IRANIAN JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES (JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURE)
Year:2006 | Volume:37-1 | Issue:2 (AGRONOMY & CROP BIOTECHNOLOGY)|Papers Count:27

To study the genetic diversity of Iranian onion landraces, seeds of twenty landraces and two hybrids were planted using a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications in Agricultural and Natural Resources Center of East Azarbayjan for two years. Onion yield per plant, onion dry weight, percentage of onion dry matter, bulb diameter, bulb length, soluble solids, number of centers, shape index, number of leaves, leaf length and number of edible layers were measured. Analysis of variance showed significant differences for all attributes. Cluster analysis, using Ward's method, grouped the entries under study, into four clusters. Grouping based on morphological attributes showed no correspondence with the geographical pattern. In principal component analysis, the first three principal components accounted for 83.42% of the total phenotypic variation. In the first principal component, onion dry weight, bulb diameter, leaf length, onion yield per plant, number of leaves, soluble solids and dry matter percent of onion showed positive while shape index showed negative effect. In the second principal component, bulb length, number of edible layers, shape index and number of leaves had positive while soluble solids and dry matter percent of onion had negative contributions. Therefore, cultivars having larger values for the first principal component would have higher onion yield per plant and the cultivars having higher values for the second principal component would be marketable and more suitable for the fresh-market. Path analysis showed that bulb diameter has largest positive direct effect on yield of onions. Indirect effects of length and number of leaves on onion yield through bulb diameter were also considerable. Selection of plants with larger leaf length, bulb length and diameter could be therefore suitable. For breeding onion for higher yield. Due to the low-dry matter percentage, the landraces under study are not suitable for industry and must be used in fresh-market.

Removal of transpiring leaves which are less effective in grain filling could be one way to increase water use efficiency (WUE). The aim of this research was, therefore, to determine the effective ness of different leaves in grain filling and grain protein content by reducing leaf area at various growth stages, and with respect to source-sink relation. A field experiment using a RCBD design with 3 replications was conducted at research farm of Agriculture College, University of Tehran, Karaj, in 2004. Various intensities of defoliation were performed at three growth stages of booting, anthesis, and 20-days after an thesis. Flag leaf gas exchange parameters as well as chlorophyll content were assessed at 20, 40 and 60 days after booting. In general, defoliation at any growth stage did not affect leaf photosynthesis (pn) and transpiration (Tr) rates, stomatal conductance (gs) and leaf chlorophyll content. Grain yield and protein content was not affected by defoliation. Interestingly, even removal of all leaves at booting stage, did not reduce grain yield and grain protein significantly. The lack of grain growth (i.e. sink strength) response to defoliation (i.e. reducing source size), therefore, was not attributed to a compensatory increase in flag leaf photosynthesis rate (i.e. source activity). Increased remobilization of stored photoassimilates and photosynthesis by spike structure can be responsible for sustaining grain growth under the experimental conditions. The result obtained from this experiment were consistent with the hypothesis that under moisture limited conditions, removal of transpiring leaves, which are less effective in grain growth, along with increasing plant density could be one possible way of increasing grain yield and WUE.

In order to cytogenetically study some species of Vetch genus, karyotypes of 14 genotypes from 11 species were analysed by using video analysis system. According to basic chormosme number, the species were classified in 3 groups of: X=5 (in one diploid genotypes), X=6 (in three diploid genotypes) and X=7 (in ten diploid genotypes). According to Stebbins' categorization genotype 5387 was classified in symmetric class of 3B, genotypes 7075, 312, 1564, and 7456 were classified in 2A, while the others were arranged in 3A. Based on inter and intra chromosomal variations, V.faba which has the most asymmetric and evolutionary karyotypesis classified in the B class. Using the biplot of genotypes, based on two parameters of A1 and A2, and symmetry types of Stebbins, the same results were obtained. The results of analysis of variance based on a completely randomized design indicateda significant differences among genotypes for all traits (P<%1). Using principal component analysis, the first two components justified %95.26% of total variance. In the first component, the arm ratio, lengh of long arm, total length of chromosome, centromer index and total form percentage which had the highest coefficients of eigenvalues, was the most important traits. In the second component, the length of short arm had the most important role for total variation. By cutting dendrogram resulted from cluster analysis (Ward) in metric distance of 2.52, the genotypes were classified into three groups. The furthest distances were obtained between V.faba and ecotypes of V.villosa that indicates the least affinity between them. The shortest metric distance values were obtained between the two ecotypes of Vervilia (1564) and (7075).The diagram of genotypes dispersion, based on two first components, grouped the genotypes in three separated classes, which is in confirmation with the results of cluster analysis.

Ten bread wheat cultivars were crossed in a half-diallel scheme in spring 2000. Parents and – their 45 F1 hybrids were planted in field and greenhouse in a randomized complete block design whit 6 replications in 2001. Both in the field and in greenhouse, two moisture schemes were applied: three of the replications in each set were under normal irrigation condition, and three of them were under moisture stress. Several quantitative traits were studied in the field; however, in the greenhouse experiment only root dry weight was measured. Analysis of variance revealed significant differences between genotypes for majority of traits. Additive and non-additive gene effects were found for the traits under study. Heritabilities of various traits were calculated. General combining ability (GCA) for parents and specific combining ability (SCA) for the F1 hybrids, as well as the ratio of GCA variance to SCA variance were estimated. In the normal moisture conditions, non-additive gene effects were observed for number of spike lets, biomass, seeds per spike, seed yield, seed weight, 50% heading date, flag leaf area, number of stomata, and harvest index. However, for other traits, namely peduncle length, spike length and root weight, additive gene effects played major role. In the moisture stress condition, non-additive gene actions were effective for most traits but peduncle length which showed additive gene effect. One of the aims of this research was evaluation of the genetic control of the related traits to drought resistance and calculation of the ratio of GCA to SCA variance in normal and moisture condition.

Responses of 11-bread wheat (Triticumaestivum L.) and 9 durum wheat (Triticum turgidum L.) genotypes to salinity stress was evaluated using in the greenhouse condition in 2003. (Factorial experiment with completely randomized design (three replications)). Salinity levels were 0.72 (control), 8.1, and 11.5 dSm-1. Salinization began when the seedling were at the two leaf stage. After 20 days exposure to salt, leaves were harvested for measurement of K+, Na+ and proline accumulation. The second level of salinity, (8.1 dSm-1), significantly increased Na+ concentration, while K+ concentration and K+ / Na+ decreased in bread and durum wheat genotypes. These variable were significantly (p<0.001) different at both species. At EC= 11.5 dSm-1, there was no reduction in K+ concentration compared to 8.1 dSm-1. The results showed that Omid and Marvdasht were most tolerant and line-128 was the most sensitive one among bread wheat genotypes. In durum wheats, line-168 was the most tolerant and Yavares was the most sensitive. As the duration of salinity stress increased, proline concentration increased in wheat genotypes. At salinity stresses, the highest proline concentration was observed in nontolerant genotypes, and the least concentration was in tolerant genotypes. Therefore, Prolline level may not be introduced as a suitable salt tolerance index in wheat. Stress tolerance index (ST!) revealed that Omid and line-84 among bread wheat and durum wheat genotypes based on biological yield, were respectively suitable for stress and non-stress conditions. Omid and line-68 had lowest tolerance index (TOL).

Glyphosate (common name Randap) is one of the most effective general herbicides becoming widely recognized nowadys. This chemical cannot be used to control weeds in soybean fields, because the crop plant is not adequately resistant to the herbicide, therefore, in order to be able to use it, resistance of soybean to the herbicide must somehow be enhanced. Pot and hydroponic experiments were carried out to study trait diversity in a community of soybeans. Two experiments performed were as follows: I) Two cultivars of soybean (L11 and Williams) in pot and hydroponic media, along with different doses of Glyphosate application were employed to identify the suitable dosage for screening soybean cultivars. 11) The resulting and selected doses in experiment I were used to investigate the diversity of resistance of soybean varieties to the herbicide and to subsequently pick up the resistant cultivars. Results of the first experiment indicated that the best dosages for suitable screening of soybean cultivars (in the pot experiment) were 300 and 400 mgai/L and in the hydrponic experiment it was 0/3 mgai/L of glyphosate. Results of the second experiment indicated that there is a correlation of 0/89 between pot and hydroponic experiments and there are high correlation observed among measured parameters in anyone of these two screening systems. Even though both screening systems indicated significant differences among soybean cultivars with respect to tolerance to glyphosate, but this is not enough for breeding of soybean with significant resistance to the herbicide. For production of resistant cultivars it is recommended to use new breeding methods such as recombinant DNA technology followed by subsequent transfer of the resistant gene to the plant.

Brassica napus is one of the most important toil crops in the world. The quality of rapeseed oil is determined by its fatty acids content. The saturated and unsaturated fatty acids biosynthesis pathway has many different stages which are controlled by various enzymes. Modification of the Brassica oil for the desired fatty acid profile through genetic manipulation necessitates identification and isolation of genes involved in the fatty acid biosynthesis. Erucic aicd (C22:1) is one of the most saturated fatty acids that affects rapeseed oil quality, when its amount increase to over 2 persen becomes undesiralae for human consumption. P-ketoacyl- CoA synthase (KCS) was shown to be one of the key enzymes for biosynthesis of erucic acid. This enzyme, produeced by fae (fatty acid elongase), is involved in production of eicosenoic (C20: I) and erucic acids (C22: 1) from C18 fatty acids. In this study we reported isolation, cloning and transformation of fae gene into B. napus. (For gene silencing and prevention of erucic acid synthesis antisense conctruct from fae gene was produced. Primer spicific design was done for gene isolationand its amplification. The fae gene (1521 bp) was isolated from genomic DNA by PCR technique. Digestion by restrictive enzymes (Hind III and EcoRI) was used to insure and ????? the fragment. Then, gene was cloned into pSK+ vector and sequenced with standard primers. Antisense construct from fae gene was cloned in cloning site of plant binary vector pBI121. This vector was then introduced to Agrobacterium tumefaciens to be used in plant transformation. Growth of transgenic plant on medium with kanamyc in and its PCR shown that these plants were transformed. Dot blotting and Southern blot on transgenic plants were done. Silencing of fae gene by antisense construct is caused remarkablereduce in content of erucic acid in transformed plants of B. napus.

Rye (Secale cereale L.) is one of the important weeds in winter wheat fields of Iran. The competition effect of rye on growth indices of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum) was evaluated at the Plant Pests and Diseases Research Institute and College of Agriculture, Tehran University, Karaj (Iran) during 2001-2002. The experimental design was randomized complete block with 24 treatments and 4 replications. The was bivariate factorial. The treatments included the pure stands of wheat at four densities of crops 350, 450, 550 and 650 plant/m2 and pure stand of rye at 10, 30, 50 and 70 plant/m2, and mixed densities of two plants in all possible combination of densities montaned. Samples were collected from 0.12 m2 from plots in 15 days interval. Growth characteristics such as leaf area and dry matter were recorded and used to calculate growth indices including leaf area index (LAI), dry matter accumulation (DMA), and crop growth rate (CGR). Results indicated that density of 650 plant/m2 of wheat had maximum LAI and that of 350 plant/m2 of wheat had minimum LAI. The density of 550 plant/m2 of wheat had maximum DMA. At low densities of rye (up to 10 p/m2) the density of 550 plant/m2 of wheat had maximum CGR and at high densities of rye CGR of 450 and 550 plant/m2 of wheat was not different. The density of 350 plant/m2 of wheat had minimum CGR.

To study the inheritance and nature of action of the genes controlling traits related to maize grain yield, generations mean analysis was performed on two crosses using inbred lines K18 and K3218 as first cross parents, Mol7 and K74/1 as second cross parents and their F1, F2, BC1 and BC2 pregrins. The experiment was conducted using a randomized complete block design with three replications in 2001. Analysis of variance and mean comparison indicated a significant difference between parental as well as between progeny generations. The results of generations mean analysis revealed that dominance effects had an important and significant role in most traits including seed yield per plant in each of the crosses. Epistatic effects were detected in seed yield per plant as well as in yield components each of the crosses. Broad sense and narrow sense heritability were low for seed yield and most of its related traits indicating polygenic nature of these traits.

One hundred sixty-seven rice varieties representing 20 different rice growing countries were used to study the available varietal diversity pertaining to amylase content (AC) and paste viscosity parameters through cluster analysis. AC and paste viscosity parameters were measured using Auto Analyzer and Rapid Visco Analyzer (RVA-3D model) respectively. Based on the AC, the varieties were classified into waxy, low, intermediate, high amylose groups and each group included 21, 58, 64 and 24 varieties respectively. Cluster analysis based on paste viscosity profiles for low AC group (58) was grouped varieties class of 13, 21, 17, and 7. The intermediate AC group was further classified into three clusters each comprising 24, 16 and 24 varieties. Cluster 1 and 3 had mean intermediate paste viscosity (PV), low setback (SB) and high breakdown (BD) indicating good eating quality and are very soft on cooking. In this study the Japanese rice varieties showed good cooking quality, low AC, high PV and BD and low SB. In contrast, the Iranian cultivars such as Local Sadri showed good cooking quality, had intermediate levels of AC and SB and recorded high PV and BD. The enormous varietal diversity found within each group renders the breeder to make effective selections for quality according to consumer choice.

Under drought stress conditions, increase of the active oxygen specieses causes damage to the major cell macromolcules such as lipids, proteins and carbohydrates. Some enzymatic systems have a critical role in scavenging cells from these active oxygen species. Changes of catalase and peroxidase activities and their effects on chlorophyll and membrance stability were investigated in tolerant (Azadi, Roshan and M-79-4), Semi-tolerant (M-79-17 and Karaj I) and susceptible (Kavir and Marvdasht) wheat cultivars. Peroxidase activiy increased in Azadi, M- 79-4 and M-79-17 under drought stress. Although, peroxidase activity didn't increased in Roshan, this cutlivar showed the highest level of this enzyme activity under both drought and control conditions. The activity of catalase remained constant or decreased in all cultivars under drought stress, and there wasn't a clear relationship between catalase activity and drought tolerance. Azadi, Roshan, M-79-4 and Karaj 1 showed the highest chlorophyll stability index. Also, M-79-17 and Roshan showed the highest while Kavir showed the lowest cell membrane stability under drought stress. Under drought stress condition there was a positive correlations between peroxidase activity and yield and chlorophyll b stability index but, catalase activity didn't show positive correlation with yield. Also, there was a negative correlation between peroxidase activity and cell membrane injury during drought stress. Our results suggested that peroxidase activity under drought stress resulted in cell membrane and chlorophyll stability and is closely associated with cultivars' tolerance to drought stress.

In order to study yield stability, replicated yield trials were performed using 19 barley genotypes in randomized complete block design with 4 replications, for 3 years (1994 to 1996) at 8 research stations of temperate regions of Iran. Statistical methods including combined analysis of variance, regression analysis, estimating 14 stability parameters and pattern analysis were applied. Combined analysis of variance showed that the genotypes had specific adaptations with locations. In regression analysis, genotype x environment interaction's sum of squares included 14.21% of the total sum of squares and the variance of regression residuals was nonhomogenous. Thus the regression model and its parameters were not suitable for stability analysis. The Wrick's ecovalence, the variance of a genotype's across environments and the parameter of AMMI1 model were the most suitable parameters and had adequate repeatability. The stability analysis based on these parameters and also pattern analysis showed that the genotype 5 was high yielding, stable and recommendable for all the regions. Genotype 16 was low yielding and adapted to low yielding regions.

In order to investigate the quantitative traits of mungbean (Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczk) genotypes, a field expriment was carried out in 1999 on the research fields of Agronomy Department Shahid Chamran University, Ahvaz. The experiment was conducted in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with factorial arrangement of four replications. Plant spacings at 4 levels of 15, 20, 25 and 30 cm within rows (densities of 133333, 100000, 80000 and 66666 plants/ha, respectively) and 3 genotypes of Partow, VC-1973A, and 1-62-32 were used. During the growing period, with 6 times of sampling, the dry weight sof stems, leaves, pods and seeds were determined. Also, in the stage of physiological maturity, grain yield, some vegetative and reproductive traits, biological yield and dry weight of leaves were measured. The results indicated that among the genotypes, 1-62-32 has the highest grain yield (1723.33 kg/ha) and total dry weight, while Partow the lowest grain yield (1438.64 kg/ha). The highest (1713.44kg / ha) and lowest (1378.58 kg/ha) grain yields were achieved in plant spaces of 20 and 30 cm within rows, respectively. Except pod length, number nodes on main stem and days to 50% flowering, other measured traits were affected by the different levels of plant distances on row. With increasing plant density, biological yield and leaf dry weight were increased. Correlation coefficient between traits indicated that rind of pod dry weight and number of pod nodes on main stem (r= 0.74 and r= 0.37 respectively) were most positively and significantly correlated with grain yield.

The presence of weeds in winter sowing chickpea is a serious threat to crop yield. The conventional hand and mechanical weed controls are not economically effective in chickpea. Therefore, the use of other weed control methods such as chemical control is necessary. The more effective herbicides with broader spectrum of weed control and wide adaptability in chickpea is sought. So, the effect of herbicides including pyridate, pendimethalin, oxyflourfen, trifluralin and paraquat on chickpea weeds were evaluated at the Research Farm of Tehran University, Karaj (Iran) during the growing season of 2002-2003.The experimental design was Randomized Complete Block design (RCBD) with four replications. Weed control treatments included the pre-emergence applications of pendimethalin (1320 gr. a.i./ha), oxyflourfen (600 gr. a.i./ha); post-emergence applications of pyridate (1200 gr. a.i./ha), oxyflourfen (480 gr. a.i./ha) and paraquat (200 gr. a.i./ha) different combination of pre-plant trifluralin (960 gr. a.i./ha) and pendimethalin (1320 gr. a.i./ha) each with post-emergence applications of pyridate  (1200 gr. a.i./ha) and oxyflourfen (480 gr. a.i./ha). Hand weeding and finally a weed free and weed infested plot were also considered as checks. The results showed that chickpea seed and biological yield, were significantly affected by weed control treatments (p£0.05).The results also showed that pre-emergrnce application of oxyflourfen effectively controlled weeds at early seasen. The combined treatments of pendimethalin + oxyflourfen, pendimethalin + one hand weeding, trifluralin + one hand weeding and trifluralin+ oxyflourfen effectively controled total broadleaf weeds by 93.4, 92.2, 90 and 88.5 percent, respectively. Post-emergence applications of oxyflourfen and paraquat caused injury to the crop. Thus, the integrated treatments of trifluralin + one hand weeding, pendimethalin+ pyridate, trifluralin+ pyridate, pendimethalin+ one hand weeding and application of pendimethalin alone, with good weed control and high yield, were found to be the best treatments to use in chickpea under similar conditions to those in this experiment.

In order to study genetic variation of different traits in doubled haploid lines of bread wheat (Ttriticum aestivum L.) derived from cross of two foreign cultivars of Fukuho-Kumogi and Oligo-Culm, 157 doubled haploid lines were evaluated for morphological and agronomical traits ,using a randomized complete block design with 3 replications in research farm of Isfahan University of Technology. Phenotypic and genotypic coefficients of variation showed that the doubled haploid lines had more variation for length of peduncle, number of fertile spike/m2, plant height, grain number/spike and grain yield/spike than the other traits such as test weight, days to maturity, days to heading and days to pollination. Genetic coefficient of variation for days to maturity, plant height, sipke/m2 and grain yield/m2 were 1.2%, 20.7%, 19.9% and 13.7%, respectively. The estimates of narrow-sense heritability were high for most of the trait, and varied between 63% for grain yield/m2 to 99% for plant height Cluster analysis based on studied traits classified the genotypes to 3 distinct groups. The mean squares between groups were highly significant for all of the traits, except for grain yield/m2.The groups of 1, 2, and 3 Conational 54, 55 and 50 genotypes, respectively. The result of this study showed that there was considerable genetic variation for agronomic and economical traits among the doubled haploid lines and that these traits can be improved through selection programs. The estimate of heritability for grain yield was relatively low, however, the yield components such as grains/spike, grain yield/spike and 1000-grainweight had high estimates of heritabilities and therefore can be used as selection indices for grain yield improvement.

Iran is one of the original areas of safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) and therefore can have a suitable role in development of oilseeds cultivation. Results of several studies have indicated significant differences among spring genotypes of safflower with respect to seed yield, yield components, and seed oil content. In order to evaluate spring genotypes of safflower for purpose of identifying suitable genotypes for Khosroshahr and areas with similar climate, a field experiment was conducted at Agricultural Research center of East Azarbayjan in 2004 using 25 genotypes. In a randomized complete block design with three replications. The results indicated significant differences among studied genotypes for plant height, seed and oil yield and yield components. Mainly, genotypes with higher plant height and cupitula numbers per plant, indicated higher seed and oil yield. Cluster analysis based on those traits, placed getoyps into 4 groups. Genotyps having high amount of seed and oil yield per hectar (including 19, 24, 40, 27, 139, 54 and 84) were placed in the same group. Mean seed and oil yield of this group was 3723.3 and 1131.0 Kg/ha respectively. It seems that these genotypes can be cultivated in Khosroshahr and similar regions, and can be used to study stress tolerance.

To evaluate the forage production of sorghum/cowpea intercropping, a field experiment was conducted at Tarbiat Modares University in 2003. Experiment was carried out in a split plot design based on randomized complete blocks with 4 replications. Plant density with 3 levels [ Low(D1), Mean (D2) and High(D3) respecting 10, 13.3 and 20 plant/m2 for Sorghum bicolor cv. Speed feed and 13.3, 20 and 40 plant/m2 for Vigna unguiculata cv. Mashahd] was arranged in main plots and 5 mixing ratios [(M1)=100/0, (M2)=75/25, (M3)= 50/50, (M4) =25/75 and (M5)=0/100 percents for sorghum/cowpea) were arranged in subplots. Quantitative attributes such as dry weights of two crops, number of cowpea branches and sorghum tillers were measured in two sampling during growth season. Special indices for evaluating intercrop performances were calculated. Results showed that plant density has no significant effect on almost all traits, while mixing ratio influenced them significantly (p<0.01). M2 mixing ratio, 75/25 (sorghum/cowpea) by producing 17.31 t.ha-1 forage dry weight was placed in the superior group. According to performance indices of intercropping the D1M2 treatment with high relative crowding coefficient (RCC=2.54) and high land equivalent ratio (LER=1.19) was the most efficient intercrop treatment for forage dry yield.

In order to evaluate drought resistance in barely genotype and for screening drought tolerance indices, 26 genotypes of barley were tested in a randomized complete block design with three replications under normal and water stress conditions in the faculty of Agriculture, University of Tehran. Based on the yield potential (Yp) and yield stability (Ys), some quantitative criteria of drought resistance such as: mean productivity (MP), tolerance index(TOL), geometric mean productivity (GMP),harmonic mean(HM), stress susceptibility index (SSI) and stress tolerance index (STI) were figured out. High significant differences were observed among genotypes for all indices and for potential and stress yields, indicating the existence of genetic variation and possibility of selection for drought resistance as well as possibility of hybridization for the genetic and breeding studies. The highest potential and stress yield, MP, GMP, and STI belonged to Genotypes Radical, Badia and Sina. Correlation analysis among indices, potential and stress yield indicated that the most suitable criteria for screening barley genotypes were MP, GMP, and STI. Regarding these criteria and high Yp and Ys, the most drought tolerance genotypes were identified as Kavir, Badia, Radical, Terean 78 and Sina. Multivariate biplot indicated that genotypes Badia, Kavir, Radical, Terean 78 and Sina were located close to the vectors of such drought tolerance indices, as: MP, GMP and STI. Distribution of the genotypes in the biplot space indicated the presence of genetic diversity among the genotypes for drought stress. Cluster analysis placed genotypes in three groups as based on information of either of the two conditions, with tolerant genotypes being placed in different clusters.

A determination of genotypes' rank in different environments is used as a non-parametric method to study stability in plant breeding. The stable genotype shows the same ranks across different environments and has a minimum rank variance in varying environments. The truth of statistical assumptions in non-parametric methods is not necessary and therefore with an easy application, one can determine the stability of genotypes. This study was carried out to determine the ranks of 10 corn (Zea mays L.) hybrids across eleven environments during the years 2000-2002. A randomized complete block design with four replications was employed. The results of Huhn and Nassar's non-parametric statistics as well as NP(1), NP(5) and NP(4), indicated that hybrids 8 and 6 were the most stable ones. Also the results of Nassar and Huhn's non-parametric statistics revealed that on the basis of the bidirectional diagram S(1)i with a mean yield hybrid 8 which is placed in the first position, had a high stability. Hybrids 2, 7 and 1 were placed in the second position and had a high sensitivity to environmental changes, and also had a high yield in favorable environments. Hybrids 6, 9 and 10 were placed in the third position and showed a weak adaptation in all environments. The other hybrids were placed in the fourth position with a middle adaptation with a yield lower than the total mean. According to these configurations, the genotypes witch were placed in the first position, can be considered as stable and well adapted to all environments. For recognition of the adaptability, S(1)i and S(2)i had a preeminent position as related to other non-parametric statistics.

Critical levies and classification of Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu and B were investigated by using Cate- Nelson ANOVA two and three class models for dry land wheat in soils of Western Azarbayejan, Eastern Azarbayejan, Kurdestan and Kermanshah dry land areas. In order to do this study, experiments were conducted in RCBD design with 4 treatments for each micronutrient with three replications for four years (1998-2002). Fe fertilizer rates were 0, 5, 10 and 15 kg.ha-1 from iron chelate (NaFeEDDHA); Mn fertilizer 0, 5, 10 and 15 kg.ha-1 from manganese sulfate; Zn fertilizer rates 0, 5, 10 and 15 kg.ha-1 from zinc sulfate and Cu fertilizer rates 0, 2.5, 5 and 7.5 kg.ha-1 from copper sulfate sources. The determined data were used in Cate-Nelson ANOVA two and three classes models. The results for critical levels by Cate- Nelson 2 classes model for Fe, Mn, Zn and Cu were 8.5, 8, 0.55 and 1.65 mg.kg-1 respectively. Similarly, classification was determined by Cate- Nelson three (low, medium and high) classes ANOVA models for aforementioned micronutrients. Boundaries between low with medium and mediums with high classes were determined for Fe 7.5 and 9.5, Mn 8 and 11, Zn 0.45 and 0.65 and Cu 1.2 and 1.65 mg.kg-1, The results of two and three classes Cate -Nelson ANOVA models were also compared with each other for the relationship between micronutrient and growth response. From the results, it can be concluded critical levels for micronutrients are differed at Cate- Nelson two and three classes models or ANOVA model. From the comparison of two models, the suitable model for determination of critical levels was three classes model.