JOURNAL OF PLANT PROCESS AND FUNCTION
Year:2018 | Volume:7 | Issue:24|Papers Count:16

During the past decade considerable evidence has been accumulated with regard to the biological effects, both in vivo and in vitro, of extremely low frequency electric and magnetic fields, such as those originating from residentially proximate power lines, household electrical wiring and diagnostic apparatus and therapy devices. Also, during the evolution process, all living organisms experienced the action of the Earth, s magnetic field, which is a natural component of their environment. Previously many scientists believed that permanent magnetic fields are not biologically active. However, the results obtained have revealed the high sensitivity of plants to permanent magnetic fields. In the present research, seeds of Almond (two specious of Amygdalus scoparia and A. eburnea) were incubated in sterile conditions. Unique seeds were selected and divided to control and treatment groups. The treatment plant groups were exposed to a 10 mT static magnetic field for four days, each 5 hours and then both the treated seeds and the control one were harvested, frozen with liquid N2 and used for biochemical measurements. Exposure of seeds of almond to the static magnetic field increased the activity of polyphenol oxidase and has no significant effect on phenylalanine amonialyase. Magnetic fields also increased phenolic compoundst anthocyanin content and total antioxidant capacity and have different effects on phenolic acids and flavonoid content.

To study the effect of bacterial siderophore on the second cropping of maize (SC645) under drought stress conditions, a factorial experiment was arranged in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Two irrigation treatments (75 (I1: unstressed control) and 120 mm evaporation from Class-A pan (I2: delayed irrigation)) and two siderophore application treatments (S1: with and S2: without application) were considered as experimental factors. The foliar application of siderophore (2000 mg l-1) were applied two times at 4-6 and 12-14 leaf growth stages. In addition, 20 Kg siderophore ha-1 was applied with irrigation at jointing stage. The results showed leaf pigments, leaf relative water content (RWC), membrane stability, leaf area index(LAI) and specific leaf area (SLA) increased at I1 compared to I2, while sucrose (saccharose), lipids peroxidation (MDA), guaiacol peroxidase and polyphenol oxidase activities decreased. S1 compared to S2, showed increased leaf pigments, the ability of osmotic adjustment, antioxidant enzymes activities, RWC, membrane stability, LAI and SLA and decreased MDA. The interaction effect showed that siderophore application increase chlorophylls (a, b and total), proline and soluble sugars of leaf in each irrigation levels. The highest forage fresh yield (8697 gm-2) belonged to I1. S1 increased forage fresh yield (1644 gm-2) compared to S2. In general, bacterial siderophore can improve the morphological, physiological and biochemical capabilities of maize and is effective in mitigating the effects of drought and in increasing photosynthetic capacity.

Nickel is an essential microelement for plant growth, but upper levels of this element serve as heavy metal which create toxic effects on plants and human. Application of mineral nutrition is a useful strategy for overcoming of this serious problem. In order to investigate the effects silicon nutrition on growth and physiology indices of basil (Ocimum basilicum L. ) under nickel stress condition a factorial experiment based on completely randomized design with four replication was conducted in Research Greenhouse of Mohaghegh Ardabili University at 2014-2015. Experimental factors included nickel stress(0, 75, 100 and 150 ppm) and foliar spraying of plants with 1Mm concentration of silicon and control (spraying with water). During this experiment traits such as plant height, plant dry weight, root and stem dry weight, leaf and stem number, leaf area, chlorophyll index, electrolyte leakage, relative water contents, photosynthetic pigments and antioxidant enzymes and nickel accumulation in root and aerial part of plants were measured. Results indicated that the effect of nickel stress on all of traits were significant. At 150 ppm concentration of nickel, vegetative growth criteria and biochemical characteristic of basil plants reduced significantly. Foliar spraying of silicon could be alleviated the unfavorable effects of nickel stress via increases in chlorophyll b, carotenoid and carbohydrate content of leaves and increases in catalase enzyme activity also reduction in nickel content in aerial part of plants.

Improving soil microbial activity and using symbiosis and synergistic relations between plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR), arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and plants through improving nutrient uptake can cause better growth of plants especially at salinity tension condition. To investigate the effect of AMF and PGPR application on growth and some nutrient uptake by corn in different levels of soil salinity, a factorial experiment as completely randomized design with 3 replications was conducted in greenhouse of Shahid Chamran University, Ahvaz, Iran. The first factor included three salinity levels (0, 15 and 30 Meq salt kg-1 soil supplied as a 3: 2: 1 Na: Ca: Mg chloride salts) and the second factor was microbial inoculation (without inoculation (C), Glumus Intraradices (F), Pesudomonas bacteria (B) and fungi bacteria (B)). Results showed that with increasing salinity levels, root colonization percentage, phosphorous (P), potassium (K), iron (Fe) and manganese (Mn) uptake by shoot were reduced significantly. Application of all microbial treatments led to a significant increase of above mentioned characteristics. Effect of fungi and fungi-bacterial treatments on enhancement of mentioned characteristics were higher than bacterial treatment eminently. Application of fungi and fungi-bacterial treatment caused a significant increase of K to Na ratio in shoots, which it shows the increase of plant toleration toward to salinity tension. There were positive and significant correlation between uptake of P, K, Fe and Mn by corn and some growth indices such as shoot dry matter, root dry weight, height, leaf area, width of stem, chlorophyll index and root colonization percentage. The results indicated that the fungi and bacterial treatments used in this experiment can cause the increase of corn resistance towards salinity tension through enhancing the root colonization percentage and nutrient uptakes.

Mutant genetic materials are valuable tools for understanding the physiology of remobilization and could be useful in the breeding of drought tolerant varieties. Two advanced mutant lines of bread wheat (T-67-60 and T-65-7-1) along with their wild type (Tabasi Cv. ) were planted at two moisture conditions (normal and 30-40% of field capacity) as a factorial experiment in format of completely randomized design with three replications. Drought treatment initiated at full heading stage (Zadoks 60) and soluble carbohydrates were measured 5 times (0, 7, 14, 21 and 28 days after anthesis) in the stem internodes, separately. Based on the results it could be said that changes in the receiving signals for senescence phenomena under drought stress, capability of the sink, the rate of the reserves assimilated before anthesis and the use of reserves capacity over stem are the factors affecting the differences of genotypes in remobilization of stem soluble carbohydrates under drought stress. It seems that under drought stress mutant line T-65-7-1 was significantly better than wild type cultivar in terms of remobilization and its efficiency and also for faster receiving signals of senescence (as a stimulating factor of remobilization), higher capability of the sink (more grain yield) and higher reserve capacity (higher maximum soluble carbohydrate concentration and specific content). Also, mutant line T-65-7-1 has utilized full ability of all parts of the stem for remobilizing soluble carbohydrates during grain filling.

Salt stress is one the major environmental stresses limiting quantitative and qualitative aspects of plant growth. One of the methods to overcoming the adverse effects of salinity is application of growth regulators. Salicylic acid is a plant growth regulator its positive effects in alleviating the adverse effects of stresses on plants have been reported. In order to study the effect of salicylic acid (SA) on some morphological, physiological and biochemical characteristics of grapevine, (Vitis vinifera cv. Thompson Seedless), a pot factorial experiment was conducted as randomized complete design, under salinity stress condition. Well-rooted grape cuttings were exposed to five levels of salinity 0 (control), 25, 50, 75 and 100 mM NaCl and four levels of SA, 0 (control), 100, 200 and 300 mg/l. The results indicated that with the increase in salinity levels, the morphological traits, and leaves relative water contents were reduced, leaves cells membrane leakage and the amount of tissues malondialdehyde increased. In salinity level of 100 mM, the length of stem and root was reduced 67. 18 and 59 percent in compared to control. In salinity level of 100 mM, application of 300 mg/l salicylic acid, increased proline and soluble solids 4. 11and 7. 5 times respectively compared to control. It also increased guaiacol peroxidase, ascorbate peroxidase and catalase 3. 15, 4. 1 and 3. 6 times respectively compared to control. Overall, the application of SA (200-300 mg/l) caused increase in growth efficiency, antioxidant enzymes activities and the amount of compatible osmolytes but reduced the ionic leakage.

Iron (Fe) absorption control by pH of substrate or nutrient solution that during growth and nutrient absorbtion of nutrient solution its pH will change and will affect Fe absorbtion. In order to study of different pH levels and different iron concentration on vegetative and photosynthesis traits of cucumber cv. N3 this experiment was designed. Experiment was conducted as a factorial experiment based on CRD with 3 level of pH included 5(acidic), 7(natural) and 8 (alkaline) and Fe concentration with 25, 50 and 100 % of Fe concentration of Johnson nutrient solution with 3 replications in greenhouse of Isfahan University of technology. The result of this experiment showed that transpiration and stomatal conductance decreased with acidification compared to natural and alkaline conditions. Photosynthesis and phenol content of shoot and root increased in acidity condition compared to other conditions. The highest stomata conductance, transpiration and photosynthesis were observed with 25 and 100% Fe, respectively. The result of interaction between Fe and pH showed that alkaline condition caused a reduction of shoot phenol and photosynthesis and by using high Fe concentration it was improved. In general, with acidification of nutrient solution or using high iron concentration the deleterious effect of gradual alkaline nutrient solution was improved in cucumber.

In order to evaluate the effect of combined foliar spray of EBL鶙 before flowering on quality of produced seeds and also the possibility of salt tolerance induction in seedling, seed and seedling vigour test was conducted with presence of NaCl in growth medium. In this research, in addition to seed germination and seedling growth parameters of tomato, lipid peroxidation and activity of some antioxidative enzymes were also measured. The present experiment was carried out as factorial based on RCB design with three replications in Research Farm and Seed Technology Lab of faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources in University of Mohaghegh Ardabili in year 2015. The experimental factors included 24-epibrassinolide (0, 0. 8 and 1. 6 mM), Nano-zinc oxide (0, 600 and 1200 ppm) and salinity stress (0, 50 and 100 mM NaCl). According to obtained results, salinity of 100 mM indicated the least percentage and rate of germination and seedling performance. Also in this stress level, significant decrease were observed in malondialdehyde content and considerable increases recorded in free proline amount and activity of catalase and peroxidase. In general, combined application of EBL (1. 6mM) nZnO (1200 ppm) significantly alleviated the deterrent impacts of salinity on all traits considered, except seed germination percent. icantly alleviated the deterrent impacts of salinity on all traits considered, except seed germination percent.

A pot experiment was conducted in order to study the effects of mycorhizal inoculation on the response of sorghum genotypes to salinity. The experiment was arranged as factorial in a randomized complete block design with three replications. In this study ten sorghum genotypes were tested under two levels of salinity (0 and 100 mM Nacl), and two inoculation (mycorhizae and control) treatments. The interactions between salinity, mycorhizae inoculation and genotype were significant on evaluated traits. There was a decrease in the concentration of phosphurous and potassium and leaf relative water content in most of genotypes and in the percentage of mycorhizae infection, cholorophyll, and shoot dry matter in all genotypes under saline condition. Among tested genotypes, IUA28 was the most tolerant genotype to salinity in both inoculated and none inoculated treatments. The inoculation of plants with mycorhizae increased the concentration of phosphurous, potassium and cholorophyll and decreased the concentration of sodium in treated plants. Under saline condition, except for MGS5, the biomass yield was increased with mycorhizal inoculation and the extent of increase was geatest in MGS2 as compared to other tested genotypes. The ratio of K/Na had a significant role in increasing growth of inoculated plants under saline treatment. Under non saline condition, however, except for KGS33, plant growth was not imporoved by mycorhizal inoculation. The results of this experiment showed that inoculation with mycorhizae can alleviate the negative effects of salinity on sorghum genotypes and there is considerable varition among genotypes in this regards.

The present study aimed to assess the substitution of inorganic fertilizer with manure for increase of quality of fresh basil and its shelf life. Experiment was conducted on randomized complete block design with eight treatments and three replications in research farm of Shahrekord University in 2015. Treatments included NP (N + P), NPS (N + P + S), NPM (N + P + micronutrients), NPSM (N + P + S + micronutrients), CMp (cow manure on the basis of phosphorus), CMn (cow manure on the basis of nitrogen), BLp (chicken manure on the basis of phosphorus) and BLn (chicken manure on the basis of nitrogen). Experimental data showed that the maximum nitrate accumulation was noted in NP, and NPM treatments (62. 78, and 60. 18 mg/kg, respectively) and minimum nitrate accumulation was recorded in CMp and BLp treatments (23. 53, and 26. 77 mg/kg, respectively). The greatest concentration of phosphorus, and potassium, were produced in CMp and BLn, respectively. The highest nitrogen concentration was observed in NP, NPS and BLn treatments, but the highest sulfur was obtained in NPM and NP treatments. The best apparent quality of basil was corresponded to BLp and BLn treatments and CMp, CMn and NPSM treatments were in next order, and the lowest level of apparent quality was observed in NP, NPM, NPS treatments. Altogether, these results suggested that the substitution of inorganic fertilizer with chicken manure or cow manure reduced nitrate accumulation of fresh basil and increased shelf life potential.

Drought stress and ultraviolet radiation as stressful environmental factors have deleterious effects on physiological and growth of plants. So in order to evaluate the effect of drought stress and Ultraviolet on photosynthesis pigments and antioxidant defensive system of enzyme and non-enzyme in three varieties of wheat (Triticum aestivum L. ), a pot experiment was conducted by using factorial based on completely randomized design (RCD) with three replications in 2015. Treatments were drought stress in two levels (control and drought stress by applying 25% of field capacity) and ultraviolet radiation (control and UV-C) and three wheat varieties ("Zare", "Pishgham" and "Mihan"). In this study, morphological traits, photosynthetic pigments and enzymes affecting on defense system were studied. The results showed that under drought stress and UV rays, the content of flavonoids increased in " Mihan" and decreased significantly in "Pishgham" cultivar, while in the same conditions (drought stress and UV radiation), the content of anthocyanins increased significantly. Treatment drought stress and UV caused oxidative stress in different varieties of wheat. In addition drought stress increased phenolic compounds and cause to enhance antioxidant enzymes such as catalase activity, superoxide dismutase and peroxidase. The content of soluble sugars increased under drought stess conditions. In drought stress condition, application UV increased proline amount in all three varieties about 31 percent but in optimum irrigation increased up to 22 percent. Increase of activity of antioxidant enzymes was observed in all three varieties, as well as the content of malondialdehyde and proline increased in all three varieties. UV radiation caused a significant reduction in the concentration of chlorophyll a, b and total chlorophyll. Also drought stress and UV reduced significantly root and stem dry weight, root and stem length. The interaction between drought stress and ultraviolet radiation increased damage to the plant. Also "Zare" variety according to increasing flavonoids and anthocyanin comparison with "Pishgham" and "Mihan" varieties was provn as tolerant to drought stress.

In order to investigation effect of hexaconazole in some morpho-physiological traits of Althaea officinalis in drought stress, the experiment was conducted factorial in the base of complete randomized design with four replications in greenhouse of Islamic Azad university of Neyshabur branch in 2012-2013. Treatments were drought (50%) and control (100%) field capacity and sparying of hexaconazole solution in two concentrations (15 and 25 mg/L) and control. Sampling was done about 125 days after growing, before reproductive growth stage. In the base of comparison of means, drought stress the reduction of other traits except root length, content of proline, protein and catalase activity. The interaction between drought and hexaconazole were significant on the number and leaf area, stem length, stem to root ratio, fresh and dry weight, proline content and activity of peroxidase enzyme. Also, 15 mg/L concentration of hexaconazole compared to other levels, increasing the contents of root length, soluble carbohydrates and protein. Also, number of leaf, stem length, proline and peroxidase enzyme content had decreasing in lower level than higher level of hexaconazole. In the base of the results, high concentrations of triazole compounds can be made further increase growth on Marshmallow in drought conditions as a substance that can be used to reduce the effects of stress.

Selenium as a metalloid and useful element has different effects on plants. It enhances plant growth at low concentrations while high concentrations of this element can cause stress in plants. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of different concentrations of selenium (0, 20, 40, 120 and 240 µ M) equivalent to (0, 2, 4, 11 and 22 mg/L), at the 4-leaf stage, on shoot and tuber growth and some physiological parameters of the Allium iranicum Wendelbo and Allium ampeloprasum L. . The results showed that with increasing concentrations of selenium, the growth rate (height, weight gland and the aerial parts as well as chlorophyll content) of two species significantly decreased which the most reduction was occurred in plants grown at 22 mg/L treatment. Malondialdehyde content was increased in treatments of more than 2 mg/L compared to the control group. With increasing levels of selenium in the medium, catalase activity decreased, while antioxidant compounds content such as carotenoids, carbohydrates and protein increased. The results showed that low selenium concentrations (0-2 mg/L) promote the growth by increasing the amount of chlorophyll as well as the synthesis of carbohydrates, but higher concentrations of selenium (4-22 mg/L) reduced the growth due to the production of reactive oxygen species and reduces the biomass. The overall results of this study showed that different levels of selenium concentration, affect morphological and physiological characteristics of tuber and shoot of two species. The important morphological symptoms of selenium toxicity were tuber and aerial growth reduction and chlorosis of young leaves.

Silicon is the second most abundant element in soil. It is generally considered a beneficial element for the growth of higher plants, especially those grown under stressed environments. Cadmium is a toxic and nonessential element for plant growth and development. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of silicon in improving cadmium stress improvement in tomato. Therefore, the interactional effects of cadmium (0, 50, 100 μ M) and silicon (0, 50, 100 mM) were studied. A completely randomized design study with three replications was conducted in the research laboratory of Shiraz University in 1392. The results showed that cadmium exposure significantly decreased plant growth, the content of chlorophyll and carotenoid pigments. Furthermore, increasing 9 times proline, %19. 3 anthocyanins and %33. 3 the potential total antioxidant, were as consequences of cadmium stress. Lipid peroxidation rate in roots and shoots increased during stress. The application of silicon significantly alleviated the adverse effect of cadmium toxicity in tomato seedlings. This was correlated with reduction of lipid peroxidation in roots and shoots and stimulation of antioxidative activity. Silicon significantly improved growth and photosynthetic pigments in plants under cadmium stress. In all the examined parameters, the treatment 100 mM of silicon had maximum effect of improvement potentiality. Therefore, the concentration of 100 mM silicon is proposed as alleviation of cadmium stress such as oxidative stress in tomato.

One of the important goals of plant physiology in water ecosystems, is biomass and growth increment of green microalgae which led to access to their valuable production. In this regard, many factors are able to influence the increment and decrement of algal biomass. In this research different levels of vanillin (C8H8O3), as 0 (control), 10, 25, 40, 50, 70, 90 and 100 mg. L-1, were investigated during 24 days on cell number, fresh weight, dry weight and some of physiological indices (such as total sugar, reducing sugars, protein and photosynthetic pigments) in two algae, D. badawil-UTEX2538 and D. salina-UTEX200. All experiments were performed as completely randomized design (CRD) in three replications. The highest number of cells was observed at 25, 40 and 50 mg. L-1 vanillin treatments. In D. bardawil, maximum specific growth rate (SGR) and minimum doubling time (DT) of cells were observed at 50 mg. L-1 and in D. salina those were observed at 25 and 40 mg. L-1. Fresh weight, dry weight and total sugar were increased by the most of treatments, but protein and reducing sugars were decreased compared to control. Chl a, total Chl and total carotenoid were increased only in D. bardawil, but Chl b and beta carotene showed decrements. D. salina had a higher growth rate but lower content of protein, total sugar and reducing sugars than D. bardawil. Overall, in contrast to some of the previous researches, vanillin which has phenolic nature induced faster growth rate and cell division in algal suspensions and also in the most of the cases, it led to improvement of physiological indices.

To investigate the amount of nitrogen (N), phosphorous (P) and potassium (K) uptake by crops and weeds in cerealslegumes intercropping, a field experiment was carried out in 2014-2015 growing seasons. Treatments included 10 sole crops (wheat, barley, triticale, pea and bean with and without weeds) and 6 intercropping (wheat + pea, wheat + faba bean, barley + pea, barley + faba bean, triticale + pea and triticale + faba bean with weeds) which laid out in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replicates. Results showed that the highest N content in cereals shoot was obtained in weed-free sole crop wheat (8. 1 %) and in legumes shoot was obtained in weedy sole crop pea (17. 3 %) and weed-free sole crop pea (15. 8 %). Accordingly, There was no significant difference between weedy sole crops and intercropping treatments for N content in weed shoot. The highest value of P content in cereals shoot was observed in faba bean+wheat intercropping (0. 80 %) and weed-free sole crop wheat (0. 79 %). The highest amount of P content in legume and weeds was obtained in weed-free sole crop pea (1. 90 %) and weedy sole crop pea (0. 13 %). The highest amount of K content in cereals, legumes and weed shoot was obtained in barley-pea intercropping (1. 95 %), triticale-pea (1. 59 %) and barley-pea (1. 90 %), respectively. In barley-pea and barley-faba bean intercropping as a result of drastic reduction in weed biomass, nutrients uptake of weeds was less than that of crops. Thus, intercropping can reduce nutrients availability for weeds and it can cause an increase in nutrients for crops which leads to a better crop performance compared to the sole crops.