Rose is considered as one of the most popular and important ornamental plants in the world. During the last decade, tissue culture, micropropagation as well as genetic engineering have prevailed in rose production industry. Gene transfer to embryogenic callus, derived from different types of explants is currently one of the most popular methods of improvement of rose cultivars, presented in particular as cut flower with such novel characteristics as blue color. An efficient tissue culture procedure covering high frequency embryogenic callus induction and plant regeneration is pre-requisite for every successful genetic engineering program. An efficient method for embryogenic callus induction from growing nodal stem segments on MS medium followed by a selection of appropriate young leaflets is hereby reported. MS medium complemented with 2 mg/L 2, 4-D, and 0.5 mg/L NAA as wekk as medium B5 complemented with 0.5 mg/L 2, 4-D and 2.5 mg/L NAA plus 0.5mg/L kinetin were used for callus induction. Cali were then subcultured in MS medium with higher levels of hormone (3 mg/L 2, 4-D and 0.5 mg/LNAA) to develop suitable size and shape embryos. This was followed by transferring the calli onto an MS medium complemented with 8 hormonal treatments. MS medium along with 1 mg/L of TDZ resulted in a highest number of embryos. High frequency of shoot development from mature somatic embryo and subsequent plant regeneration were obtained on a medium containing 3 mg/L of BAP. Shoots were rooted on MS medium supplemented with three various hormonal treatments, and there were no significant differences observed between treatments.

Erwinia amylovora, the causal agent of fire blight disease in rosaceous plants, contains type III secreted effector proteins including DspA/E, HrpN and HrpW, which are secreted into host plants during the pathogenicity stages. In order to investigate the role of these effector proteins in the interaction with the host plants, susceptible (Bartlett), tolerant (Harrow Sweet) and resistant (Dargazi) pear cultivars were inoculated with wild-type and mutant strains of E. amylovora (hrpW-, hrpN- and dspA/E-) under in vitro conditions. Based on the results, HrpW protein may be involved in pathogenicity in Dargazi cultivar. Different levels of pathogenicity were observed by dspA/E- mutant in cultivars. The results showed the key role of HrpN in the defense mechanisms of Dargazi cultivar, and its pathogenic role in Harrow Sweet and Bartlett cultivars. An increase in ferritin levels was observed in all cultivars inoculated with the wild type strain, but resistant and tolerant cultivars showed higher ferritin levels and a decrease in Fe2+ was observed only in these cultivars. The obtained data show that the HrpW protein does not affect iron homeostasis. Inoculation of Harrow Sweet and Dargazi cultivars with all strains increased ferritin, which was associated with a decrease in Fe2+. Based on the results, it is not possible to associate any of the effector proteins with changes in ferritin and Fe2+. In general, the ability of resistant pear cultivars to increase ferritin levels and regulation of iron can be one of the reasons for their resistance to fire blight. According to the results, different mechanisms are employed by pear cultivars to respond to the causative agent of fire blight.

The pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) juice, peels, and kernels are rich in secondary metabolites responsible for some biological properties that are important in healthy eating. Among them, anthocyanins present in the arils and, therefore, in juices are pigments with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. In the Algarve region (southern Portugal), a century old variety Assaria is largely cultivated, but there is lack of information about its chemical and biological characteristics. In the present work, a comparative study of the pomegranate juice was made, over three years (2017-2019), between this cultivar and three other well-known cultivars (Wonderful, Mollar de Elche, and Acco). The variables studied were pH, titratable acidity, formol number, total phenol content, total monomeric anthocyanins, and polymeric color. The in vitro biological activities of pomegranate juices studied were antioxidant through the capacity for scavenging ABTS and NO free radicals; and inhibitory activities on lipoxygenase and a-glucosidase activities. Simultaneously, the biological activities of the main anthocyanins of pomegranate juice were also determined and compared with the juice samples. The results showed that Assaria had characteristics similar to Mollar de Elche, with lower amounts of total phenols (2.609 and 2.849 mg mL-1, respectively) and monomeric anthocyanins (104.785 and 82.047 mg L-1, respectively) and lower antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities than the other two cultivars. Wonderful had the highest amounts of those metabolites (7.072 and 594.944 mgL-1, respectively) and the best activities. ‘The in vitro biological activities of individual anthocyanins were significantly higher than the juices. The juice activities of Wonderful cultivar were the closest to anthocyanin ones. The best activities of isolated anthocyanins lead to the hypothesis that those antagonistic effects can occur among the juices' constituents and decrease their activities.

Collocations have the potential to differentiate native speakers from non-native ones clearly (Nation, 2001). Many studies have explored the effect of different teaching techniques on collocations in the context of concordancing. The present study investigated the influence of concordancing and scaffolding on Iranian intermediate English learners’ use of high CV and low CV collocations. Three experimental groups received a 10-session treatment during which the participants had access to concordancing under symmetrical, asymmetrical, and no-scaffolding conditions. The control group, however, received neither concordancing nor scaffolding. Two parallel sets of story writing and paraphrasing tasks were given in the immediate and delayed posttests to measure the influence of the treatments. Results indicated that the experimental groups outperformed the control group significantly in producing high CV and low CV collocations. However, no statistically significant difference was observed between high CV and low CV collocations as a result of concordancing and scaffolding.

To evaluate the growth characteristics of some pomegranate (Punica granatum) genotypes on selected rootstocks under saline conditions, a factorial experiment was carried out based on randomized complete block design, at the Chah Afzal Station of the National Salinity Research Center of Iran, in 2017-2022. The factors included rootstocks at four levels (1- Chah Afzal (CA), 2- Vahshi Babolsar (VB), 3- Narak Lasjerd Semnan (NL), and 4- Poost Siyah Ardakan, PS) and scions at three levels (1- Malas Yazdi (MY), 2- Rabab Niriz (RN) and 3- Chah Afzal). This research was done on sixty 4-year-old trees, with 240 observations (4 branches on each tree) with irrigation water salinity of 9±0.5 dS/m. The results showed that type of rootstock affected on the graft success percentage and the salinity tolerance of the grafted genotypes. The highest and lowest graft success percentages was observed in MY cultivar grafted on CA rootstock (96.77%) and CA genotype grafted on PS Ardakan rootstock (20.77%), respectively. The maximum height and diameter of the scions were observed in MY cultivar grafted on VB rootstock (131 cm and 16 mm, respectively). The highest relative water content was observed in RN cultivar grafted on CA (80.09%). This grafted compound had the lowest relative ions leakage (60%). The highest potassium content was observed in the leaves of CA genotype grafted on VB (1.4%) was RN grafted on VB (1.3%). Also, the lowest sodium content in each three grafted genotypes was observed on VB. In general, the genotypes grafted on VB and CA showed more tolerance to salinity. Genotypes grafted on PS Ardakan had not sufficient tolerance in saline conditions, so, the grafted combinations of RN/PS Ardakan and CA/PS Ardakan dried completely in the second year (2022). Overall, the grafted combinations of RN/V B and MY/VB were recognized as superior, followed by combinations of CA/ VB, MY/CA and RN/CA.

Lilium is an ornamental plant which is highly valuable in international flower markets. Due to Iran’s dependency to the importation of lilium bulbs, it is highly desirable to propagate this plant efficiently within the country. One of the most effective techniques for propagation of lilium is tissue culture techniques, preferably through bulblet production. Some experiments were carried out to obtain a practical protocol for mass production of bulblets of two commercial lilium cultivars, Girande, an Asiatic hybrid, and Cassandra, an Oriental hybrid. Effects of sucrose concentrations (30, 60 and 90 gl-1), bulb scale position (external, central and internal) and the best soil mixture were studied. Factorial experiments based on complete randomized design were used. Explants were placed on MS basal medium supplemented with 0.03 mgl-1 NAA and 0.3 mgl-1 BAP and 7 gl-1 agar after surface sterilization. Data of bulblet production parameters including number of bulblets per explant, number of scales per bulblet, mean of diameter, length, weight, number of rooted bulblet per explant and position of bulblet formation were analyzed cv. Cassandra showed better results for most in vitro bulblet production parameters compared to Gironde. Results showed that central scales and 60 gl-1 sucrose in both cultivars were most effective on length and the best position of bulblet to be chosen. Basal parts of the bulb scales produced the most bulblets compared to the lateral and distal parts, in both cultivars. Peat was the best substrate for in vitro bulblet's growth and development for both two cultivars. Generally, lilium cultivars produced different in vitro bulblets in size.

The effects of drought and salinity stresses on morpho-physiological characteristics of three Iris (Iris spp. ) cultivars (‘ Purple Blue Magic’ , ‘ White Madonna’ and ‘ Blue Deep River’ ) were investigated. Drought stress experiment included three drought levels (60, 75, and 90% of field capacity), and the salinity stress experiment included four concentration of NaCl (0, 50, 100 and 150 mM). Different drought and salt treatments had significant effects on the morphological characteristics (leaf surface, main root diameter, number of branched roots and corm dry weight) and the physiological characteristics (Relative Water Content= RWC, Carotenoid, Lipid Peroxidation= MDA, and Electrolyte Leakage= EL) of the three iris cultivars. The best vegetative growth characteristics and physiological conditions were recorded under the control treatments [most favorable moisture conditions (90% FC) and without using salt in irrigation water] and the poorest were under the most severe stress conditions (60% FC and 150 mM NaCl in irrigation water). With increasing drought stress in 60% FC level and increasing NaCl salt treatments in 100 and 150 mM, no flower appeared in the ‘ Madonna’ and ‘ Blue Magic’ cultivar, respectively. In this aspect, only ‘ Deep River’ cultivar could reach flowering phase and complete life cycle in both drought and salinity stresses. We concluded that the process of flowering in some iris cultivars were sensitive to drought stress and salinity. However, by selection, resistant or tolerant cultivars or genotypes could be identified and promoted under these abiotic stress conditions.

Harvesting date of pear cvs. "Spadona" and "Coscia" and the effect of different CaCl2 concentrations on fruit quality in cold storage were studied. The experimental design was structured as factorial with 4 factors and 3 replicates based on completely randomized design. Pear cv. "Coscia" was harvested in July 24th, July 31st and August 6th and " Spadona" in August 7th, August 14th and August 21st. After treatment with CaCl2 solutions (0, 4% and 6%), the fruits were transferred to cold storage (at 0 – 1oC, 85-90% RH) and preserved for 6 months. The qualitative characteristics of fruits were calcium content, total soluble solids, titrable acidity, TSS/TA, reduced sugar and flesh firmness. They were measured immediately after harvesting and after 30, 60, 90, 120, 135, 150, 165 and 180 days stored in cold storage. At the end of storage time, sensory attributes (texture, color, taste, odor and overall quality) were determined. Results revealed that flesh firmness of cv. Coscia was higher (1.3 lb/in2) but cv. Spadona has higher total soluble solids and TSS/TA. Besides the scores of texture, color, odor and overall quality were higher in cv. Spadona. The results showed that pear cv. Spadona that was harvested in August 21st (heat unit=1986/8, full bloom=140 days) and treated with 6% CaCl2 solution, had highest calcium content and gained the highest score of panelist for overall quality. Totally this treatment maintained the best qualitative and quantitative characteristics and sensory attributes after 180 storing days in cold storage.