The objective of the present study was to evaluate desertification phenomena in North Part of Khorasan province adopting FAO-UNEP as well as Turkmenistan Desert Research Institute specific version methods. However these methods were modified according to local situation. All maps were prepared based on TM and MSS satellite images (1:250000) using geology, topography, vegetation and climatologic maps. Final map of human-induced desertification was set (1:500000). This map reflects development of different classes of desertification along with their respected intensities and causes. Results revealed that about %7.7 of the area could be classified as natural desert composed of sandy, saline and low quality lands. Signs of desertification were not found only in about %5.5 of the territory. In general about %86.5 of total area (61440 Km2) are being affected by desertification with different intensities. The most and the least important factors of desertification were vegetation destruction and wind erosion with 46 and 0.5 percent respectively. Other processes like water erosion (%34.4) and soil salinization (%5.7) had their own effects on the subject. Considering desertification intensity, 46.7 percent of total area is classified as high and very high, %23.8 as medium and %16 as low intensity.

To identify the horticultural of plant parasitic nematodes in Northern Khorasan province, 170 soil and plant root samples were collected during different seasons of years 2009 and 2010. Nematodes were extracted through centrifugal-flotation method, specimens then being fixed according to modified Seinhorst method and transferred to glycerin before making measurements (De Grisse, 1969). Throughout the study 12 species from genus Filenchus namely: F. afghanicus (Khan & Khan, 1978) Siddiqi, 1986, Filenchus andrassyi (Szczygiel, 1969) Andrassy, 1979, F. baloghi (Andrassy, 1958) Siddiqi, 1986, F. cylindricaudus (Wu, 1969) Siddiqi, 1986, F. facultativus (Szczygiel, 1970) Raski & Geraert, 1987, F. misellus (Andrássy, 1958) Raski & Geraert, 1987, F. paravesiculosus Karegar & Geraert, 1998, F. polyhypnus (Steiner & Albin, 1946) Meyl, 1961, F. sandneri (Wasilewska, 1965) Raski & Geraert, 1987, F. vulgaris (Brzeski, 1963) Lownsbery & Lownsbery, 1985, F. elegantulus Raski & Geraert, 1986, F. longicaudatulus Zell, 1988 were identified from which the last two species are new /recirds for nematode fauna of Iran.

Beet soilborne virus (BSBV) is a member species of the genus Pomovirus with rigid rod particles and 3 positive single stranded RNAs. The virus is transmitted by Polymyxa betae and restricted to Chenopodiaceae. A survey was conducted in 2005 for identification of BSBV in Northern Khorasan province. Samples showing yellowing, elongated and upright petioles with narrow leaf lamina and hairy roots were collected from fields of Shirvan, Bojnord and Esfarayen. Detection of BSBV was based on TAS-ELISA test. Our survey showed that different fields in Shirvan and Bojnord were infected with BSBV. Also for detection of mixed infection with BNYVV, samples were tested by DAS-ELISA as well. Our investigation showed that some fields in Shirvan and Bojnord had mixed infection with both viruses. This is the first report of infection with BSBV in Shirvan and Bojnord located in Northern Khorasan province.

Increasing food production networks and the diversity of producers and various methods of food supply and existence of various uncertainties such as uncertainty of inputs supply, market demand and prices have brought about complexity in supply chain management for processed food. Present study aims to investigate production planning problems for tomato processing industry in northern Khorasan. To describe the supply chain of industry and present a model for uncertain tomato supply, multistage stochastic linear programming model and decomposition algorithm were used to determine optimal sale policy. Therefore, optimal levels of production, sale and inventory levels were determined at different periods of production. Based on findings of the study, it is recommended that managers in the industry should pay more attention to supply uncertainty of the primary inputs in production planning to avoid decreasing sales and their shares in the market.

Ecological studies on range plants enhance our knowledge on the rangeland ecosystems which are useful for their planning and management. By doing field and laboratory experiments during 2008-2009, ecological conditions were studied in the main habitats of Z. atriplicoides in the rural and winter rangelands of Northern Khorasan province (NKP). Forage quality was also studied at different phonological stages. According to the results, Z. atriplicoides grows in the habitats with mean annual rainfall ranging from 260-380 mm, temperature 8-16oC, and altitude 680-1200 meter a.s.l. Topography was as plains and rolling lands, with geologic formations being conglomerate, marl, shale and sandstone. Soil texture was silty loam, weak alkaline, and poor in phosphorus and nitrogen. Vegetative growth and flowering stages were simultaneously occurred at early April till early June, but seed ripening and shedding happened at late June-mid August. Toward the end of growing season, ADF and NDF increased while crude protein decreased, which led to a gradual decrease in forage quality. Ability for growing in different habitats – from cold dry to warm humid- and having protein content and metabolic energy higher than the critical level for rangeland livestock are the relative advantages, whereas significant leaf reduction in response to drought and heat stresses, inability for growing in saline lands and low palatability and preference values are the major disadvantage for Z. atriplicoides in the rangeland of Iran. The most suitable time for livestock grazing and seed collection of Z. atriplicoides in the NKP are May-June and July, respectively.

The aim of this research was to study the genetic structure of the Afghan Pika’s (Ochotona rufescens) populations in Northern Khorasan province in order to determine their isolation rate. A total of 122 samples from four sample groups (Ghorkhod, Golol-Sarani, Salouk and Sarigol) were selected and the genotypic features were detected using 7 microsatellite loci. The results showed that all of the loci were subject to polymorphism and the allele ranged from 2- 7. Significant Fst and Rst values were found among the populations based on the AMOVA test. Based on the Assignment Test, more than 90 percent of the individuals of the populations belonged to their original population (only 10 percent of the individuals belonged to other populations). A Paired comparison of genetic differentiation between the populations revealed significant deferences among them. The results of the Prichard model grouping showed that the samples collected in this study were approximately 7 groups. The results of AMOVA analysis revealed a significant genetic structure among different populations. Also, the majority of the variance is related to the variance within the population. There seems to be a different but small genetic structure among the studied populations.

Environmental hazards cause great human and financial damage to the people of Northern Khorasan province every year. In this research, while introducing different types of environmental hazards in different parts of Northern Khorasan, we aim to classify their issues and problems and to specify the time calendar of each in order to prevent possible damages and crises. The method used in this research is descriptive-analytical based on field studies, library and statistical analysis. Given the importance and incidence of Covid-19 disease, in order to assess its risk in the last three weeks ending August 22, 2020 in the townships of the province, first, the adjusted incidence rate was calculated in the last week (AIRW1), the penultimate week (AIRW2) and two weeks ago (AIRW3). Then, using the relevant relationship, the status of each townships in terms of white, yellow and red was determined. Regarding the risk of frost, long-term statistics of minimum temperature of synoptic and evaporative stations of Bojnourd, Asadli, Aghmazar, Resalat, Shirvan, Cheri, Khosh, Noshirvan and Jajarm were used on a daily scale. To determine the time of the beginning and the end of the glaciation, the days convert to the Julius calendar and Minitab and Arc GIS software were used to draw graphs and maps of temporal and spatial distribution of the beginning and end of glaciation. The results show that geographical location, environmental conditions and spatial planning system make the occurrence of environmental hazards in Northern Khorasan province inevitable and different regions of this province damage from 51 environmental hazards in the form of 4 general types of natural hazards includes geological, climatological, hydrological and biological hazards and two intentional and unintentional human hazards. This situation requires increasing the safety factor of habitats and activities and modifying and changing the methods and instructions by the relevant agencies to deal with these unexpected events. Harmonization of farmers' lives and activities with frost conditions and geographical compatibility with the Corona virus is suggested as the best biological solution.

Introduction: Polystigma amygdalinum Sacc (Cannon sp nov.) causes almond leaf blotch and is reported from various countries. The pathogen is widely distributed in the Mediterranean region and often causes premature defoliation of its host. Based on morphology, P. amygdalinum has been assumed to be a member of the orderPhyllachorales and is considered to be a close relative of the genus Phyllachora, but phylogenetic analyses indicated thatP. amygdalinum did not group with Phyllachora species (Phyllachorales) which have been thought to be its close relative.Polystigma amygdalinu m show to be a relative of Trichosphaeriales and Xylarialesand placed in the Xylariomycetidae. Almond leaf blotch is the most important disease on the leaf in almond (Prunus dulcis) in Iran. Ascospores are believed to be the only inoculum of this pathogen. Ascocarp initials develop in infected leaves in contact with, or in close proximity to, filamentous spore-bearing bodies, which are the first to appear. Environmental factors were affected ascocarp formation and development inP.amygdalinum.Mature ascocarps were formed in leaves from July to October (leaf fall). Ascocarps were produced under field conditions in infected leaves buried in soil at the depths of 0 to 40 cm with maximum mature ascocarp formation at 5 cm and minimum at the soil surface. Based on the appearance of disease symptoms under natural and greenhouse conditions the incubation period was estimated about to be 40-45 and 35-40 days respectively. The peak of ascospore discharge was 2-3 weeks after petal fall and was dependent on rain fall. Various chemicals were applied to controlP. amygdalinum on almond. Spraying with Mancozeb and Bordeaux mixture is the most effective with four applications after petal fall in East Azerbaijan. Over a 4-year study period, it was found that ascospore discharge began at flowering and continued for 4-5 weeks in Maharloo of Fars Province. The maximum discharge occurred at petal fall. The incubation period was estimated to be 4-5 weeks under experimental conditions. Although the mature ascospores could produce short germ tubes in distilled water or water agar, the fungus could not be cultured or grown on conventional media from either ascospores, pycnidiospores or stromatic tissues under laboratory conditions. Of several systemic and nonsystemic fungicides evaluated under field conditions, triforine at 100-400 mg /ml was most effective. Other fungicides which significantly reduced leaf infection were, in order of efficacy, copper oxychloride (2000mg/ml), copper hydroxide (2000 mg/ml), Bordeaux mixture (10000 mg/ml) and mancozeb (2000 mg/ml). Carbendazim and thiophanate methyl (500 mg/ml) increased the level of infection. One application of the fungicide at petal fall and then at two at 14-day intervals were found to be effective in reducing the disease. Two applications of Bordeaux mixture at 2 and 4 weeks after petal fall was found to be the most efficient control treatment in Chahar Mahal and Bakhtiari. A single spray two weeks after petal fall also reduced the disease significantly.Materials and Methods: During 2012-13, the efficiency triforin (Saprol® 30%) (500 mg /ml) with three timing of applications, in comparison with Bordeaux mixture (10000 mg /ml) on two local cultivars (Sefid and Mamaee), was tested in a completely randomized block design, in along Zayanderood of Chahar Mahal and Bakhtiari province.Results and Discussion: According to the results, two applications of triforin at two and four weeks after petal fall, a single spray four weeks after petal fall and two applications of Bordeaux mixture were found to be the most efficient control treatment in both cultivars, respectively. All applications of fungicides on both cultivars reduced the disease significantly. Infectivity percent and disease severity on Mamaee cultivar were more than Sefid. In general, it can be said Triforin was more effective in terms of decreasing infectivity percent and disease severity in comparison with Bordeaux mixture.Conclusion: The results of this study, previous researches and surveys in Chahar Mahal and Bakhtiari province and other parts of Iran show that some of the almond cultivars cultivated in the country are susceptible to P. amygdalinum, so the only method to manage this disease is using the chemical control on these cultivars.Two applications of fungicides at two and four weeks after petal fall was found to be the most efficient control treatment in Chahar Mahal and Bakhtiari, these results are recommended for all regions of Iran.

Background: Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is a widespread tropical infection which has a high incidence rate in Iran. The aim of this study was to determine some epidemiological aspects of disease in Northern Khorasan Province, Iran.Methods: From 2005 to 2008, data concerning 1453 patients with CL were collected and analyzed from the different districts of health service registry of the province. The statistical analyses were carried out with SPSS version 12.0 for windows.Results: The highest number of patients was in 2005 with 555 cases in this year. 19.3% of patients aged younger than 5-year and 57.5% were older than 15 year. 37.8% had only one lesion, and 40.5% had at least three lesions. The highest incidence of disease was observed in Jajarm district in 2005 (381.1 per 100,000), and the lowest incidence rate was in Farouj district in the same year. The disease was observed in all months of the year with the highest incidence rate from September to November.Conclusion: Although Jajrm is a known foci in Iran, based on our knowledge there is no report in the literature on assessing the prevalence of CL in this region in recent years. We also found that the disease is endemic in Northern Khorasan Province.

The study of dispersion of alfalfa mosaic virus (ALMV) infection based on DAS-ELISA indicated that the fields of Alfalfa, potatoes and tomatoes ITomChenaran, Ghochan, Shirvan, Mashhad, Neishaboor and Torbat Heydarieh were infected with the virus. The Statistical analysis indicated that the amount of infection did not differ in the surveyed regions and total mean of infection was 53 percent. The samples collected from the Alfalfa field of Mashhad was propagated in the Nicotiana tabacum L.cv Samsun and then virus was purified. The Mechanical inoculation of this isolate of the alfalfa mosaic virus (ALMV) induced the local lesion in Chenopodium quinoa,Camaranticolor,vigna unguiculata, Phaseolus vulgaris cv Redkidney and the systemic vein clearing and mosaic in Nicotiana glutinosa, Ntabacum cv. Samsun, Ocimum basilicum, Cicer arietinum and Lycopersicon esculentum. In the case of the infected Cucumis sativus, no symptoms was observed. ALMV was purified by the method of the kaiser and Robertson(l976). The virus yield was 11/05 mg per l00g of infected tissue on the basis of serological properties. This isolate of ALMV is similar to the American isolation in SDS-PAGE and Western Blot analysis.the molecular weight of the virus coat proteins were estimated at about 24000 daltons.in this regard,this isolation of ALMV is similar to the other isolates of ALMV reported elswhere.