In order to study the effects of different weights of mother corm and sowing depth on flower and corm yield of saffron (Crocus sativus L. ), an experiment was conducted as a factorial layout based on complete randomized block design with three replications at the Agricultural Research Station, Faculty of Agriculture, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Iran during 2015-2016 growing seasons. The experimental treatments were all combination of four mother corm weights (4-6, 6. 1-8, 8. 1-10 and 10. 1-12 g) and three planting depths (10, 15 and 20 cm). In the first year, criteria such as flower and corms yield were evaluated, and in the second year only flower yield were recorded. The result revealed that in both years the interaction between corm weight and planting depths was significant on most traits of the studied flower. Flower, stigma and style yield significantly increased by increasing corm weight and planting depth. The maximum dry stigma yield was obtained in 10. 1-12 g corm weight and 20 cm planting depth which was 0. 1095 and 0. 5393 g. m-2 in the first and the second year, respectively. The interaction between treatments was not significant on daughter corm but the individual effects of each treatment was significant. The higher corm yield (1181. 6 g. m-2) was related to 10. 1-12 g corm weight treatment. Deeper planting (20 cm) produced the high corm yield (938. 86 g. m-2). Eventually, the high excellence of yield in corm weight and planting depth treatments of higher, we recommend corms with higher weight and deeper sowing depth for cultivating saffron.

In general, corm weight and nutrient management are considered as the most important factors in relation to quantitative and qualitative traits of saffron. In order to investigate the effects of mother corm origin, mother corm weight and nutrient foliar application on yield and qualitative traits of saffron, a field experiment was conducted as factorial layout based on a randomized complete block design with three replications at the Faculty of Agriculture, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Iran, during the years from 2012 to 2015. The mother corm origin (Iranian and Spanish corms), mother corm weight 8 g and lower (small), 8. 1– 15 g (medium) and 15. 1-23 g (large) and nutrient foliar application (application and control) were considered as the first, second and third experimental factors, respectively. According to the results, the larger mother corms significantly resulted in a greater number of flowers per m2, increased fresh flower and dry stigma + style yields. However, the effect of nutrient foliar application was observed to be not significant on these traits. When Iranian mother corms were planted, the number of flowers per m2, fresh flower and dry stigma + style yields were higher, compared with Spanish mother corms. For instance, flower number, fresh flower and dry stigma + style yields increased by 17, 13 and 14%, respectively, when planting Iranian mother corms. Nonetheless, picrocrocin concentration was higher (up to 3. 8%) in the Spanish planted corm treatment. Based on the results, beside the optimal nutrient foliar application, the importance of adapting the corms origin with environmental conditions of the site designated for planting is emphasized.

In order to Investigation some soil characteristics and filed age effects on flower and corm yield of saffron, an experiment was conducted as factorial based on complete randomized design with five replications in two regions of Neyshabur during growing season 2009-2010. Treatments were included different filed ages (2, 4 and 6 years) and two geographical regions (Eshagh abad and Soltan abad). Different characteristics such as fresh and dry weight of corm, corm number, number of corm sprout and flower and stigma yield of saffron were determined. Soil physical and chemical characteristics such as soil texture, pH and EC were measured. Results showed that effect of filed age on all characteristics was statistically significant. Flower and stigma yield were affected by region and filed age and region interaction significantly. Positive significant regression was shown between field age and parameters such as fresh and dry weight of corm, number of corm sprout and corm number. With increasing field age to 4 years, saffron yield increased and then decreased. Results showed that changes in stigma and flower yield was significantly related to physical and chemical soil criteria (soil texture, EC, pH) characteristics. Significant negative correlations were observed between clay percentage of soil with corm number, corm dry weight, flower and stigma in.

Saffron is a valuable spice plant applied in the pharmaceutical and food industries. Despite low expectations for plant nutrients, food supply in plants’ Rhizosphere can be effective in the production of flowers and corms of saffron. This experiment was conducted in order to investigate the effects of biofertilizers inoculation and mother corm direction in soil on some corm, flower and stigma traits of saffron. An experiment was conducted as factorial layout based on a randomized complete block design with three replications at research farm of Faculty of Agriculture, Tehran University during 2010 to 2013. Treatments included mother corm direction in two levels (horizontal and vertical) and biofertilizers (with mycorrhiza and biophosphorous inoculation, and control). In this experiment, traits such as flower number, fresh and dry weight of flower, stigma, petal and corms and corm diameter was measured. The results indicated that in both years of corm study, horizontal direction of saffron corm in soil was superior to vertical direction for corm diameter and number per square meter. Also, in first year, fresh weight of corms in horizontal direction of corms was 23. 6% higher than vertical direction, but in second year, vertical direction caused more fresh weight of corm (6. 3%) than the horizontal direction. In the first year, the most fresh and dry weight of corms was obtained in integrated treatment of mycorrhiza and horizontal direction of corms in soil. In second year, the most of these traits was observed in integrated treatment of biophosphorous and horizontal direction of corms in soil. Fresh and dry weight of flower and stigma increased in horizontal direction treatment compared to vertical direction of corms. Investigation of biofertilizer effect on fresh and dry weight of flower, petal and stigma showed that the highest and the lowest of these traits were in biophosphorous and mycorrhiza fertilizers, respectively. According to results, in both years of study of flower traits, the best treatment for dry weight of flower and petal and fresh weight of stigma was integrated treatment horizontal direction of corm under the application of biophosphorous fertilizer.

In order to evaluate the effect of different levels of Nano iron chelated fertilizer on the yield and yield components of saffron a randomized complete block design with three replications and three treatments was conducted in a four-year-old farm in South Khorasan during 2013-2014. Fertilizer treatment included three levels (zero, five, and 10 kg/ha). After the treatment application, traits including, the number of flowers in 50 grams, total number of flowers per m2, fresh and dry stigma weight and fresh flowers weight were measured.Analysis of variance showed a significant difference (P≤ 0/01) for the number of flowers per 50 gram, total number of flowers per m2 and fresh flowers weight in different levels of fertilizer. Mean comparisons showed that the 10 kg of fertilizer had a positive and significant effect on all traits. Correlation analysis indicated a positive and significant correlation between the total number of flowers with fresh and dry stigma weight and fresh flower weight. The results of linear regression analysis showed that the trait of the fresh flower weight justified about 77 percent of the total variations and the results of this analysis were similar with simple correlation analysis. So, dry stigma weight had significant and positive correlation (correlation of 100%) with fresh sigma weight in correlation analysis. Because so far, Chelated iron fertilizer at the nanoscale and microscale in terms of the effect on saffron yield not compared, this study was conducted to evaluate the effect of Nano-iron on the yield of saffron.

Background: Myofascial pain syndrome of upper trapezius muscle is common; reports about successful treatment with dry needling and physical therapy have been published. This study was performed with the objective of comparing the efficacy of these two treatment modalities in relieving the symptoms in patients with myofascial pain in the trapezius referred to the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Center at the Shohadaye Tajrish Hospital from Apr 2009 to March 2010.Methods: It was a randomized controlled trial performed on 28 patients. After matching age, sex, duration of symptoms, pain severity, pain pressure threshold of trigger point and quality of life measures, subjects were randomly put in to subgroups of case (dry needling) or control (physical therapy). One week and one month after receiving treatment, outcomes and intra and inter group changes in pain severity, pain pressure threshold of trigger point and quality of life measures were evaluated and compared.Results: 28 subjects in two 14 patients groups took part in this study. After one month of both physical therapy and dry needling, there was a decrease in resting, night and activity pain levels, (p<0.05). Pain pressure threshold of trigger point, scores of physical functioning, role limitation due to physical problems, social functioning and bodily pain were improved (p<0.05). Results were similar in the two groups, (p<0.4).Conclusion: It seems that both physical therapy modalities and dry needling have equal effect in decreasing myofascial pain of upper trapezius muscle.