Vegetatively propagated ‘M.9’ and ‘M.26’ apple rootstocks are dwarf rootstocks and are widely used in high density apple orchards establishment. The purpose of this research was to study the disinfection treatments, reducing phenolic oxidation and proliferating ‘M.9’ and ‘M.26’ explants under in vitro conditions. Plant materials used in this experiment were taken from spring shoots of ‘M.26’ and summer shoots of ‘M.9’. For disinfection, plant materials were dipped into 70% ethanol for 30 s followed by immersion in various concentrations of chlorox or mercuric chloroide and the best results were obtained with 0.1% mercuric chloroide with 3 and 5 min of immersion time for ‘M.26’ and ‘M.9’, respectively. Explants were cultured on MS medium (for ‘M.9’) and MS with the vitamins of B5 medium (for ‘M.26’) containing 2 and 1 mg.1-1 BA,  respectively, and 0.1 mg.1-1 GA3 for both rootstocks. In order to prevent phenolic oxidation, several methods were used and the best results were obtained with incubating newly cultured explants in a refrigerator for 6 d. In proliferation stage, effect of BA and Kinetin (Kin) (separately or in combinations) were examined. Results showed that Kin had no effect on proliferation and combinations of BA and Kin improved shoot proliferation rate compared to BA alone. In ‘M.9’ rootstock, highest multiplication rate and number of shoots≥5 mm were obtained with 2+0.1 and 1.5+1 mg l-1 BA+Kin, respectinely. In ‘M.26’ rootstock, highest proliferation rate were obtained with 0.75+05 mg.l-1 BA+Kin. However, these combinations were not significantly differentet at 5% level of probability in some treatments.

Micro propagation of some pear cultivars such as Abate Fetel, Conference, Kaiser and Williams are associated with several problems including low proliferation, rapid apical necrosis and production of low quality leaves. For overcoming these problems, evaluation of MS, QL and modified QL basal media, growth regulators (BAP and GA3) and putrescine showed that application of QL or modified QL instead of MS basal media, or increasing BAP concentration from 1 to 2 mgl-1, decreased apical necrosis of cultivars Abate Fetel and Kaiser and increased proliferation of cultivar Abate Fete!. Moreover, evaluation of type and concentration of three cytokinins, BAP, 2ip and Zeatin, and addition of pectin to the shoot cultures of all four experimented cultivars showed that combination of BAP, 2ip and 0.5% pectin in a medium based on modified QL basal salts, significantly increased proliferation of Conference cultivar and improved survival of all tested cultivars. Zeatin either with BAP or alone, improved leaf expansion and survival, and decreased proliferation of most cultivars. It is suggested that a medium based on modified QL basal salts enriched by 3% sucrose, 1 mgl-1 BAP, 1 mgl-1 2ip and 0.5% pectin and solidified by 0.6% agar improves proliferation and increases survival of apicals, and satisfactorily stimulates leaf expansion of these cultivars in vitro.

To study the effects of different combinations of auxin (IBA, NAA) and cytokinin (BAP, TDZ) regulators, basal salts (MS, WPM, NN) and gelling agents (Gelrite and Plant Agar) on the growth and development of seedless grape explants (cv. Bidaneh Soltani), a factorial experiment was conducted based on a completely randomized design. The number and length of grown shoots were analyzed as two main characteristics. Growth regulators and salts had significant effects (at %1) on the shoot proliferation. The highest number of shoots was observed on MS salts combined with BAP (2.2 mg/l) and IBA (0.5 mg/l) on the 18th days of culture. Compared to Plant Agar, Gelrite had a better effect on the normal growth of the shoots. Based on the new shoots, combinations of MS salts and hormones may be used for micropropagation of seedless grape cultivars in the in vitro condition.

This research was conducted at the Agricultural College of Tehran University in 2005 to analyze the effect of use of cytokinin as well as of calcium on durability of rose (Illona cultivar). Cuttings were taken from rose biennial mother plants, then treated by Cytokinin of 0, 0.1,1 and 10 micromole per liter and Calcium of 0,10,20 and 30 milimole per liter. Cut flowers, after harvest, were kept in distilled water and under laboratory conditions. Some different traits such as senescence, relative water content, electroleakage, total protein, and the extent of peroxide and catalase activities in petal were assessed. The results showed that Cytokinin levels exerted significant effects on senescence, electroleakage, total protein as well as activity of antioxidant enzymes. Calcium levels had also significant effects on senescence percentage, relative water content, electro leakage and peroxide activities in petals. The treatment a4b4, i.e. the use of Cytokinin at 10 micro-mole and calcium with 30 mili-moles resulted in a significant decrease in senescence and a significant increase in electro leakage, catalase and peroxidase activities.

Background: Broccoli inflorescences are rich in health promoting compounds such as vitamin C which may contribute to the high antioxidant capacity found in freshly- harvested broccoli. However, high looses of this essential compound has been reported after harvesting.Objective: Modified atmosphere packaging has been shown to be potentially useful in storability and quality retention of Broccoli florets; however, supplemental methods of extending shelf life are desirable because of the high fermentation product.Method: In this way florets were treated post harvest with benzyl adenine at 50 ppm before packaging in polymeric bags (polyethylene and polypropylene) and storage at 1ºC. Factors including ethylene production, chlorophyll, vitamin C, fermentation product, appearance, pH and titrable acidity were measured every three day intervals. Results: During storage of cytokinin treated florets under MAP, all changes related with loss of quality were reduced and delayed with time. Additionally vitamin C remained almost unchanged. This improved retention was mainly due to decreased ethylene production. Conclusion: Cytokinin treatment significantly reduced fermentation product in packaged broccoli.

Hormonal requirements for micropropagation of a local Karaj cultivar of hazelnut were studied. Shoot tips were surface-sterilized with 10% commercial bleach (5% sodium hypochlorite) for 10 min. Two experiments were conducted. In the first one, the effects of different concentrations of GA3 (0, 0.1, 0.5, 1.0, 3.0 and 5.0 mg l-1) were investigated. In the second experiment, explants were cultured on NRM medium with four cytokinins including BA (0, 2.5, 5 mg l-1), Kin (0, 1.5, 3.5 mg l-1), 2ip (0, 2.5, 7.5 mg l-1), TDZ (0, 0.01, .025 mg l-1) and their combinations. The mean length and number of shoots were significant on media containing 0.5 mg l-1 GA3. The highest proliferation rate was observed with 5 mg l-1 BA, however, in this concentration the shoot length decreased. The longest shoots and leaf number were obtained on medium supplemented with 2.5 mg l-1 2ip. These shoots were much more vigorous and it was possible to propagate them by single node. For rooting number significant differences were found between NRM and half-strength media. The plantlets were successfully acclimatized in jiffy-7.

Solanaceous plant, Datura innoxia, has valuable tropane alkaloids pharmaceutical effects. In this study, seed zygotic embryos were cultured in vitro and plantlets were produced and explants with single internodes and two auxiliary buds from the produced plantlets were cultured in B5 medium with different concentrations of IAA (0.5, 1, 1.5, 2 mg/L), NAA (0.5, 1, 1.5, 2 mg/L) and BA (0.5, 1, 1.5 mg/L) to investigate the effects of the growth regulators on callus production, organogenesis and total alkaloid contents. Concentrations of the last two hormones were used reciprocally. Total alkaloid concentrations of calli were identified by UV spectrophotometer at 258 nm and callus total alkaloid contents and were compared with the content of plantlets. Results showed that, in the presence of both NAA and BA, explants formed callus and increase of NAA concentrations, in turn, increased callus weights and total alkaloid contents as well. IAA had no significant effect on callus and organ induction. Comparison of total alkaloid contents of calli with shoots and roots of Datura innoxia plantlets in hormone free B5 medium, showed that the alkaloid contents of calli were lower than differentiated tissues in hormone free B5 medium, but the use of NAA and BA hormones caused an increase in alkaloid contents of calli as compared with in vitro cultured organs.

The aim followed in this research was to determine the effect of Benzyladenin and storage conditions on bulbil formation, germination percentage and growth in Iranian Tareh (Allium ampeloprasum ssp.persicum). Immature inflorecences were treated with different concentrations (0, 10, 50 and 100 ppm) of BA to form bulbils. The experiment was done in RCBD with three replications in Esfahan Center for Research in Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources. The results revealsed that all concentrations of BA formed bulbils in more than 90 percent of plants except for the case of the control treatment. Then, bulbils were stored in two temperature conditions (31 and 9 centigrade) to evaluate their germination percentage and vegetative growth. It was revealed that the different concentrations of BA and storage conditions had no effect on bulbil germination, but bigger bulbils bore higher germination percentages than the small ones. The temperature treatment exerted no significant effect on vegetative traits, but the different treatments of BA proved significant at a level of 5%. All the bulbils produced viable plants.

One of the most important factors in successful grafting of woody plants is inhibition of oxidation of phenolic substances which results in formation of suitable callus between rootstock and scion. For this reason, the effect of antioxidant (PVP), auxin (IBA) and cytokinin (BA) in four different times (early January, February, March and early May) on walnut minigrafting was investigated. Results showed that the most suitable time for minigrafting is February with 83.24% grafting success. Grafting success and scion growth in antioxidant concentrations was significantly different from control. Among antioxidant and hormone treatments the combination of 50 mg l-1 IBA and 80 mg l-1 BA with 83.94% grafting success and minimum grafting duration (21 days) was the superior treatment. Antioxidant treatments also required the minimum grafting duration. In conclusion, 50 mg l-1 and 80 mg l-1 of BA in February is recommended for improving walnut minigrafting process.