Plant Production Technology
Year:2019 | Volume:18 | Issue:2|Papers Count:17

The aim of this study was to evaluate the spear (edible part of asparagus) nutritional value of Iranian asparagus species in terms of macronutrients nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium and assessment of its relationship with soil and environmental factors by Canonical correlation analysis. Spears were collected from 12 regions of Iran. By noticed to our results, wild Asparagus species in Iran are distributed in different climates as wet. warm temperate in the north, dry. desertic in the south, cold and dry in the west, warm and dry in the center and cool with mediterranean conditions. The results revealed that the average fresh weight of one spear in male was 6. 57g and in female was 7. 42g. Dry matter in male gender (16. 56%) was obtained more than in female gender (14. 63%). According to the t test difference between male and female genders were not significant in term of phosphorus, nitrogen and potassium. Standard canonical coefficients in the first canonical variable environmental factors showed the effects of AminT and AT on spear nitrogen and phosphorus content. Canonical loadings result clear that spears with high phosphorus (more than 0. 7%) were produced in areas with low pH (less than 8. 2 and next to 7), while in this condition potassium level was reduced (to 2. 98%). Spears with high potassium (more than 8%) were obtained in areas with low rainfall (annually 154mm) and high altitude (1600m). Reduction rainfall and increasing altitude had caused reducing amount of spear nitrogen (less than 0. 84%).

Dracocephalum moldavica L. (Moldavian Balm) is a medicinal and aromatic plant which is consumed as an edible vegetable in Northwest of Iran. The present study was carried out to assess the diversity among 7 landraces (Cultivated populations) of D. moldavica, originated from east and west Azerbaijan provinces (Northwest Iran), based on 11 agromorphologic traits and phytochemical characteristics of essential oil. Populations including Naghadeh, Keshtiban, Topragh-Ghalae, Baghchajogh, Hokm-Abad, Jahangir and Shiraz-Valley were evaluated. Seeds of seven populations were cultivated in a field condition of Hamedan. The results from the assessment of the agro-morphological traits showed significant differences among populations in ten traits studied. The essential oil contents, obtained from the plants, ranged from 0. 03% to 0. 12% based on leaf dry weight (w/w%). The highest essential oil percentage (0. 12%) was determined for Hokm-Abad. In all, 27 compounds were identified in essential oils Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) in 7 populations. Geranyl acetate (19. 85%-45. 58%) was found to be the dominant component for all essential oils extracted from populations. Two grouping pattern resulted from two clustering analysis based on 11 agromorphologic traits and the compositions of essential oil. They divided the populations into two distinct groups but they did not match. The results of correlation analysis, based on agromorphologic traits and major compounds of essential oils, showed that the stem diameter, as the only morphological trait, was positively correlated with essential oil content. The findings of this research provide information that could be useful for better exploration and breeding programs of D. moldavica.

The genus Onosma L. is one of the important genera of the family Boraginaceae. In flora Iranica, the genus comprises 55 species, of which 17 are endemic to Iran. Onosma species contain secondary metabolits that represent antioxidant and antibiotic activities. Methanolic extracts of three Onosma species, namely Onosma pachypoda L., Onosma sericea L. and Onasma microcarpa DC. from flora of Iran were in vitro screened for their total phenol, flavonoid, proanthocynidin and alkaloid contents and also their possible antioxidant activities by different tests. Results showed that the methanolic extract of Onasma microcarpa contained the highest amount of total phenols. Onosma pachypoda and Onosma sericea represented the highest flavonoid content. Results also showed the highest amount of alkaloid and proanthocyanidin in Onosma sericea and Onosma pachypoda, respectively. In addition, methanolic extracts of the three Onosma species showed strong antioxidant activity and Onosma microcarpa represented the lowest IC50. It seems that phenolic compounds are the substances that play an important role in antioxidant activity.

High diversity and selection are base of each breeding program. The objectives of this research were assessing genetic diversity and clustering chickpea lines, estimating heritability and identification of the related traits to grain yield. The experiment carried out based on RCBD with three replications during 2012-13 growing season. The genotypes showed significant difference (p<0. 05) for all traits and they distributed in four areas of bi-plot. The above results indicate that the lines had high genetic diversity. The broad sense heritability of traits varied from 60. 17, for plant height, to 94. 80, for 100-kernel weight. Three first main components recognized as "yield and yield component” , “ plant growth or vigor component “ and "water retain component” respectively and explained 73. 3 percent of total data variance. The four main factors were respectively named as "yield and yield components factor", "increasing generative period factor” , "water retain factor” and "increasing growing period factor” . Above-mentioned factors explained 80. 90 percent of total data variance. Cluster analysis grouped the lines in four clusters and discrimination function analysis confirmed the cluster analysis results. The lines of first and third clusters, had minimum and maximum yield and yield components respectively. Therefore, crossing between first and there clusters can be useful for creating new divers genotypes.

In this research, the effect of different concentrations of Paclobutrazol (0, 200, 300, 400mg. L-1) and different application times of paclobutrazol (beginning of tuberization, 10, 20 and 30 days after tuberization) on some qualitative and quantitative traits of ‘ Sante’ potato cultivar were investigated. Test was performed in a factorial experiment based on randomized complete blocks design with two factors by 3 replications. Paclobutrazol (Culture commercial suspension with 250gr. L-1 active ingredient of PBZ) was used as foliar spray on potato plants. Conclusion of analysis variances demonstrated that effect of paclobutrazol application time was significant (p≤ 0. 01) on large, small and seed tuber size production. The effect of Paclobutrazol concentration showed significant difference on tuber dry matter percentage, large, small, potato seed tuber, total number, mean weight of tuber and tuber number per plant. Comparison means results showed that use of poclobutrazol with concentrations of 300 and 400mg. L-1 increased amount of tuber in potato plants. As a result, number of total tubers per plant and number of tuber seeds have been increased by 9. 8% and 13. 2% respectively. Although application of paclobutrazol in these two levels significantly increased mean number of tuber per plant but had no significant effect on total yield comparison with control treatment. By results of this experiment we can conclude that application of paclobutrazol on potato plant will be considerably able to increase percentage of seed tuber size. Consequently, this situation leads to more efficiency of tuber production per area unit in potato seed farms.

Use of integrated plant nutrition methods could improve the quantity and quality of crops. This study was carried out in order to study of effects of effective microorganisms and enriched vermiwash with different methods of plant nutrition on sunflower yield in during 2013. The experiment was done as a factorial arrangement of treatments, in a randomized complete blocks design with three replications. Treatments consisted of different nutrition methods [N1= 300kg ha-1 Urea (Control), N2= 50% of nutrition by Urea + 50% of nutrition by FAM (15ton ha-1), N3= 50% of nutrition by FAM + 50% of nutrition by nitrogen fixation of Phaseolus sp. ), N4= 50% of nutrition by Urea + 50% of nutrition by nitrogen fixation of Phaseolus sp. ) and foliar spray of plant bio-stimulants (B1= Foliar with vermiwash, B2= Foliar with enrich vermiwash, B3= Foliar with bioferment, B4= Foliar with effective microorganisms + quail egg). The results indicated that the foliar spray of plant bio-stimulants caused marked changes in characteristics such as number of green leaf, dry biomass, harvest index of head, oil yield, hectoliter weight and nitrogen use efficiency. The maximum and minimum of nitrogen use efficiency (16. 72 and 11. 02%) were obtained with the (50% of nutrition by animal manure + 50% of nutrition by nitrogen fixation of phaseolus) and (50% of nutrition by animal manure + 50% of nutrition by 150kg ha-1 Urea) treatments, respectively. Furthermore, in the treatments of bio-stimulat levels, the most and least amounts of nitrogen use efficiency with averages of 15. 46 and 12. 59% were obtained with foliar spray of (effective microorganism + quail egg) and enriched vermiwash, respectively.

In order to investigate the effect of different levels of ascorbic acid and salicylic acid on physiological characteristics of safflower (Sofeh cv. ) under salinity stress, a pot experiment was conducted in research greenhouse of agronomy and plant breeding department of Yasouj university in 2012. This experiment was carried out as a factorial in based on completely randomized design with three replications. Experimental factors consisted of salinity with three levels (0, 90 and 180mM NaCl) and foliar application with five levels including salicylic acid (0. 5 and 1mM), ascorbic acid (200 and 400ppm)and control (without foliar application). The results indicated that increasing the salt concentration (Sodium chloride) lead to decreased total chlorophyll content, relative water content and potassium of leaf and increased prolin, soluble carbohydrate, electrolyte leakage, malondialdehid and sodium of leaf. Foliar application of 400 ppm ascorbic acid and 0. 5 and 1mM salicylic acid increased prolin, soluble carbohydrate, chlorophyll and potassium of leaf and decreased electrolyte leakage, malondialdehid and sodium of leaf significantly but it had not effect on relative water content of leaf. Based on obtained result can stated that foliar by salicylic acid and ascorbic acid via increasing prolin and soluble carbohydrate and also decresed electrolyte leakage and sodium of leaf caused moderate the adverse effects of salinity stress on the safflower.

In order to study on the effects of vermicompost and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (Glomus intraradices) on the morphological and biochemical factors of Thymus vulgaris an experiment was carried out on randomized complete block design with three replications. This experiment was done during growing season of 2008 to 2010 at Semnan Agricultural and Natural Resources research station. Treatments were included: the mycorrhizal inoculums (Glomus intraradices), 5 and 10ton. ha-1 of vermicompost and control treatment. Results showed that the vermicompost (10ton. ha-1) applications enhanced dry herb yield by 87% and stimulated essential oil yield by 166% in T. vulgaris plants with respect to controls. The uptake of N concentration significantly increased in 10ton. ha-1 vermicompost applications. The Mycorrhizal inoculation increased dry herb yield by 49%, enhanced essential oil yield by 149% and increased P uptake by 36% in T. vulgaris plants with respect to controls. Our findings confirm that applied the appropriate biofertilizer, can produce the highest quality thymus plants that should be able to show higher quantitative and qualitative production in organic systems compare to control plants.

One of the most important medicinal plants to produce alkaloid is the dicot Poppies plant. This plant is the only commercial source of some important drugs such as Morphinan, antitussive codeine, antimicrobial Noscapine and Thebaine until now. The Agrobacterium rhizogenesis causes hairy root disease in plant wounds and optimization of hairy root cultures can increase the amount of alkaloids which are produced naturally in plants roots. In this study, in order to optimization of hairy roots induction with higher efficiency, two distinct factorial experiment for excised shoot and hypocotyl explants was conducted based on completely randomized design with 4 replications. In both of these factorial experiments, 3 factors was studied included Agrobacterium rhizogenesis (3 strain types), basal medium (B5 and 1/2B5) and light condition (48h dark and 16h dark/8h light). Results of excised shoot explant experiment showed that AR15834 strain induced highest percentage of hairy roots and about lateral branches in 1 cm length of hairy roots, the most lateral branches were observed by AR15834 strain in 1/2B5 medium. Results of hypocotyl explant experiment showed that amount of hairy root induction by this explant very lower than excised shoot explant experiment and AR15834 strain with 48h darkness was the best treatment. Totally, results of these two experiments showed that excised shoot explants had better response than hypocotyl explant and for excised shoot explant, 1/2B5 medium and AR15834 strain had the highest induced hairy roots.

Assessment of general and specific combining, heterosis and genes action for traits until the advention of the first female flower, time to first harvest, the number of fruit branch main and plant height up to first fruit the were experiment half diallel 7×7 second and fourth Griffing method using a fixed model for a number cucumber lines in 2014. Result of variance analysis showed significant differences among genotypes. Mean squares of general combining and specific combining revealed significant differences for all traits. These reflects the importance of both addative and dominance effects genes of inheritance traits. Specific combining for traits until the advention of the first female flower and number of fruit branch main was futher general combining which reflects the non-addative genes action. For traits time to first harvest and fruit plant height up to first fruit due to the high general combining controlled by addative and non-addative genes action. Line B10 and B12 due to general and specific combining ability for seed production of hybrid cucumber is desirable and recommended.

Assessment of general and specific combining, heterosis and genes action for traits until the advention of the first female flower, time to first harvest, the number of fruit branch main and plant height up to first fruit the were experiment half diallel 7×7 second and fourth Griffing method using a fixed model for a number cucumber lines in 2014. Result of variance analysis showed significant differences among genotypes. Mean squares of general combining and specific combining revealed significant differences for all traits. These reflects the importance of both addative and dominance effects genes of inheritance traits. Specific combining for traits until the advention of the first female flower and number of fruit branch main was futher general combining which reflects the non-addative genes action. For traits time to first harvest and fruit plant height up to first fruit due to the high general combining controlled by addative and non-addative genes action. Line B10 and B12 due to general and specific combining ability for seed production of hybrid cucumber is desirable and recommended.

Purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea L. ) is a perennial medicine plant that belongs to Asteraceae family. It is using as immune system stimulant in medicinal industries. This study was done to evaluating root yield, aerial yield and chlorogenic acid yield under different levels of N fertilizer and plant density. The experiment was conducted at Agricultural and Natural Resource Research Center of Isfahan in a split plot experiment based on randomized complete block design with three replication, during 2009-2010. The N fertilizer (0, 75, 150, 225kg/ha) was as main factor and different densities (11, 17 and 33 plant per m2) were sub factors. Based on the results the interaction of N levels × different densities × year were significant for aerial dry weight, root dry weight, aerial and root dry yield per hectare and chlorogenic acid yield per hectare. The highest dry weight of aerial and root plant (67. 6 and 57. 7, respectively) were observed at 225kg/ha N fertilizer and 11 plant per m2 densities. The aerial and root dry yield per hectare (19127 and 6342kg/ha, respectively) and chlorogenic acid yield in aerial and root plant (293. 2 and 63. 4gr/ha, respectively) were obtained in 225kg/ha N fertilizer and 33 plant per m2 densities. A significant positive correlation was observed between aerial dry yield per hectare with root dry yield and chlorogenic acid yield of plant.

In order to study the correlation between yield component and seed yield of sesame and to determine the relationships between shoot length, capsules per plant, seeds per capsule, 1000-seed weight, biological yield and harvest index, in 2013 an experiment was conducted based on RCBD design with ten treatments (including different biological and chemical fertilizers) in experimental field of Ferdowsi university of Mashhad. Results showed that there was a positive and significant correlation between seed yield and plant height, but much of the efficacy of plant height on seed yield was by influencing capsules per plant. Biological and seed yield had a positive and significant correlation (0. 81 and 0. 87, respectively) with capsules per plant. The highest direct effect of components on seed yield was belonged to “ capsules per plant” and the least belonged to “ plant height” . Analysis of regression showed that capsules per plant and biological yield had the most effect on seed yield and their partial regression coefficient was 10. 7 and 0. 134, respectively. The partial regression coefficient for standardized data of these two traits showed the priority of biological yield in comparison with capsules per plant. Yield function that is a function of capsules per plant and biological yield, with the coefficient of determination of 0. 96 justified a large part of seed yield. So biological yield and capsules per plant were the most important traits of sesame that can be considered by researchers. Also, after calibration of yield function, it can be used for estimating the production of sesame.

In order to study the effects of different fertilizer compounds on vegetative growth of red bean (Phaseoulous vulgaris L. ), a two factorial experiment in complete randomized block design with two factors and three replications was conducted in research glasshouse of Vali-e-Asr University of Rafsanjan. The first factor was fertilizer compounds consisted in four levels as: nitrogen + phosphorus (starter control), nitrogen + phosphorus + zinc, nitrogen + phosphorus+ zinc+ molybdenum and nitrogen+ phosphorus+ zinc+ molybdenum+ cattle manure. The second factor included two cultivars Akhtar and Derakhshan. Results showed that adding Zinc, Molybdenum or cattle manure to starter control significantly decreased total shoot dry mass, stem dry mass, roots weight and volume and leaf area at flowering emergence, however this effect disappeared considerably at pod emergence. There was no significant difference between genotypes. On the other hand, shoot assay for some elements concentration showed that P, Zn and Mn content was the highest in N+ P+ Zn+ Mo+ cattle manure compound and Ca and Na content was the highest in N + P + Zn compound. Results suggested that although adding Zn, Mo and cattle manure to starter control may lead to increased concentration of some macro and micro nutrients in red bean seedlings but decreases vegetative growth probably due to increased concentration of Na and Ca.

In order to primary select high yielding and adapted wheat lines for rainfed conditions, 165 inbred lines of wheat with four controls were examined in a 13 × 13 square lattice design with two replications in the agricultural research station Zanjan university in 2011-12. Days to tillering, days to stem elongation, days to booting, days to heading, days to anthesis, plant height, awn length, 1000-grain weight, grain yield, biomass and harvest index were evaluated. The result showed that the lines have significant differences. The results of cluster analysis by Ward method, categorized lines into three distinct groups. The results of principal component analysis and biplat have relatively large computability with the grouping of lines, too. This grouping was relatively consistent with grouping of cluster analysis. According to the results of grouping and importance of traits in drought resistance and yield under stress conditions, third group lines that were early lines with very favorable yield characteristics, tall and earlyness as the best lines among the 169 lines is introduced and using these lines is recommended for future breeding programs.

Pear seedlings are the most predominant rootstocks for pear trees in Iran that are vigorous and show diversities. In addition, the use of semi-dwarfing clonal quince rootstocks is limited due to their susceptibilities to stresses. Based on these, Pyrodwarf pear rootstock could be considered as a new choice for intensive orchards, therefore, in this research growth and bearing of four important commercial pear cultivars including Beyrouti, Dargazi, Louise Bonne and Spadona cultivars were evaluated on this rootstock from 2012-2014. The orchard was established with 333 trees/hec and modified leader training form. The highest diametric growth of rootstocks, trunk diameters, tree heights, number of lateral shoots and annual growths were observed in the Spadona, Dargazi and Louise Bonne cultivars, respectively. All pear cultivars at the first year demonstrated higher diametric growth and lower height comparing to the standards of pear trees on the seedling rootstocks. In addition, cultivar Beyrouti with the lowest diameters of the stock and scion, and reduced 30% of growth was the most dwarf combination. All cultivars bloomed at the second years and had small quantities of fruit bearing at the subsequent year, but the highest bloom density and rate of spur/trunk surface area were observed in Dargazi, while the highest spur density along the branches observed in cultivar Beyrouti. According to the results, Pyrodwarf rootstock with dwarfing effects about 30%, early bloom initiation and bearing in the second and third years of cultivation could be considered as a promising choice for establishment of semi-dwarfing pear orchards.

In many citrus orchards fruit quality, such as yield, is not in appropriate status. Perhaps one of the reasons is related to nutrition method of citrus trees, particularly in situations where most soils of country are calcareous. Main purpose of this expriment was the evaluation of iron, zinc, copper and manganese foliar application on yield, fruit quality and nutrient lime leaves. The elements (in sulfate forms) as single or to gether and with detemined concentration (3 to 5 part per thousand) before and after tree flowering were sprayed on the foliage. Some fruit quality parameters were affected by the treatments so that the use of ferrous sulfate and zinc, separately, led to a significant reduction in fruit pH and spraying zinc and manganese substantially increased the thickness of the skin of the fruit. . In general, though nutrition lime trees by spraying with micronutrients did not have significant effect on yield but was improved some fruit quality characteristics; So that the pH of fruit with foliar application of ferrous sulfate and zinc sulfate with concentration of 5 and 3 per thousand, respectively, was decreased significantly (2. 181 and 2. 186 respectively) and manganese sulfate treatment with concentration of 5 per thousand significantly increased fruit juice (53. 37%). Thus the use of iron and manganese sulfate as a concentration of 5 per thousand and spraying zinc sulfate as a concentration of 3 per thousand to increase fruit quality lime is recommended.