Iranian Journal of Crop Sciences
Year:2014 | Volume:16 | Issue:3|Papers Count:7

Safflower with high grain oil quality and good tolerance to environmental stresses can be important for oil seed production. A good source of useful genes for improving cultivars of this plant species is its wild relatives. This experiment was conducted to assess the genetic variation and tolerance to drought stress in F3 families derived from a cross between domesticated (Carthamus tinctorius L.) and wild (C.oxyacanthus L.) safflower species using a randomized complete block design with three replications under drought stress and non-stress conditions. High heritability was observed for the studied traits including: days to flowering, days to physiological maturity, plant height, number of branches per plant, number of head per plant, number of grain.head-1, 1000-grain weight and grain yield. The highest genetic coefficient of variability belonged to grain yield per plant (41% and 36% in stress and non-stress conditions, respectively). Transgressive segregation was also observed among the F3 families in both directions and both conditions for most of the traits. The presence of significant genotype by environment interaction for the studied traits implied different reactions of families to drought stress and non-stress conditions. Family 36 with high yield in both stress and non-stress conditions and low reduction in grain yield under drought stress was identified as the superior family. Result of this experiment indicated that there are possibility of improving drought tolerance in safflower genotypes using inter-specific corssing with Carthamus oxyacanthus L.

Fifteen forage sorghum lines developed in sorghum breeding program in Iran were evaluated for forage yield under Karaj condition in Iran in 2007-2009 growing seasons. The experimental design was randomized complete block design with four replications. Four traits including fresh fodder, dry matter, plant height and number of tillers were measured in each cutting. All treatments were harvested at two cuttings. Combined analysis of variance showed significant differences between growing seasons, sorghum lines, cuttings, growing season × lines, line × cutting, growing season × cutting and growing season × line × cutting interactions for all of traits. Since the growing season × lines and growing season × cutting interactions were significant, therefore, combined analysis of variance was performed for each growing season. KFS3, KFS1, KFS18 and KFS2 forage sorghum lines produced the highest fresh fodder with 182.8, 172.4, 144.7 and 143.1 t.ha-1 and dry matter with 33.8, 30.3, 29.1 and 26.4 t.ha-1, respectively. Dry matter production of KFS17 and KFS2 was similar. However, KFS6 produced the lowest fresh fodder and dry matter with 106.6 and 21.8 t.ha-1, respectively. The highest and lowest plant height was recorded forKFS3 and KFS10 with 195.8 and 138.9 centimeter, respectively. KFS10 and KFS1 forage sorghum lines produced the highest and lowest tiller number with 3.0 and 2.2 tillers.plant-1, respectively.

To evaluate advantage, competition and radiation interception and use efficiency in summer savory- Persian clover intercropping as affected by plant density of summer savory under Mashhad conditions in Iran, an experiment was conducted using randomized complete block design with three replications and seven treatments. Treatments were intercropping of Persian clover with 80 plants.m-2 and summer savory with 27, 40 and 80 plants.m-2 and sole cropping of both crops with abovementioned densities. Results showed that Area Time Equivalent Ratio in all intercropping treatments were more than one. Radiation use efficiency (RUE) of summer savory in sole cropping was between 1.32-1.70 g.Mj-1, and it was higher in intercropping than sole cropping (between 2.60- 2.98 g.Mj-1). The highest RUE of summer savory was obtained in intercropping of summer savory with 27 plant.m-2 and Persian clover. However, in sole cropping treatments by increasing plant density from 27 to 80 plants.m-2 cumulative intercepted photosynthetic active radiation increased but dry matter decreased and RUE reduced. RUE of Persian clover, in all harvests, was greater in intercropping than sole cropping. In the first harvest of Persian clover that had the longest growth duration (116 days), the highest RUE was obtained in intercropping of summer savory with 27 plants.m-2 and Persian clover. In this treatment increase in dry matter of Persian clover was higher than increase in intercepted photosynthetic active radiation of Persian clover. Therefore, this treatment was identified as suitable intercropping plant density considering RUE, Area Time Equivalent Ratio and Economic value.

To study the effect of organic and bio-fertilizers on yield, yield components, oil yield and fatty acids composition of sesame, an experiment was conducted in 2010 at Agricultural research field, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Iran. The experimental design was randomized complete block design with three replications and eight treatments. The experimental treatments included: 1- Thiobacillus sp., 2- Granule fertilizer, 3- Cow manure, 4- Cow manure + Thiobacillus sp., 5- Cow manure + granule fertilizer, 6- Nitroxin + Bio-Phosphate, 7- Mycorrhizae + Nitroxin + Bio- Phosphate and 8- Control (no fertilizer). Results showed thatthe highest number of capsule per plant (101 capsules) was observed in cow manure + Thiobacillus sp. In addition, Thiobacillus and cow manure + granule fertilizer had significant effect on increasing seed yield. Application of Thiobacillus and cow manure + granule fertilizer increased seed yield of sesame by 15.45% and 18.52%, respectively. Oleic (cis) and linoleic acids (cis) were the major fatty acids (45.65% and 30.54%, respectively). The highest linolenic acid content was observed in control treatment (0.93%). In contrast, the lowest linolenic acid content was obtained in application of cow manure (0.33%), mycorrhizae + Nitroxin + bio-Phosphate (0.33%) and cow manure + granule (0.35%) treatments. The highest oleic (cis) acid content was observed in cow manure + granule fertilizer (48.58%) treatment. Based on our results, it is concluded that organic matter and nutrient availability of soil, especially by application of cow manure + granule fertilizer, was effective on increasing the tolerance of sesame oil to heat by increasing oleic acid content and decreasing the linolenic acid.

Effect of irrigation levels and high corm density on growth and phosphorus uptake of daughter corms of saffron (Crocus sativus L.) was studied under a field experiment as split-plot arrangement in complete randomized block design with three replications at Faculty of Agriculture, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran, during 2012 and 2013. The irrigation levels were applied based on saffron water requirement (50, 70 and 100%) and high corm density (50, 100, 200 and 300 corms.m-2) were assigned and randomized in the main and sub plots, respectively. Results showed that the lowest corm number, yield and phosphorus content of corms (178.67, 450.11 and 0.65 g.m-2, respectively) were observed by sowing 50 daughter corms per m2 + 50% irrigation. In addition, the highest corm number, yield and phosphorus content of corm (806.67, 2709.18 and 3.38 g. m-2, respectively) were obtained by sowing 300 daughter corms per m2 + 100% irrigation. In the first year, flower characteristics of saffron was not affected by 50% irrigation. However, in the second year, flower number, fresh flower and dry stigma yields significantly decreased by supplying 50% water requirement of saffron (by 19, 28 and 22%, respectively) as compared to control (100% water requirement). Considering the economic value of irrigation water in arid and semi-arid regions of Iran, the irrigation scheduling based on 75% crop water requirement may be reasonable.

Organic production ensures the safety and security of medicinal plants products and drugs. To evaluate grain yield and quality of black cumin (Nigella sativa L.) in intercropping with chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) under organic farming condition, a field experiment was conducted using randomized complete block design with three replications on a filed located in Naghedeh, West Azerbaijan province, Iran, in 2012-2013. The planting ratios were 0:100, 25:75, 50:50, 75:25 and 100:0 (chickpea: black cumin) using replacement method. Results showed that different planting ratios had significant effect on studied traits in chickpea (except plant height and number of grain.pod-1) and black cumin (except essential oil content). In chickpea, the highest pod.plant-1, 1000 grain weight, biological and grain yield were obtained in sole cropping, however, the highest protein content (24.8%) was achieved in planting ratio of 25:75 (chickpea: black cumin). Results showed that in black cumin the highest follicule.plant-1, grain.follicule-1, biological yield, grain yield and essential oil yield were obtained in sole cropping, however, the tallest plant height and the most heavy1000 grain weight were obtained in planting ratio of 75:25 (chickpea: black cumin). There was no significant difference between treatments in essential oil content. The highest LER values (1.45) were obtained in planting ratio of 25:75 (chickpea: black cumin). This means that grain yield in intercropping improved by 45% as compared with sole cropping. According to the grain yield and LER, it seems that 75% black cumin + 25% chickpea was suitable for increasing the income of farmers and land use efficiency.

To evaluate the morphological characteristics and lodging related traits in local and improved rice genotypes, a field experiment was carried out using randomized complete block design with three replications in 2013 at the Rice Research Institute of Iran, Rasht, Iran. Rice genotypes included three local cultivars (Hashemi, Sangjo and Alikazemi) and three improved lines (841, 831 and 416). Results showed significant relationship between average diameter of internode whit breaking resistance of third internode (r=0.961**) and average diameter of fourth internode whit breaking resistance of fourth internode (r=0.902**), average diameter of third and fourth internode with pushing resistance (r=0.884** and r=0.853**, respectively). Also significant positive correlation between fresh weight: length ratio of internode whit breaking resistance in third internode (r=0.937**) and pushing resistance (r=0.752*), fresh weight: length ration of internode with breaking resistance in fourth internode (r=0.825**) and pushing resistance (r=0.810**) were observed. Stepwise regression analysis showed that average diameter of internode was the only trait that significantly affected the pushing resistance, and explained 88% of observed variance alone. Fresh weight: length ratio of internode had highly significant effect on breaking resistance (r2=0.86) which corresponded with the results of correlation analysis. It seems that the thickness and weight: length ratio of internode have major roles in resistance of rice plant to lodging and could be considered as indirect criteria in selection for resistant to lodging in rice breeding programs.