SOIL AND PLANT INTERACTIONS (JOURNAL OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY OF GREENHOUSE CULTURE)
Year:2019 | Volume:9 | Issue:4 (36) |Papers Count:7

Jasmonic acid (JA) and salicylic acid (SA) work as a message transfer agent against biotic and abiotic stresses such as salinity. For studing the effect of JA and SA on growth, physiological and photosynthesis changes of tomato under salinity stress, a factorial experiment, based on completely randomized design, was performed in the Research Greenhouses of Isfahan University of Technology. Treatments were different salinity levels (S0= control, S1= 100 mM, S2= 150 mM and S3= 200 mM), different levels of JA (JA1= control, JA2= 1 mM and JA3= 2 mM) and SA (SA1= control and SA2= 10 mM) with 3 replicates. Results showed that SA decreased fresh and dry weight of the shoots in S0 and increased in S3. In S1 and S2 salinity levels, high concentration of JA (JA3) decreased fresh weight of the shoots. Addition of JA increased the Plant antioxidant activity in S0 and S1 and decreased it in S2. The antioxidant activity and prolin content were increased at low levels of salinity and JA and SA application. But, the effects were not significant at high salinity levels. Generally, it seems that using JA and SA at low levels of salinity, which change the photosynthesis and chlorophyll content, was more effective than high salinity levels. Also, lower concentrations of JA was more effective than higher concentrations.

The aim of present study was determination of optimum planting date for soiless culture of three strawberry comertial cultivars for Sari climatic conditions in northen Iran. A factorial pot experiment, based on completely randomized design, was conducted with four planting dates at one month intervals from October 1st to December 30th for three strawberry cultivars (Gaviota, Queen Elisa and Camarosa) with 3 replications and 5 plants in each replication. Results showed that the highest yield (403. 25 g per plant) and the highest fruit set (80. 72%) were obtained for Camarosa cultivar at November 1st planting date. The lowest unmarketable fruits (1. 54%) belonged to Camarosa at November 30th planting date. At October 1st planting date, Queen Elisa and Camarosa cultivars produced the highest average number of crowns (2. 66) and Gaviota cultivar produced the highest average number of leaves (24. 33), inflorescences (6) and flowers (42). At November 1st planting date, the highest average number of fruits (23. 8) and fruit weight (16. 61 g) were produced by Camarosa cultivar. Therefore, Camarosa and Gaviota had higher yield in Sari climatic conditions and optimum planting date for Gaviota, Queen Elisa cultivars was October 1st and for Camarosa cultivar was November 1st.

In order to investigate the interaction effect of salinity and supplementary calcium nitrate on growth, quantitative and qualitative attributes of flowers and mineral composition of Rosa hybrida ‘ Ilona’ , a factorial experiment was carried out in completely randomized design with three replications. Treatments consisted of four sodium chloride rates (0, 5, 10 and 20 mM sodium chloride) and four supplementary calcium nitrate rates (0, 1, 2, and 3 mM) and three replications, under hydroponic conditions. Results showed that sodium and chloride ions’ concentration in rose leaves was increased to toxic levels as the sodium chloride rates were increased which in turn resulted in a significant reduction in the number of flowers per plant, dry flower weight, flower stem diameter and flower vase life. Also, salinity reduced the concentration of nitrogen, calcium and potassium in the plant leaves. The use of calcium nitrate could somewhat alleviate the adverse effects of salinity. At each level of salinity, calcium nitrate consumption decreased leaf sodium and chlorine concentration and increased nitrogen and calcium content of leaves, number of flowers per plant, flower diameter and flower vase life. Significant decrease in dry weight and number of flowers per plant were respectively in the salinity range of 2. 85 to 3. 15 and 3. 50 to 4. 19 dS/m. In these salinities, the average concentration of sodium was equal to 0. 34 and 0. 46 while chlorine concentration was 0. 36 and 1. 42% respectively. With increasing salt stress, the effect of calcium nitrate on the improvement of flower vase life was decreased and more calcium nitrate was needed to supply nitrogen and calcium to the plant. Therefore, it could be concluded that under salt stress, the nitrogen and calcium requirements of the plant are higher than non-saline conditions. The results of this research showed that with increasing the salinity, supplementation of calcium nitrate can reduce the adverse effects of salinity on rose flower under hydroponic conditions.

Cantaloupe is one of the most important of vine crops in Iran that today its yield has been decreased due to reduction in the quantity and quality of water resources and also due to increased soil pH because of bicarbonate ion aggregation in the soil. In order to maintain the production quality of this plant, appropriate crop management techniques are needed. For this purpose, to investigate the effect of grafting on some morpho-physiological traits of an Iranian cantaloupe landrace (Shahpasand) under salinity and alkalinity stress conditions, an experiment was conducted as factorial with two factors of stress (control, 15 mM NaCl and 15 mM alkalinity) and grafting (grafted and non-grafted), as a completely randomized design, in nutrient film technique (NFT) hydroponic system. Results showed that interaction effect of stress and grafting was significant on, except rootstock diameter and calcium content, growing parameters, photosynthetic pigments, soluble sugars, proline and mineral elements. Plant height, leaf area, fresh and dry weight of shoots, fresh and dry weight of roots, photosynthetic pigments including chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, total chlorophyll and carotenoids, potassium and calcium were decreased by stress. Grafting improved these parameters; but soluble sugars, proline, Na+ and Cl-content were increased under the salinity and alkalinity stress. On the basis of this research’ s results, using grafting in hydroponic system increased and maintained cantaloupe growth characteristics under salinity and alkalinity conditions and the alkalinity stress had more negative effects on the growth of grafted and non-grafted plants than salinity stress.

Polianthes is one of the most important cut flowers in Iran and the world, and increasing its quality and quantity is one of the most important issues. In this study, to evaluate the effects of foliar application of salicylic acid and thiamine in two cultivation systems on biochemical characteristics of tuberose, a factorial experiment, based on completely randomized design with 3 replications, was conducted in the greenhouse of Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources. Treatments consisted of salicylic acid (concentrations of 0, 50, 100, 150 and 200 mg/L) and thiamine (100 and 150 mg/L) in two soilless and soil culture systems. Results showed that the treatments had significant effects on biochemical characteristics. In this experiment, the highest amount of catalase enzyme was 1. 69 μ mol peroxide per minute per mg and 1. 175 μ mol/g fresh weight per minute peroxidase was related to 50 and 100 mg/L salicylic acid treatments, respectively, and the lowest amount was observed in control treatment (0. 87 and 0. 56) respectively. Therefore, it seems that salicylic acid and thiamine can increase the photosynthetic pigmentation and activities of antioxidant enzymes of tuberose flowers. Also, the highest amount of concrete (8. 49%) was reported in 200 mg/L salicylic acid treatment and its lowest value (4. 47%) was reported in control treatment. Based on the results of this research, the soilless system was in all physiological characteristics at a higher level than the soil system. So that the amount of chlorophyll a, b, total and reduced sugar in soilless substrate was 0. 16, 0. 41, 0. 57 and 0. 11 mg per gram of fresh weight, respectively. Concrete and protein content were 0. 07% and 0. 33%, respectively, which were the highest in comparison to the soil culture system.

Genetically modified (GM) plants are one of the great achievements of modern biotechnology in agriculture, which their cultivation has been increased in recent years. According to the international biosafety law, the import of genetically modified plants without the permission of Biosafety Committee into the country is prohibited. Therefore, we need an accurate method for assessing whether they are transgenic or not. In this study, samples of tomatoes were collected from various sources such as shops and greenhouses in Isfahan province to evaluate if they are transgenic. The initial screening of all samples was performed using primer pairs P35S F/R for CaMV35S promoter and NOS-1/NOS-3 for NOS terminator, amplified 195 bp and 180 bp of 35S promoter and NOS terminator sequences, respectively. The sequence of fragments was verified by comparison with known sequences in GeneBank and indicated a 100% homology, showing the studied samples are genetically engineered. The tomato samples were also tested for the presence of antisense polygalactoronase (PG) gene using the primer pair PG F/R, which amplified 384bp in all samples. Sequence analysis of this fragment resembled 100% similarity with the sequence of PG antisense gene in Gene Bank database. Results of this study showed that there is a transgenic tomato in the Iranian market. But, the consumers are not aware of its changed nature.

In order to investigate the effect of clinoptilolite natural zeolite on vegetative and reproductive properties of tuberose (Polianthes tuberosa L. ), this research was performed as a completely randomized design with five treatments (0, 25, 50, 100 and 200 g zeolite/kg soil mixture) and 10 replications (each replication consisted of a pot containing two bulbs). Results showed that the use of zeolite in soil mixtures of pot culture of tuberose has significant effects on measured vegetative and reproductive characteristics; although vegetative traits had a positive and significant response to the application of zeolite in soil mixtures compared to reproductive traits. The highest number of leaves, fresh and dry weight of leaf, root and bulblets, longest root length, and root volume were obtained in the application of 25 g zeolite/kg soil mixture. Although the highest flowering stem length and diameter were obtained in the application of 25 g zeolite/kg soil mixture, but no significant difference was observed as compated to control (no zeolite applicaion) treatment. The use of zeolite in growing medium reduced fresh and dry weight of flowering stem, and the highest amounts of these traits were observed in the control treatment. Also, application of zeolite in the medium caused early flowering of the bulbs. In all the measured traits, increasing the amount of zeolite from 25 to 200 g zeolite/kg soil mixture reduced their values. Therefore, according to the results of this study, 25 g zeolite/kg soil mixture could be recommended for pot culture of tuberose; although, more research is needed in this regard.