IRANIAN JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Year:2005 | Volume:6 | Issue:3|Papers Count:7

ISSR-PCR markers were analyzed to study phylogenetic relationships among 24 accessions of Iranian pomegranates (Punica granatum L.). DNA from young and healthy leaves of each accession were extracted and used for the analysis and in PCR reactions. A total of six primers and their combinations including BC825, BC844, BC850, BC825× BC844, BC825×BC850 and LK7 were used in PCR reactions. A dendrogram based on the unweighed pair-group method, arithmetic average cluster analysis was constructed based on a similarity matrix derived from 64 polymorphic ISSR fragments generated by the primers. At 65% similarity levels the accessions classified into five groups (19 accessions in one independent group and the rest in 4 groups). Although the pomegranate accessions under investigation were divergent in morphology, the genetic distances among them were relatively small. The comparison of the results obtained in this study with RAPDs indicated that ISSR markers gave a better band reproducibility and high efficiency in grouping accessions. Relationships among these pomegranate accessions revealed by ISSR markers were not generally in agreement with previous taxonomic classifications with RAPD markers. This indicates that separation of pomegranate only on the basis of morphological characters is not sufficient, and using of molecular methods is necessary.

The influence of cutting collection date, environmental conditions and auxin treatments on rooting of semi-hardwood stem cuttings of Callistemon viminalis Sol. was investigated at Shahid Chamran Ahwaz University in years of 2001 and 2002. The leafy semi-hardwood cuttings of callistemon were taken from mother plants in November and February. Mean lowest and highest air temperatures in November were 8 and 20 and in February were 13 and 26oC, respectively. The cuttings were treated with 0, 2000, 3000 and 4000 mg l-1 indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) and naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) and then placed on rooting medium consisted of sand under mist conditions and polyethylene tent. Combined analysis was performed for 3 replicates with RCBD design. The cuttings that treated with 4000 mg l-1 IBA showed 59% of rooting percentage (P<0.01). Cuttings treated with 4000 mg l-1 IBA and or 2000 mg l-1 NAA, gave the highest number of roots. The mean root length and root dry weight (P<0.01) and new growth of buds (P< 0.05) were the highest when treated with 4000 mg l-1 IBA. Cuttings that collected from mother plants in February and treated with auxins, had significantly higher rooting percentage and new growth of buds. Rooting percentage, number of leaves and new growth of buds of Callistemon cuttings that treated with auxins and then placed under mist conditions, were significantly higher than polyethylene tent but mean root length of cuttings treated with auxins and placed under polyethylene tent, were significantly higher.

Collecting, filtration and reusing of sewage sludge and waste water in agricultural and recreational lands is the most useful way in conserving water, decreasing pollution and increasing soil fertility. Presence of heavy metals in sludge or waste water may limit use of these potential resources. The purpose of this research was to examine growth of 3 different plant species by using 2 types of waste waters and two levels of sludge of Iran Polyacrilyc Factory compared with local well water. A split plot experiment was used by a randomized block design in three replications. The main plots included sewage sludge at 50 and 100 t ha-1, waste water, waste water discharged to river, the local well water, and sub-plots consisted of three species of sweet Williams, snapdragon and lawn. Plant dry weights of sweet Williams in the 100 t ha-1 and snapdragon in the 50 and 100 t ha-1 of sewage sludge were increased compared to the control (well water). The maximum height, number of inflorescences and number of floret in inflorescence of snapdragon was shown in the 50 and 100 t ha-1 sewage sludge. Sewage sludge also increased chlorophyll content of plants due to high Mg uptake. Using waste water decreased the length of plants in sweet William and increased percentage of dead plants in snapdragon. In lawn, waste water could only increase the growth. It may be concluded that, to decrease the adverse effects of waste water a mixture of specific ratio of clean water and waste water may be used.

Yield quality and quantity of grape (Vitis vinifera cv. ‘Soltsnin’) were studied at two rows orientations (N- S and W-E) at trellis and two sites of northern and southern as mound culture methods. These studies carried on 30 years old vines at Khalat Pushan research station of Tabriz University. Experiments were conducted as CRD a kind of multiple observation designs with 2 replications, 4 treatments and 6 samples. Mixed pruning with 50 buds in each vine applied on selected vines with the same growth. Trellis method (N-S and W-E) and southern mound did not show any significant differences considering the yield, soluble solid and pH.  Due to development of non–bearing and increasing layers of leaves, northern mound treatment has high grape juice titrable acidity Southern mound treatment had lowest level of leaf area and titrable acidity. Considering the berry and cluster weights southern and northern mound treatments had the highest levels, respectively. However, no significant differences were observed regarding berry diameter. The amount of light interception during version and full ripening stages showed that in treatment (N-S) the main portion of energy absorbed through the eastern site of canopy. Also symmetrical distribution of solar radiation was higher in morning in eastern and evening in western sites, respectively. In trellis treatment solar rays were approximately parallel with vine rows in morning and evening. Maximum light interception was recorded in southern site. Maximum light interception in southern-mound treatment was at noon and in northern-mound treatment at morning and afternoon.

 Effects of different concentrations of silver thiosulfate (STS) (0, 0.5, 1, 2, 3 and 4mM) and 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) (0, 0.5, 1 and 5 μl-1) on physiochemical characteristics of cut ‘First Red’ rose were investigated. Treatment with different concentrations of STS increased vase life of rose cut flowers more than 70%. Whereas most effective concentration of 1-MCP increased rose vase life up to 11%. STS at 2mM and higher had more toxic effects on leaves. Flowers which treated with STS and 1-MCP in comparison to controls had higher relative fresh weight during experiment. Solution uptake was high in STS treated flowers, but decreased in controls after 7 days. In 1-MCP treated cut flowers, solution uptake was higher than controls during experiment. The result of this experiment revealed that STS significantly decreased endoprotease activity and delayed decreasing of soluble protein content compared to control. But effect of 1-MCP on endoprotease activity and soluble protein content was not significant.