Iranian Journal of Horticultural Science and Technology
Year:2003 | Volume:4 | Issue:1-2|Papers Count:9

Salinity is a limiting factor for plant growth and crop production. A study was conducted to determine the salt tolerance of olive (Olea europaea L. 'Dezful') and its effects as combined with application of kinetin and cycocel plant growth regulators on Na, K, and Cl distribution. The experiment was carried out in a completely randomized design with factorial arrangements with four replications.Accumulation of Na, K. and Cl in aerial parts and roots of plants were determined. The results indicated that increasing salinity level caused an increase in Na and Cl but a decrease in K/Na ratio. Sodim concentration was higher in the roots whereas Cl accumulation was higher in aerial parts. Application of 250 mgr-1 kinetin at the 200 mM salinity level increased Na concentration of leaves. Application ofcycocel (1000 mg-1) decreased Na accumulation in roots. The decrease was statistically significant (P£0.05) at 100 mM salinity level.

An experiment with four replications was carried out in growth season of 2000 at Viticulture Part of Khalat-Poshan Research Station, Faculty of Agriculture, Tabriz University, to investigate the function of sterile pollen grains, girdling and gibberellic acid on fruit set and growth in three female vine cultivars ('Alhaghi', 'Khalili-e-Siah' and 'Zohreh Bisti'). Results indicated that the pollen grains of these cultivars were sterile and acolporate (without three typical grooves in normal vitis pollen grains). These pollen grains could not germinated even in culture medium. In all the cvs, all the emasculated flower ovaries which were protected from any external pollen grains, were abscised. The inflorescence rachis was also dried up. Thus in these cvs, sterile pollen grains can stimulate the production of parthenocarpic fruits. Girdling, 1 to 2 d before anthesis and 150 mg 1-1 GA3, when 50 to 70% of flowers were opened, increased the fruit set, significantly (at 1% level) in self-pollinated flowers. In addition to increase fruit set percentage, the, juice pH and length to diameter ratio of berries was also increased by gibberellic acid treatment but soluble solids were decreased. Girdling also increase~ the fruit set and soluble solids.

In a field experiment in Jiroft the effects of soil applied nitrogen (N) and foliar sprayed zinc (Zn), iron (Fe) and copper (Cu) solutions on yield, storability and biochemical parameters of bulbs and also concentration of elements in leaves were studied. Treatments consisted of N (200 or 400 kg ha-1). Zn (2 mg 1-1), Fe (2 mg 1-1), Cu (1 mg-1) and control (water). Compared with 200 kg ha -1 400 kg ha-1 N had no significant effects on 'yield, dry matter percentage (DMP) and organic acids (OA). Some microelements increased yield. Fe increased yield up to 19% and 15.5% at 200 and 400 Kg of N. respectively. Combination of 3 microelements increased yield 14.3% and 12.2% at 200 and 400 kg- ha- N, respectively. Zn, Fe or Zn-Fe- Cu significantly increased DMP compared to control. Total soluble solids (TSS) were not affected by N treatments whereas Fe or Zn increased this trait significantly. At 400 kg N ha-1, Fe, Zn-Fe or Fe- Zn- Cu increased OA. Storability of onions was negatively affected by N treatments. At 200 kg ha-1 N. Zn. Fe. Zn-Fe or Zn-Fe-Cu increased storability. Compared with 400 kg ha-1, 200 kg increased only leaf Fe concentrations and had no effects on the other measured elements. At 400 kg N ha-1, application of microelements increased the boron concentration of leaves.

An investigation was carried out to find the effect of sucrose and floral preservative solutions on the vase life and postharvest quality in cut carnation. Five sucrose concentrations (0, 1. 2, 3 and 5%) with three chemicals [AgNO3, citric acid (CA), 8-Hydroxy quinoline citrate (8-HQC)] were imposed on 240 cut carnations. The experiment was arranged in a factorial experimental design based on a completely randomized design (CRD). The location of study was Khalat-Paushan Experimental Station of Tabriz Agricultural Faculty. Cut carnations were kept in the storage room Where the temperature and humidity were 5±1°C and 70-80%, respectively. The solutions were replaced every 10 d and 2 cm of the stem ends were recut. The results showed that All treatments increased the vase life of cut carnations. In both experiments, 3% and 5% sucrose had the highest effects on the studied characteristics such as vase life, flower diameter and flower standards. Maximum vase life (40.67d) of cut carnation obtaind with (5% sucrose + 25 mg 1-1 AgNO3 and 50 mg I-1 CA) treatments and minimum (28d) with 50 mg-1 CA. The vase life of controls was 18.33 d while the addition of CA increased this time by 30-40%. It can be concluded that the addition of CA to the solution causes the reduction of pH and microbial activities consequently increasing the vase life of cut carnations.

Peonies are commonly propagated by dividing the roots or rhizomes but a few number of plants are obtained by these methods. Peonies can also be propagated by seeds but it is not usually practiced due to having epicotyl dormancy and long (3 to 7 yr) juvenility stage. Consequently, a quick micropropagation method would overcome these problems and could also be used for the multiplication of virus-free stock materials or introducing new cultivars. Present investigation was conducted during 2000 to 2002 to find the best medium for herbaceous peony in in vitro culture. Herbaceous peony plants were purchased from Karaj city and transferred to the greenhouse of the Department of Horticultural Science, College of Agriculture, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran. Explants of different parts of peony (internode, stem, leaf, petiole and rhizome) were examined for micropropagation studies. After surface sterilization, for shoot proliferation, the internode explants were placed on Murashing and Skoog (MS) medium salts plus 20 g r1 sucrose and 8 g I-1 agar supplemented with 0 to 2 mg I-1 6-benzyladenine (BA) and kinetin (Kin). To improve the multiplication rate, 0.1 mg-1 gibberellic acid (GA3) and indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) were also used in the medium The explants were placed under cool-white fluorescent tubes with 1.5 k lux light in a day length of 16 hr and 25°C temperature. For root formation, the explants were placed on a half-strength MS medium supplemented with 0 to 2 mg I-1 indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) as well as 0 to I mg I-1 I-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) or 2A-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2.4-D) and kept under dark or light conditions. For callus formation, the explants were placed on MS medium supplemented with a combination of 0 to 1 mg I-1 2.4-0, BA and NAA. The best treatment for shoot proliferation of nodal stems was MS medium supplemented with 1.4 mg I-1 BA and 0.1 mg I-1 GA3 Best treatment for shoot proliferation was using 1.4 mg I-1 BA and 0.1 mg r1 GA3. All stem explants produced callus on MS medium supplemented with 0.5 mg I-1 BA, 0.5 mg I-1  NAA and 0.1 mg I-1 2A-0. All stem explants produced callus on MS medium supplemented with 0.5 mg I-1 BA. 0.5 mg I-1 NAA and 0.1 mg I-1 2.4More studies are needed to establish root formation in herbaceous peony.

Non-embryogenic callus was produced with sweet lime (Citrns limettoides Tan) and Mexican lime (Citrus aurantifolias) flaveado explants on MS 1 (Murashige and Skoog) medium containing 1 mg I-1 2,4-0, (2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid), 0.1 mg I-1  NAA (naphthalene acetic acid) and 0.25 mg I-1  kinetin. Growth and cell division were not stimulate when the calli were subcultured on various media. In addition, nonembryogelllc callus did not grow in suspension culture. Whereas, emberyogenic callus derived from unfertilized ovules of Mexican lime showed growth and cell division in MT (Murashige and Tucker) suspension medium supplemented with 1550 mg I-1 glutamine and 500 mg I-1 malt extract. Mean of counting’s in 3 replicated cultures at the beginning was 0.04±0.002 x 104 and reached to 0.65±0.03 x 104 after 21 d. In order to control internal bacterial contamination, flavedo explants were preculture or media treated by streptomycin and gentamycin. Antibiotics were not effective for disinfection, singly.Streptomycin (1000 mg I-1]) + gentamycin (125 mg I-1) mixture was the most effective treatment for disinfection in 60% of explants. Seventy percent of explants were clean when streptomycin (500 mg I-1) + gentamycin (500 mg I-1]) mixture was used, but more than 50% of explants died due to antibiotic high concentration. Browning of explants increased with the presence of antibiotics in the media.

Citrus plilnts respond positively to growth regulators especially GA and daylength to increase vegetative growth. The aim of this research was to study the effect of cycocel (CCC). paclobutrazol (PP333). ethephon and pinching following GA3 treatment on trifoliate orange (Poncirus trifoliata L.) and sour orange (Citrus aurantium L.) seedlings to determine the suitability of them for budding. The experiment was carried out during 1988-1999 in the greenhouse at the College of Agriculture, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran. Seeds were sown and 3 mo later when seedlings had 4 to 6 leaves. they were sprayed twice with 100 mg I-1 GA3 at a 2-wk interval. Control plants were not spayed. Two mo after GA3 treatment. uniform trifoliate orange seedlings with 50 cm height were selected. potted and sprayed with PP333 and CCC (500 and 1000 mg I-1) and pinching was carried out. Also uniform sour orange seedlings with 45 cm height were sprayed with CCC (500 and 1000 mg I-1). ethephon (150 and 300 mg I-1) and pinching was carried out. Results indicated that GA3 increased plant height and internode length in both sour and trifoliate oranges. Using PP333 following GA3 treatment reduced significantly plant height in trifoliate orange. Stem diameter was increased by the use of GA3 alone and/or PP333, CCC. ethephon or pinching following GA3 treatment in both sour and trioliate oranges. Ethephon (150 and 300 mg I-1) reduced chlorophyll content of the leaves in sour orange. GA3 significantly increased fresh and dry weights of shoots when compared to control. whereas, PP333 and CCC reduced this character. Application of these growth regulators reduced the necessary time to reach the budding size.