension and dry pollen assupplemental artificial pollination were evaluated on characteristics such as fruit size, fruit weight, seednumber, dry matter percent, tissue firmness, total soluble solid, and vitamin C content, mineral nutrientelements such as nitrogen, phosphors, potassium, calcium, and magnesium of Hayward Kiwifruit. Theresults showed that pollination with dry pollen, at the 60% of full bloom stage, increased marketablefruits in compare to other treatments. There are more seed number in these fruits (11% and 5%respectively), which result to increase fruit size, length and diameter as compare to pollen suspension andcontrol. Fruit vitamin C could not affect by pollination, but fruit dry matter of flowers which pollinated at60% of full bloom was the higher than the other treatments. Supplemental pollination with dry pollenincreased fruit calcium, which resulted to improve nitrogen to calcium, potassium to calcium, the sum ofpotassium and magnesium to calcium, the sum of nitrogen and potassium to calcium ratios. Overall, itseems that supplemental pollination, especially with dry pollen at 60% of full bloom stage, could improvepollination and ovules fertilization. In conclusion, the same fruits have more seed number and strengthsink for accumulation assimilate and mineral elements especially calcium. Overall, the profit ofsupplemental pollination with dry pollen was calculated about 48, 800, 000 Rials per hectare.

To assess the effects of bio-fertilizer and some of microelements on quantitative and qualitativecharacteristics of sorghum (var. Pegah), this experiment was conducted at the research farm of theUniversity of Tehran (Karaj-Iran) in 2011. The experiment was arranged as split plot based on completerandomize design block with four replications. Two levels of mycorrhiza (inoculated and non-inoculated)and three levels of foliar application of iron (zero, four and eight per thousand) along with three levels ofapplication of zinc (zero, three and six per thousand) were allocated to main and subplots respectivly. Theresults indicated that inoculation with mycorrhiza and application of micronutrients had positivelysignificant effect on dry yield, plant height, shoot weight, leaf weight, crude protein, water solublecarbohydrates and ash (p<0. 01) and reduced acid detergent fiber (p<0. 05). However, foliar of Fe and Znhad no significant effects on root colonization. Also, investigated factors had no significant effects onnumber of leaves. The treatment of mycorrhiza and foliar application of the Fe and Zn in concentrationsof four and three per thousand (respectively) produced the maximum of dry yield. This treatmentincreased yield by 40% compared with control. Based on the obtained results, treatment of myco-Fe4Z3can be recommended for increasing yield and improving qualitative characteristics of forage sorghum(var. Pegah) in Karaj region.