Plant Productions
Year:2018 | Volume:41 | Issue:2|Papers Count:10

Background and Objectives: Eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) is an economically important crop with a wide range of fruit shapes and colors. Breeding programs in eggplant focus mainly on fruit quality. Production of commercial triploid cultivars and emission of seeds in fruits may increase acceptability by consumer and increase fruit quality. Induced tetraploidy and cross between di and tetraploid parental line is a conventional method used in different fruits and vegetables like watermelon. The current study aim to find how may induced tetraploidy affect pollen grain quality, its fertility, seed and transplant vigor in different eggplant cultivars. Materials and Methods: Aiming to investigate autotetraploidy in four qultivars of Solanum melongena L., Keshtzar, Yalda, Chahboland and Passargad on fertility, number of days till fruit-set, germination rate and percentage and successful transplanting percentage, a survey was done in a completely randomized design. Tetraploid plants were derived from seed maceration/shoot tip treatment (0. 5, 1 and 2 percent of colchicine). To ensure ploidy level, chromosome counting of root tips and flow-cytometry was done during the experiment. To quantify germination percentage and rate, 15 seeds of each cultivar in each ploidy level were placed in petri-dishes in three replications. The seeds of each ploidy form were sown in seedling trays and after seedling period, plugs were transplanted in field for evaluation of characteristics in different ploidy levels. Growth and development rate of plant in seedling stage observed since seeds were cultivated. As soon as hypocotyl appeared on the surface, they were counted. Then seedling emergence and rate were calculated. To test viability of pollen grains, they were stained using acetocarmen. In order to find best parental lines, 18 plants from each cultivar and in each ploidy level were cultivated in the greenhouse condition in three replications. Then all plants were crossed competley (direct and reciprocal). Di and tetraploid plants were tested to find out which one would be better as which parent. Results: Number of days till fruit-set, characteristics of seed and seedling and growth rate in seedling stage were significantly (P≤ 5%) influenced by changes on levels of poloidy. Pollen grain staining with acetocarmine for evaluation of fertility percentage in pollen grains showed that with an increase in ploidy level, fertility may significantly increase (P≤ 5%). In an effort to triploid plant production, none of the crosses between di and tetraploid plant could bear fruit. Discussion: With the overall results, despite slower growth, can be tetraploid plant, due to improved germination and seedling emergence, survival and reproductive capabilities, higher transplanting success in this category of plants, induced increase in the number of chromosomal bundles can be considered as a good way to create genetic variation and prepare parental lines with desirable traits for use in the breeding programs.

Background and Objectives: Salinization of the central lands of Iran has had limited pistachio cultivation and production during the recent decade. Materials and Methods: In this study, seedlings of Pistacia vera ‘ Akbari’ and ‘ Ghazvini’ , and an interspecific hybrid of P. vera ‘ Ghazvini’ × P. atlantica (G × A) were subjected to different NaCl concentrations (0, 50, 100 and 150 mM) in half strength Hoagland’ s solution for 90 days. Results: Salt stress significantly reduced growth of the plants. The highest and the lowest root volumes were observed in ‘ Akbari’ and G×A respectively. The leaf area of ‘ Akbari’ seedlings was significantly higher than the other genotypes under salt stress. Moreover, salt stress significantly reduced total chlorophylls, membrane stability index, the ratio of chlorophyll: carotenoid and greenness of the leaves. In comparison to the control, the lowest values of the mentioned parameters were observed under 150 mM NaCl stress. By increasing NaCl concentration in the growing medium, concentration of Na significantly increased in shoot and root and significant decrease in K + + and Na 2+ and Ca concentration was observed in the shoot and root. Accordingly, Na + +: K + 2+: Ca ratios in the root and shoot were increased. The lowest Na + + + 2+ : K and Na : Ca ratios were found in G×A. Discussion: According to the capability of preserving vigor, and the lowest leaf abscission and oxidative damages under salt stress, pistachio ‘ Akbari’ was introduced as the most salt tolerant genotype among the studied genotypes.

Background and Objectives: Drought stress is a limiting factor for sunflower. Various reports have mentioned the effect of water stress and limited irrigation on sunflower for many respects, including phonological traits, morphology, agronomic and physiological. Sunflower is a crop that can withstand a variety of environmental conditions, particularly drought and due to the developed root system. It has high efficiency in absorbing water from the soil. Sunflower is one of the most important oil crops and due to its high content of unsaturated fatty acids and a lack of cholesterol, the oil benefits from a desirable quality. The aim of this study is to investigate the genetic diversity and the heritability of agro-morphological traits in confectionary sunflower under different levels of drought stress. Materials and Methods: 56 local populations were studied in three separate experiments in rectangular lattice design (7×8) with two replications at Agricultural Research Center of West-Azerbaijan province, Urmia, Iran in 2012. Water treatments were well-watered, moderate and severe water stress conditions so that irrigation was applied with 50%, 70% and 90% depletion of available water, respectively. Various agronomic and morphological traits were calculated based on measuring traits in sunflower. Productivity effort as a physiological trait was measured by dividing the total dry weight of reproductive organs (head) to the total dry weight of plant. Results: The results showed that in all three different water treatment conditions, heritability of head diameter, stem diameter, plant height, grain and biological yield was more than other traits. In well-watered conditions, moderate heritability varied between 0. 52% for number of seeds per head to 80. 61% for plant height. In moderate drought stress condition, the maximum and minimum heritability belonged to head diameter (76. 21%) and chlorophyll index (26. 45%), respectively. In severe drought stress condition, the most and the least heritability was observed for stem diameter (83. 64%) and number of seeds per head (0 %), respectively. Among yield components, the heritability of 1000-grain weight at three water treatment conditions was higher compared to number of seeds per head, so for increasing grain yield, selection via 1000-grain will be more efficient. Discussion: For the traits of grain yield, head diameter, stem diameter, biomass yield, chlorophyll index, dry weight of leaf, head and head with grain, the heritability in severe drought stress was higher than optimum conditions and this showed that the phenotypic variance is a large proportion of the genetic variance of more favorable traits. Due to the fixed component in the numerator and the denominator of genetic variance, environmental variance decreased in drought stress conditions in comparison with optimum irrigation conditions.

Background and Objectives: Recently, the use of cut flowers has increased, and some of these cut flowers (Lily, Rose etc.) are among the most used for decorative purposes. With this boom in popularity has also come a rise in the need for commercial use, and very little academic literature exists on how to best utilize the preservative solutions (here 8-HQC and essential oils) to prolong cut flowers vase life keeping their full quality. The vase life of Lily is usually short due to vascular occlusion. The use of synthetic chemical fungicides to protect cut flowers raises environmental and human health concerns because of chemical residue routinely found on food meant for consumption. Thus, biocides showing insignificant toxicity to human and organisms are more desirable and less likely to cause negative environmental effects. Materials and Methods: The chemical composition of essential oils extracted from the endemic Iranian plants Satureja hortensis L., Thymus vulgaris L. and Citrus limon L. was studied in order to evaluate their efficacy as a substitute for synthetic chemical that was used as preservative-solutions. The effects of essential oils (250 mg L-1) individually and 8-hydroxyquinoline citrate (8-HQC) with sucrose 3% were evaluated. Cut flowers were pulsed for 12 h in different preservative solutions, followed by storage in dry and wet conditions (in distilled water) at 8˚ C for 15 days, and then all treated cut flowers were kept in room temperature to evaluate commercial vase life. At the end of commercial vase life, parameters such as relative fresh weight, amount of chlorophyll, phenol, anthocyanin, protein and carbohydrate, vase life and antioxidant enzyme activities were measured. In this experiment, flowering stems were arranged using a completely randomized design. Results: Limonene was identified as major component of C. limon L. essential oil, whereas Carvacrol was the major component in S. hortensis L. and Th. vulgaris L. Results showed that applying all essential oil treatments or 8-HQC increased positive characteristics and vase life compared with control. However, among all these treatments, the flowers treated with Thyme essential oil plus 3% sucrose or 8-HQC were kept in wet storage condition showed best vase life. Based on our results, new antimicrobial agents such as limonene, thymol and carvacrol in combination with 3% sucrose had a positive effect on the vase-life and relative fresh weight. The senescence of cut flowers is associated with a series of highly regulated physiological and biochemical processes, including breakage of water balance, degradation of photosynthetic pigment, decrease in metabolic constituents, and loss of membrane integrity. In our experiment, Thyme essential and 8-HQC oil treatments were reduced degradation of leaf protein and chlorophyll content which was seen in the controls. Essential oils derived from plants such as T. vulgaris are particularly valuable because of their antibacterial and antioxidant properties. Discussion: In conclusion, using various concentrations of essential oils and 8-HQC in preservative solutions showed promising prospects for the utilization of natural essential oils or plant extracts in extending lily vase-life. The proposed mechanism of action, e. g. inhibition of the growth of bacteria in the vase water or inside the xylem vessels of the flower stem needs further elucidation.

Background and Objectives: In order to introduce the best method of planting between Cretan and furrow and also spraying nanoparticles of calcium on the quality and quantity of Gladiolus flowers (Gladiolus hybrida cv. Magma), a study was conducted at the research farm. Nanoparticles release nutrients slowly and continuously because of having nanomembranes so that we can adjust the speed of releasing nutrients from the capsuls. Using this fact, the efficiency of nanoparticles would improve. Cretan method is the most common method of planting of Gladiolus in Iran. Materials and Methods: Corms were planted in two ways; Cretan and furrow planting. The density of them was 24 per square meter (four rows with the distance of 15 cm). Nanoparticles of calcium at three levels (0, 1 mg/litre, and 2 mg/litre) were sprayed on the plants before the harvest once a week for three weeks. Considering the importance of planting methods and performance of nanoparticles of calcium, a factorial experiment was conducted based on randomized complete block design with three replications. Data were analyzed using SAS software. Results: In this study after the harvesting, most of the features of flowers were measured including: the inflorescence length, the inflorescence weight, the weight index of cut flower (fresh weight of the cut flower/ the length of the cut flower), the shoot diameter, the shoot length, the diameter of the first and the second floret, the number of florets, the number of corm, the corm weight, a, b, and the total chlorophyll, the relative water content, and the vase life. Significant differences were observed at the 5% level for all of the traits except the weight index of the cut flower and the relative water content. The cut flower weight, the cut flower length, the inflorescence length, the florets diameter, the number of florets, the number of corm, and the vase life were increased in the furrow planting method. The importance of the nanoparticles of calcium treatments on vase life was significant. The Number of corms was also significant in the furrow planting method. Discussion: The results of this study showed that the quality, the yield and the vase life in furrow planting were better than those in the Cretan. The foliar feeding calcium nanoparticles resulted in survival improvement in post-harvest flowers. In Khuzestan, which is capable of producing commercial Gladiolus flowers in autumn and winter, the furrow planting can be used to obtain flowers with higher quality and quantity instead of using the cretan planting.

Background and Objectives: Sweet cherry fruit due to high water content and respiration rate is rotten in post-harvest period and hence has a short storage life. So, reducing of respiration rate and delaying of senescence process are required for increasing of storage life. Gamma amino butyric acid (GABA) is a nonprotein amino acid with low content in the cell in normal state. No study has taken into account the effect of GABA on the storage life of sweet cherry fruit and also, increasing of shelf life by natural compounds seems essential to maintain the quality. Therefore, this study was conducted with the aim of improving the post-harvest quality of sweet cherry fruit, increasing biochemical and antioxidant properties and improving fruit appearance using GABA with the purpose of replacing it with synthetic chemicals. Materials and Methods: Fruits of sweet cherry cv. Tak Daneyeh Mashhad were harvested at commercial maturity from a commercial orchard in Urmia (Iran) and transported to laboratory immediately. GABA was used in three concentrations (5, 10 and 20 mM). Titration method was used for determination of Titratable acid (TA) and pH was determined by pH meter. TSS was determined by refractometer. Total antioxidant capacity was determined by ferric ions reducing antioxidant power assay (FRAP). Total phenolic content was determined by Folin ciocalteu method and total flavonoid content was determined by the aluminum chloride colorimetric method. Results: The results showed that TA content remains constant with treatment of GABA during storage. GABA treatment leads to an increase in total antioxidant activity, total phenol, total flavonoid and activity of catalase and guaiacol peroxidase enzymes in the treated fruits compared to control fruit after 30 days of storage. The pH value in treated fruits compared to untreated fruits was decreased during storage. Also, GABA at 10 mM level compared with other concentrations had the highest effect on total antioxidant capacity after 30 days of storage. Discussion: The increasing of organic acids in treating fruits can be probably due to increasing of antioxidant capacity by GABA treatment, hence the damage to membrane was prevented and the organic acids were used less frequently. Treatment of fruits with GABA decreased the pH during storage, which may be due to its role in reducing of respiration rate in harvested fruits. The mechanism of the effect of GABA on increasing of total phenol and flavonoid content may be due to stimulating the production of Phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL) which can trigger phenylpropanoid pathway and hereby, syntheses of phenolic compounds such as flavonoids compounds were occurred. Catalase is one of the key enzymes to protect the cells and cause the conversion of hydrogen peroxide to water and oxygen. Therefore, probably the GABA treatment via the increasing the antioxidant system such as catalase leads to scavenge free radicals thereby protecting plants against oxidative stress.

Background and Objectives: In recent decades, global warming causes climate changes which triggers physiological and nutrition disorders in plants. Iran is a main pistachio producer in the world. Pistachio cultivar is mainly grafted into seedling rootstocks are which obtained from especial cultivars and wild type pistachio. The changes in the vegetative growth and yield in pistachio orchards have been obviously observed in the years with so warm or so cold weather conditions. The purpose of this research was evaluating the effects of temperature on the growth of three pistachio rootstocks. Materials and Methods: In order to study the effect of temperature on the growth and physiological characteristics of three commercial pistachio rootstocks, a factorial experiment on the basis of a completely randomized design (CRD) was carried out with three replications. The first factor was three rootstocks including: Pistacia vera cv. Badamie-zarand, P. vera cv. Ghazvini and P. vera var. Sarakhsi and the second factor was four temperature conditions including: 10, 15, 20 and 25 degrees Celsius. Pistachio seedlings after planting up to 15-leaf stage were kept in the greenhouse condition and then the pots were transferred to growth chambers which adjusted to defined temperature treatments. The plants were kept in temperature treatments for fifteen days. At the end of experiment, growth parameters including fresh and dry leaf weight, fresh and dry weight in shoot and root and leaf area and physiological parameters including stomatal conductance, relative water content of leaves and leaf chlorophyll index were measured. The statistical analysis was done using SAS 9. 1 software and mean comparison was done by using the lowest significant difference test (LSD). Results: The results showed that with increasing environmental temperature, an increase in the number of leaves, stem height, dry weight of leaf, stem and root, leaf area was observed in pistachio rootstocks. There were significant differences among rootstocks in most of the growth parameters. BadamieZarand was more vigorous than the other rootstocks in low temperature. The highest SPAD index was observed in high temperature environment (20, 25° C) beside lowest SPAD index level was observed at Low temperature environmental (10, 15° C). Minimum and maximum stomatal conductance was respectively obtained at 10 and 25 ° C in Sarakhsi rootstocks which reveals the sensitivity of this rootstock to temperature fluctuations. In contrast, stomatal conductance variations in the Ghazvini rootstocks are lower than the other rootstocks when exposed to different environmental temperature. This may show the tolerance of this variety to changes of environmental temperature conditions. The leaf RWC in three pistachio rootstocks at different ambient temperatures shows a significant difference. At 15 and 20° C, Ghazvini rootstock has the highest RWC and Badamie-Zarand rootstock has the lowest levels of RWC. The highest relative water content was obtained at 10° C in Sarakhsi rootstock and at 25° C in Badamie-Zarand rootstock. Positive correlation between root dry weight and stomatal conductance reflects the rootstock compatibility with ecological conditions. Discussion: Badami Zarand rootstock has more vegetative growth in low temperature environment and more adaptation to a wide range of temperature in comporison to two others rootstock and also can be recommended to nursery as a rootstock for planting.

Background and Objectives: Tomato is one of the most important vegetable in Iran, not only because of its economics importance, but also for the nutritional value of its fruit, mainly due to the fact that they are an excellent source of natural colors and antioxidant compounds. Water quality and fruit maturity stage has a significant effect on tomato fruit quality. In the present research, we studied the response of tomato grown at different salinity levels, as well as the changes that take place during different maturity stages, in order to improve the management and harvesting of tomato and obtain fruit of a higher nutritional value. Materials and Methods: In this study, to evaluate the effect of salinity and fruit ripening stage on physical, biochemical properties and shelf life of tomato fruits in hydroponics system, an experiment was carried out as factorial based on randomized complete block design with three replications at Moghan College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, during 2015. Fruits from plants grown under three saline treatments (2, 4 and 8 dS m-1 ) were harvested at three ripening states (mature green, purple and red colors). The nutrient solution was prepared based on full strength of Hoagland's solution containing: 5. 6 mM Ca (NO3)2, 4 mM KNO3, 1 mM KH2PO4. Characteristics such as fruit fresh and dry weight, total soluble solid, firmness, flavor index, titratable acidity, soluble protein, ascorbate peroxidase activity and shelf life were measured. Results: The results showed that total soluble solids, juice electrical conductivity and dry matter percentage of fruits significantly increased with increasing salinity in the nutrient solution and progressed the ripening stage, but fruit water content decreased by 9%. The highest weight (147. 7 g) and volume of fruits (153 cm 3 ) were obtained in plants grown under 2 dS m-1 salinity and fruits harvested at the purple stage. Titratable acidity increased with increasing of salinity in the nutrient solution, but its content decreased at the red color stage. Firm fruit with greater shelf life was observed under 2 dS m-1 salinity and at the mature green stage. Soluble protein content in fruit was increased by increasing salinity levels in the nutrient solution, especially at the ripening stage. The application of 4 dS m-1 salinity at mature green stage increased ascorbate peroxidase activity up to 62. 5% compared to 8 dS m-1 salinity and red color fruits. Discussion: These results suggest that the improvement in fruit quality induced by the salinity is achieved by some biochemical changes and the reduction of fruit water content. Increasing of salinity in the nutrient solution can be useful for improving fruit quality, especially, when fruit is harvested at the red stage. However, with increasing salinity in the nutrient solution up to 4 dS m-1 and fruit harvest in the red color stage fruits with better quality and more suitable weight can be produced.

Background and Objectives: Wheat is the most important crop in Iran and every year about 6. 5 million ha of arable lands in the country is cultivated by this strategic crop. Weeds cause 23 to 30% reduction in yield of wheat annually. Winter wild oat is the most serious grass weed of wheat fields of Iran. Chemical method is the common way to weed control in wheat fields. ACCase inhibitors such as clodinafop-propargyl, diclofop-methyl and Fenoxaprop-P ethyl + Mefen pair di ethyl are widely used for control of grasses in this regard. Continuous application of herbicides with the same mode of action has resulted in developing herbicide resistant biotypes of weeds such as Avena ludoviciana. The objectives of the current study were: 1) to screen the collected accession of A. ludoviciana suspected to resistance to FOP herbicides, 2) to determine the resistance factor of resistant biotypes and 3) mapping distribution of resistant biotypes. Materials and Methods: In order to survey Avena ludoviciana resistance to clodinafop-propargy, diclofop-methyl and Fenoxaprop-P ethyl+ Mefen pair di ethyl herbicides in wheat fields of Gonbad-e Kavus, several experiments were conducted in 2014 at Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources. (115 populations). The seed bioassay in Petri dish and pot experiment was conducted to determine resistance to acetyl coenzyme Acaboxylase inhibitors (ACCase), respectively. The seed bioassay experiment consisted of screening the suspected populations with discriminating concentration and concentration-response bioassay for resistant populations. Results: In 48, 27 and 21 populations of A. ludoviciana were resistant to clodinafop-propargyl, diclofop-methyl and Fenoxaprop-P ethyl + Mefen pair di ethyl herbicides. Resistance accessions indicated varying degrees of resistance to tested herbicides. Based on EC50, the lowest and highest resistance to Clodinafop-propargyl herbicide was shown in Accessions of 74 and 6 with resistance factors of 1. 99 and 31. 42, respectively. Also for Diclofop-methyl herbicide, EC50 values from 2. 88 for accession of 103 (with 1. 34 resistanc factor) to 16. 02 for accession of 91 (with 7. 45 resistance factor) were different. In addition, EC50 estimated for Fenoxaprop-P ethyl + Mefen pair di ethyl herbicide was different from 0. 124 to 0. 86 for 20 and 6 accessions, respectively. Checking the distribution map of resistance accessions showed these accessions had uniform distribution in this city. Discussion: Based on these observations, the existence of cross-resistance to herbicides was proved in some of the collected accessions. The results of this study can be used to correct programs designed to manage weeds herbicide resistance and prevent of the development of the plants in other areas.

Background and Objectives: After the potato and tomato, onion production is in the third place in world, but planting it in the fall season is faced with the problem of bolting. Although flower production is one of the main stages of seed production, flowering branches formation by consuming foods stored in the bulb reduces the quality and quantity of products. Critical size of plants for stimulating the production of flowering branches depends on genotype (Brewster, 1985). Temperature requirement for stimulating flower production varies between 5 and 12 degree Centigrade (Khokhar et al., 2007; Wiebe, 1990; Brewster, 1982). Thus, studying how this phenomenon, effective environmental conditions and its inducing factors for identifying bolting resistant genotypes is considered important. Materials and Methods: The seeds of six Iranian landraces genotypes of onion including Lorestan, Qom, Tehran, Kerman, Hormozgan and Sistan (received from Iranian Gene Bank, Karaj), 10 indigenous genotypes collected from different regions of the center and south of Iran, as well as two foreign commercial cultivars were planted in pots in the greenhouse condition. After reaching the eight leaf stage, plants were transferred to the cold room. The average temperature of cold room was 8 ° C and photoperiod was 11 hours brightness to simulate winter condition. To evaluate cold requirement for bolting, two different treatment times (45 and 70 days) were considered. After that treatment, pots were transferred to the greenhouse. Some morphological, phonological and physiological traits were measured. Results: According to results of analysis of variance, differences of all traits between all studied genotypes were significant showing high variability in genotypes. Also, the effect of genotype and treatment for plant height, flowering percentage, total leaf soluble solids and total leaf soluble protein was significant. In this study, Kerman genotype was identified as the most resistance genotype to bolting in both treatments. Then Ghale Reiysi, Golden and Badrood genotypes, with the small flowering percentage showed the highest resistance to bolting. Badrood genotype had the highest sensitivity to bolting. Discussion: Kazemi Shahandashti et al. (2011) suggested that cold treatment inhibits cell division so the temperature decrease leads to stoping the growth and changing the synthesis of proteins. However, in some plants during the cold treatment, adaptability to cold is normal and higher height in some genotypes can be attributed to cold adaptability of them. These results generally reflect the diversity between genotypes in terms of flower production and indicate that in line with other studies (Darabi, 2010), the flower production reduced weight, length, diameter and volume of bulb. In general, increase in total soluble solids can be considered as a physiological index for resistance to bolting.