To evaluate the effects of various concentration of carbon dioxide and salinity stress on morphophysiological characteristics of AMARANTHUS tricolor L. an experiment was conducted in greenhouse conditions in Faculity of Agriculture Ferdowsi University of Mashhad. the experiment was split plot based on completely randomized design with three levels of CO2 (380, 700, 1050 ml/L) and three concentrations of sodium chloride (0, 150, 300 mM) with 3 replications. The results showed that in control carbone dioxide (380 ml/L), application of salinity to 300 mM, reduced shoot dry weight, plant height and leaf area from 9.34, 53.83 and 1001 to 3.71, 35.3 and 158 respectively. Interaction effects of salinity and carbon dioxide showed that in control salinity and 1050 ml/L carbon dioxide, shoot dry weight and plant height increased 46 and 38% respectively. in level of 150 mM sodium chloride, with increasing concentrations of carbon dioxide from 380 to 700 ml/L, leaf area increased from 134 to 358 cm2. at this salinity level, in concentration of 1050 ml/L carbon dioxide, leaf area was 287 cm2. The final results showed that increasing concentrations of carbon dioxide improves adverse effects of salinity. in characteristics such as leaf area and electrolyte leakage, carbon dioxide in 700 ml/L and in characteristics such as root dry weight, shoot dry weight and plant height concentrations of 1050 ml/L carbon dioxide showed a better reaction to salinity.

Background and Objectives: Soil contamination by heavy metals is a serious environmental challenge and can cause problems for human and animal health globally. Most of remediation techniques to eliminate contamination from soils are very costly and deteriorate soil physical and chemical properties. The use of ornamental plants with high biomass and uptake is an innovative, economical and environmentally friendly way to remediate urban and industrial sites polluted by heavy metals. The purpose of this study was to investigate the ability of the marigold, ornamental cabbage and AMARANTHUS to remediate cadmium contaminated soils in Zanjan province under greenhouse conditions. Materials and Methods: The present study was conducted as a factorial experiment in a completely randomized design. Experimental treatments included three types of plant (marigold (Calendula officinalis), ornamental cabbage (Brassica oleracea) and AMARANTHUS (AMARANTHUS cockscomb) and soil cadmium levels (2. 2, 12. 2, 27. 2, 57. 2, 77. 2 and 102. 2 mg Cd/kg soil) which were used in triplicate. Results: The results indicate that high concentrations of cadmium in soil were toxic to plants and decreased the fresh and dry weight of the shoot and root. The highest level of soil cadmium (102. 2 mg Cd/kg soil) decreased the fresh weight of the shoot in the marigold, ornamental cabbage and AMARANTHUS by 77, 69 and 62%, respectively, when compared to the control (zero cadmium) treatment. Also, the concentration of cadmium of the shoot in the marigold, ornamental cabbage and AMARANTHUS, when the soil cadmium level was 102. 2 mg Cd/kg soil, increased by 39. 88, 21. 75 and 46 times, respectively, compared to the control (zero cadmium) treatment. The maximum amount of cadmium uptake for whole plant biomass was measured for marigold and ornamental cabbage when soil cadmium level was 77. 2 mg Cd/kg soil, but the highest uptake for AMARANTHUS was calculated in treatment with 102. 2 mg Cd/kg soil. The lowest cadmium uptake was also observed in the control treatment. Translocation factors for cadmium in studying plants were higher than one and at the highest soil cadmium level (102. 2 mg cadmium per kg soil), the calculated translocation factors of plants were in the order of marigold > AMARANTHUS > ornamental cabbage respectively. The shoot bioaccumulation factor at the soil cadmium concentration of 102. 2 mg Cd/kg soil was in the order of marigold > AMARANTHUS > ornamental cabbage. The order of bioaccumulation factor for root at the soil cadmium concentration of 102. 2 mg Cd/kg soil was AMARANTHUS > ornamental cabbage > marigold.Conclusion: The results showed that the translocation factor in the studied plants (marigold, ornamental cabbage and AMARANTHUS) was more than one and the concentration of cadmium in dried tissues of aerial parts was more than 100 mg/kg. Therefore, these plants can be classified as metal accumulator plants in terms of cadmium uptake and translocation and are suitable for remediation of cadmium contaminated soils.

Purpose: Aquaponics combine aquaculture with crop production in a mutual system. In this experiment, the growth of AMARANTHUS in aquaponics with tilapia fish was investigated. Methods: 500-liter water tanks containing tilapia fish at four initial stocking densities of 100, 150, 200, and 250 fish/m3 were used in triplicates, with a view to evaluate vegetable yields as influenced by fish biomass to water ratio. 1 g of AMARANTHUS seeds were sown in a 1 m2 planting trough, which contained gravel with a top layer of sandy soil. The pots were flooded with water from fish holdings by an aquarium pump. Results: The germination rate of AMARANTHUS was not significantly different across the experimental setup (P > 0. 05). The growth rate of AMARANTHUS was significantly higher with increasing fish density (P < 0. 05). The average lowest and highest of shoots dry biomass yield recorded were 0. 36 and 1. 95 g/plant at 8 weeks after of sowing, and this corresponds to fish stocking densities of 100 and 250 fish/m3, respectively. A high positive correlation was found between the shoot dry biomass of AMARANTHUS and fish stocking density. The survival of tilapia fingerlings was not significant different, while the production levels were 5. 62, 4. 77, 4. 57, and 4. 00 kg/m2 in 100, 150, 200, and 250 fish/m3. Conclusions: The growth of AMARANTHUS in this experiment demonstrated that the plant could effectively utilize the nitrogenous waste from fish tanks for biomass production, even at a higher concentration, while considerations for moderate fish density are only for fish health.

AMARANTHUS spinosus L. (Amaranthaceae) was collected from Lavandvil Wildlife Refuge (near Astara) in Gilan Province on sandy lands. This species is reported for the first time from Iran.

Pigweed (AMARANTHUS retroflexus L.) is one of the common weeds that grow in northwest of Iran. Pigweed poisoning was reported in cattle, sheep and pigs from United States, Canada, Brazil and Israel. This study was conducted to assess the clinical signs, clinical pathology and pathological findings in experimental pigweed poisoning in calves. Ten native calves aged 5 to 7 months were divided into two groups (experiment and control groups). The plant was collected from farms and fed to calves. One calf of experimental group died, without showing any clinical signs on day 38. Statistical analysis revealed an increase of serum creatinine, BUN, sodium and GGT. The significant elevation of creatinine, BUN and sodium indicated possible lesions of kidneys and of GGT might be indicative of hepatic lesions. Remarkable histopathological lesions were seen in liver, kidneys, lymph nods, heart and nervous system.

Introduction: Depressive disorder is a prevalent psychiatric disorder, which affects 21% of the world population. The presently using drugs can impose a variety of side-effects including cardiac toxicity, hypopiesia, sexual dysfunction, body weight gain, and sleep disorder. During the last decade, there is a growing interest in the therapeutic effects of natural products on mental disorders. AMARANTHUS spinosus was investigation for antidepressant activity.Methods: Antidepressant activity of methanolic extract of AMARANTHUS spinosus (MEAS) was investigated by using Forced swimming test (FST) and Tail suspension test (TST) models. Escitalopram and Imipramine were used as reference standards.Results: It has been observed from our study that both the MEAS at higher concentration showed significant (p<0.01) reduction in immobility in tail suspension and forced swim model of depression comparable to Escitalopram and Imipramine.Discussion: However further study is needed to understand mechanism of action and to identify active component responsible for antidepressant like activity.

Some taxonomic and morphologic notes about the genus AMARANTHUS (Amaranthaceae ) in Iran are here presented. More than 400 specimens were examined as well as extensive pieces of literature were analyzed. As a result, 17 taxa were recognized based on available literature. Information about their nomenclature (accepted names, main synonyms, and types ), main morphological features and diagnostic keys at species and infraspecific levels were prepared. Pictures of inflorescences, fruits and tepals of all taxa in Iran were also provided in order to obtain undoubted and clear descriptions of AMARANTHUS taxa in the country and a functional identification key on the basis of the features of the reproductive organs was constructed. The distribution of this genus in Iran has also been briefly discussed.

Carbon dioxide is the most important resource for crop growth. In order to investigate the effect of elevated CO2 concentration on morphological and physiological characteristics of sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) and AMARANTHUS (AMARANTHUS retroflexus L.) an experiment was conducted in greenhouse conditions. The experiment was factorial based on randomized complete block design with six treatments and three replications. Different CO2 concentrations (including 360, 520 and 750 ppm) on monoculture and mixture of two species were investigated. The results indicated that plant height, node number, internode and stem dry weight had significant differences in the CO2 concentrations. Elevated CO2 concentration caused increasing plant height, node number, internode and stem dry weight in sesame and monoculture was better than mixtures, but in the AMARANTHUS, elevated CO2 concentration resulted is decreasing plant height, node number, and internode and stem dry weight. Number and length of branches and their dry weight had significant different in CO2 concentrations. So, effect of elevated CO2 concentration was positive for sesame and negative for AMARANTHUS. In AMARANTHUS, monoculture was more successful than mixture. In the sesame, yield was included number and weight capsule and in the AMARANTHUS was included total seed weight, that both had significant affected. Elevated CO2 concentration had positive effect on yield of sesame and negative effect on yield of AMARANTHUS. In the sesame, monoculture was more successful. The effect of elevated CO2 concentration was significant on transpiration and photosynthesis rates. In the sesame, elevated CO2 concentration increased transpiration and photosynthesis rates and decreased them in the AMARANTHUS. In the sesame, shoot total length and root dry weight was significantly different in CO2 concentrations and increased by elevated CO2 concentration, but in the AMARANTHUS, decreased by elevated CO2 concentration. In the both species, monoculture was more successful. R/S ratio had significant difference in CO2 concentration. In the sesame, elevated CO2 concentration decreased, but in the AMARANTHUS increased. However, results showed that elevated CO2 concentration in the sesame as a C3 and thermophilic plant, resulted in successful growth and production. In the AMARANTHUS, there was not effect by elevated CO2 concentration, but high temperature due to elevated CO2 concentration caused short growth season and decreased production.