In order to study the effects of biological nutrition and irrigation managements on qualitative indices of fenugreek, an experiment was carried out in split plot based on a Randomized Complete Block Design with three replications and 15 treatments at Research Station, Faculty of Agriculture, Azad University, Birjand, Iran, during growing season of 2010-2011. Experimental treatments included irrigation interval (in three levels including irrigation every 6, 9 and 12 days) and biofertilizer (in five levels including nitroxin, biosphere, and micorhyza fungi of G. mosseae, G. intraradices and control treatment or none fertilizer). Results of statistical analysis showed that irrigation treatments had a significant effect on physiological indices like carbohydrate, chlorophyll a, ash, Na, K and proline. The effect of biofertilizer was significant on carbohydrate, chlorophyll a, and on ash. Results showed that proline, carbohydrate, Na, chlorophyll b and ash improved by increasing irrigation interval to every 12 days but K and chlorophyll a decreased. The highest content of carbohydrate, chlorophyll and ashwere observed in G. mosseae, biosphere and G. intraradices, respectively. Overall, results showed that application of biofertilizers had positive effects on qualitative indices of fenugreek and created type of plant adaptation to drought stress.

Glutathione (GSH) is the most abundant low molecular weight- thiol and thus representing the first line of cellular defense against oxidative stress in biological systems. Other important functions of glutathione include regulation of gene expression, signal transduction, cell proliferation and apoptosis, cytokine production and immune response. Intracellular glutathione concentrations vary from 1-10 mM with the reduced GSH being the predominating form. Consequently, the measurement of the ratio of GSH/GSSG is considered as an important index of cell functionality and viability. Glutathione deficiency has been implicated in aging as well as pathogenesis of many diseases including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, AIDS, pulmonary and neurodegenerative diseases. Preventive measures against glutathione depletion include consumption of protein diet containing glutathione precursors, protection against ionizing radiation and avoiding smoking, exhaustive sports as well as overuse of over counter drugs.

Cadmium as a heavy metal is also considered as a serious threat for the environment. This element is accumulated in soil through industrial processes as well as phosphate fertilizers and aggregates into the food chain. This study was conducted in order to investigate the different levels of cadmium effects on growth features of rapeseed (Brassica napus L. ) plants. Root and shoot weight and height, contents of chlorophyll a and b, total chlorophyll, carotenoid and peroxidase enzyme activity were measured after one month of planting. Generally, an increase in cadmium concentration showed a significant effect on morphological characteristics of root and shoot but revealed no significant effect on chlorophyll a and b as well as on carotenoid contents, though it caused a significant decline in peroxidase activity level specially for concentrations above 90 μ M of cadmium treatment.

The aim of this study was to identify physiological traits related to low temperature resistance. Three wheat genotypes (Bezostaya, Boolani and Line 518) differing in cold resistance were germinated and grown at 20 and 10°C and were subjected to chilling (2°c) and then freezing (-10°C) stress at four- leaf stage. A split plot design with four replications in which growth temperature and genotypes were considered as main and sub plot, respectively, was employed. Measurements were taken before and after exposure to chillirig and also after exposure to freezing. Plants germinated and grown at low temperature (10°C) (LT) showed higher soluble carbohydrate (SC) content and lower tissue water percentage (WP) at all measurement stages and higher chlorophyl (CHL) content only at prehardening measurement as compared to those grown at higher temperature (Con.) (20˚C).The highest SC and WP were observed in Bezostaya (resitant) and Line518 (sensitive), respectively. Exposure to chilling increased leaf SC and CHL contents of plants grown at both 10°C and 20°c. Interaction effects between growth temperature and genotypes were observed, for se and CI-IL before and after exposure to chilling. It was also appeared that chilling induced increase in SC was more pronounced in plants grown at LT than those grown at Con. condition. Exposure to freezing, resulted in increased SC and decreasd leaf water potential, the highest reduction in WP and highest increase in SC being observed in Bezostaya. Damage to cell membrane, measured by solute leakage, due to freezing stress was greater in Line 518 than in Bezostaya. Traits measured in these experiments appeared to be correlated with cold resistance in the field condition.