Introduction: SUNFLOWER planting is mostly carried out for two particular purposes; oil production and as nut. Harvesting is one of the biggest problems in both types of SUNFLOWER. The difficulty of harvesting and less scientific research have led us to study the mechanized harvesting of this kind of crops. In this research, head losses and grain losses for the inner section of combine were investigated during mechanized harvesting of OILY SUNFLOWER and a regression model was used based on the experimental tests for head losses and grain losses in the inner section of the combine. Materials and Methods: After preparing an especial head for harvesting SUNFLOWER, the head was set up on the combine for measuring the harvest losses. The cutting, threshing and clearing process for SUNFLOWER seeds were done during the tests. The design of the head is the same as the SUNFLOWER bushes are firstly bent by the bar and then sequentially the cutting, and transferring processes are done. The tests were implemented in an OILY SUNFLOWER farm by a combine harvester (1055 john deer) in 3 replications. The farm performance was 2170 kg ha-1 and was located in Kermanshah province in Iran. A pre-test was done to define the best combine forward speed and finally 2. 5 km h-1 was adjusted for combine forward speed. The bar height (BH) in two levels (20 and 70 cm) and head height (HH) in two levels (60 and 120 cm) were independent parameters to evaluate the head. The dependent parameters were the combine losses and head losses. For the analysis of variance of the variable parameters, a 2×2 factorial plot with 3 replications was used. A regression model was defined based on experimental tests. Results and Discussion: Having done the experimental tests, data were analyzed and the effect of independent parameters on the head and combine grain losses were investigated. The effect of the bar height on the head grain losses was significant at 1% level and the effect of the head height and interaction between bar height and head height on the head grain losses was also significant at 5% level. Results showed that with increasing in bar height, the head grain losses increased. With a change in the bar height, the location of the cutting point is changed and this led to a change in the head grain losses. The effect of the bar height on the combine grain losses was significant at 5% level but the effect of the head height and interaction between bar height and head height was not significant on the combine grain losses. Increasing in the bar height led to increase in material other grain (MOG) which enters to the combine, and also resulted in increasing in combine grain losses. The coefficient of determination of head grain losses in the regression model was 0. 97. The model was able to explain the relationship between the bar and head height with head grain losses due to the relationship between independent and dependent parameters. The amount of R-squared for the combine grain losses in the regression model was 0. 53. Because of the effect of other parameters in the inner section of the combine, the output of the model predicted that increasing in the bar height and head height, resulted in increasing in head grain losses, and also increasing in the bar height and decreasing in head height let to increasing in combine grain losses. The output of model showed that regulating the bar height and cutting height could reduce the harvest losses by less than 3%. This R-squared is obviously less than R-squared of head grain losses model. The output of the regression model predicted that the increase in the bar height and head height was associated with increase in the head grain losses, and increasing in the bar height and decreasing in head height, resulted in increasing in combine grain losses. The output of the regression model showed that the harvest losses can be reduced less than 5% by regulating the bar height and cutting height. Conclusions: One of the most important parameters for mechanized harvesting is the head mechanism which cuts the crops and transfers them to the threshing unit. The cutting height in the SUNFLOWER head was defined by the bar height and head height. According to the linear relationship between the head and combine losses with the bar height and head height, and the interaction between them, the regression model was able to predict the result successfully. This model of grain losses in the head and combine model can be used in the intelligent combine to minimize the harvest losses. The optimization of the bar height and head height for minimizing the harvest losses can be the subject of next researches.

Biophysical and chemical properties of oilseeds particularly SUNFLOWER seed plays important role in the proper design of equipment for handling, drying, separation, dehulling, conveying, storage and mechanical expression of seed oil. In this research, some biophysical and chemical properties of three hybrid SUNFLOWER varieties, Hysun33‚ Progress and Euroflore from four location, Aliabad, Golidagh, Kalale and Kalpush in Golestan province were studied for variations in linear dimensions, arithmetic mean diameter, geometric mean diameter, sphericity, surface area, true and bulk densities, porosity, 1000 seed weight, volume, moisture content, hull and kernel percent, major, intermediate and minor size distribution, oil percent in seed, kernel and hull which determined by using of standard methods. The results showed that the length and geometric mean diameter of SUNFLOWER seeds varied from 8.800 to 10.987 mm, 4.651 to 5.979 mm, respectively. Within these data minimum and maximum values related to Golidagh Euroflore variety and Kalale Progress variety, respectively. The results of ANOVA shows that all of gravimetric properties of seeds such as 1000 seed weight, bulk and true densities, porosity are significant at the 0.01probability level. Percentage of large seeds and hull varied 3.580 (Aliabad Hysun 33) to 28.487 (Kalaleh Progress) and 25.792 (Aliabad Hysun33) to 28.825 (Kalaleh Hysun 33), respectively. At the end, with attention to interaction effect of variety and locations on characteristics of SUNFLOWER seed, the samples should be detached before handling and delivering to oil extraction industry.

Objective Drought is the most common environmental stress, which approximately limits production in 25 percent of the world's land. Drought stress causes changes in plant morphology, physiology and profile of genes expressions. One of the effects of oxidative stress due to drought stress is damage to telomeric DNA. The predominant mechanism of telomere conservation in most eukaryotes is dependent on telomerase activity, which prevents shortening of the chromosome end. In the present study the expression of telomerase gene has been investigated in two SUNFLOWER tolerant and susceptible genotypes using real time PCR technique. Materials and methods The inbred lines; ENSAT254 and LC1064C were planted in a completely randomized design with three replications in the greenhouse. The plants were kept at 100% crop capacity up to 8 leaf stage in terms of hydration. After this stage, a number of pots were kept at the same capacity, but some others were kept at 80%, 60% and 40% crop capacity. Leaf samples were taken at two times; 7 and 21 days after stress application. RNA was extracted from leaf samples using RNX-plus TM extraction solution (Sinaclone Co., Iran) and real time PCR was conducted using specific telomerase gene primers. Analysis of variance and mean comparison were performed using SAS 9. 4 software. Charts were drawn with Excel 2016. Results The results of the mean comparisons showed that the expression of the genes encoding the telomerase enzyme in the sensitive and resistant genotypes of SUNFLOWER is different, so that the expression of the gene encoding telomerase enzyme in the resistant genotype (ENSAT254) increased significantly compared to the sensitive one (LC1064C). Conclusions Since telomerase plays an essential role in maintaining genome integrity and stability of cell cycle, therefore, the higher expression of telomerase gene in tolerant genotype (ENSAT254) compared to susceptible one (LC1064C) probably suggests that this gene is involved in resistance of SUNFLOWER to drought stress.

In order to evaluate the genetic diversity of OILY SUNFLOWER lines, screening drought tolerance indices and identification of drought tolerant lines, 100 OILY SUNFLOWER lines were evaluated in a simple lattice design under both well-watered and water-limited stressed conditions in 2016. Based on the potential (Yp) and stress (Ys) yield, quantitative drought tolerance criteria such as: mean productivity (MP), tolerance index (TOL), geometric mean productivity (GMP), harmonic mean (HM), stress susceptibility index (SSI) and stress tolerance index (STI) were calculated. Generally, the line with code number of 8 with average yield of 81. 25 gr/plant and line 66 with average yield of 5. 43 gr/plant showed maximum and minimum seed yield, respectively. Correlation analysis between drought tolerance indices with well-watered and water-limited stress yields revealed that indices such as MP, GMP, HM and STI are the most suitable criteria for screening SUNFLOWER lines. In well-watered and waterlimited stressed conditions, the highest value of MP, GMP, STI and HM were observed in line 8. Regarding these four criteria and high values of Yp and Ys, line 8 was chosen as the best line for using as a parental line in hybrid varieties production and development of segregating populations.

To evaluate the effect of different irrigation systems on the growth, yield and yield components of SUNFLOWER, an experiment was conducted at Khoy Agricultural Research Center in 2003. Treatments, irrigation levels as main plots (irrigation at 70-70-70, 90-90-90, 110-110-110, 90-70-90, 110-70-110 and 110-90-110 mm evaporation from the standard pan) and cultivar as subplots in 3 levels (Record, Hisun 33 and Armavirusky) in Split Plot in the basis of Randomized Complete Block Deigns were arranged in four replications. Leaf and stem dry weights at HV, FA and PM were significantly reduced as irrigation intervals increased. Difference between irrigation treatments for head dry weight was not significant at FA Increased in irrigation intervals significantly reduced seed yield. The high increase in irrigation water use, water use efficiency decreased. Consequently where the least water use efficiency (0.55) was obtained by 70-70-70 treatment, cultivars only differed for leaf dry weight at HV stage. Armavirusky produced the least leaf dry weight at this stage. Thus, where irrigation water is scarce, 90-90-90 irrigation treatment might be appropriate for SUNFLOWER production under condition similar to this experiment.

Size distribution and frequency of seeds in SUNFLOWER samples were investigated for three hybrid OILY SUNFLOWER varieties (Hysun33‚ Progress and Euroflor) taken from four locations (Aliabad, Golidagh, Kalale and Kalpoosh in Golestan province). The samples were distributed into three groups (large, medium, small) using two screens 14-16 mm in length and 2.75 and 3.75 mm wide. The effects of seed size on the peroxide value, acidity, specific weight and refractive index was evaluated using a completely randomized experimental design with replications. A 8´3´2 factorial design (SUNFLOWER sample × seed size × kernel type) was adopted. Kalale Progress and Aliabad Hysun 33 samples had the greatest and least number of large seeds, respectively (p<0.05). The Golidagh Euroflor and Golidagh Hysun33 samples had the greatest and least number of small seeds, respectively (p<0.05). Large, medium and small seeds showed significant differences (p<0.05) in their refractive indices; medium seeds had the highest value and large seeds the lowest value (p<0.05). Whole and broken kernels showed significant differences (p<0.01) in their specific weight. There were significant differences (p<0.05) in the peroxide value of extracted oils. The oil content of Golidagh Euroflor, with the greatest percentage, was 61.6% greater than that of Kalpoosh Euroflor, with the lowest.  The results obtained and the effect of Achenes size on extracted oil quality showed that oils should be graded on the basis of their quality characteristics. This could be a guideline for oil refining operations, particularly hydrogenation and the production of oils for frying and salads.

To study genetic diversity of some agronomic traits and the effect of salt stress on these characters, 100 OILY SUNFLOWER inbred lines coming from different regions of world was investigated under normal and salt (8 dS/m) stress conditions with randomized complete block design with three replications outside the greenhouse in an open air area. Analysis of variance showed significant differences among lines for all studied traits, indicating the existence of genetic variation among genotypes. The highest coefficient of genetic variation was observed for head dried weight, seed yield per plant and the lowest one for days to flowering in both stressed and non-stressed conditions. The results of correlation analysis revealed significant and positive correlation between seed yield per plant with most of the studied traits in both stressed conditions. Stepwise regression analysis revealed that under salt stress conditions, 40. 3 percent of seed yield per plant variation was determined by head diameter, 100 seed weight, bottom leaf length, leaf number, bottom petiole length, upper leaf width and chlorophyll rate and in normal conditions, 30. 3 of seed yield per plant variation was explained by head diameter, 100 seed weight and plant height. Cluster analysis grouped lines into 6 clusters in normal and 5 clusters in salt stress conditions but the distribution of lines within groups were different depending to stress environments that present the genetic variability for salt tolerance in SUNFLOWER lines. Lines 6, 11, 13 and 70 had the highest yield per plant under normal and salt stress conditions.

In this study, the tolerance of SUNFLOWER lines was investigated to salinity stress at the molecular level by studying the expression of PMP3 and Dehydrin genes in two oilseed SUNFLOWER lines [AS5305 (tolerant) and 9CSA3 (susceptible)] under different levels of salinity; 2, 5, 8, 11 and 14 dS/m (equivalent to 20, 50, 80, 110 and 140 mM NaCl) using real time PCR technique. Sampling of SUNFLOWER leaves was performed in 8-leaf stage at five time intervals; 0, 6, 12, 24 and 48 hours after stress application. The results of the study showed that in the early stages of salinity stress, the highest expression of PMP3 gene in AS5305 line was observed at salinity level lower than that for 9CSA3 line (8 vs 11 ds/m). In more advanced stages of salinity stress (24 hours after stress application), the increased expression level of PMP3 gene in AS5305 line was observed at low salt intensity (2 and 5 dS/m) whereas in the case of 9CSA3 line it was observed at more severe salt intensity (5 and 8 dS/m). In relation to Dehydrin gene, an increase in the expression level at the early stages was observed only in 9CSA3 line. In the advanced stages at more sever salinity stress (14 ds/m), the increased expression level of Dehydrin gene was 1. 5 times higher in AS5305 line than that in 9CSA3 line. In contrast, at low salt intensity (5 and 8 dS/m), the increased expression level of Dehydrin gene was greater in 9CSA3 line than that in AS5305 line. Therefore, the higher concentrations of salinity stress in advanced and more advanced stages of salinity stress may induce morely the expression level of Dehydrin gene in AS5305 line than that in 9CSA3 line. Totaly the results show that the pattern of expression of studied genes in two investigated lines is different, which is due to their different response to salinity stress. This suggests that these genes are potentially involved in tolerance to salinity stress, which can be useful in breeding and development of plants potentially resistance to stress.

To assess the efficiency of utility methods of iron and zinc micronutrient elements present in SUNFLOWER, an experiment was done in the Agricultural Research Station of Eastern Azerbaijan in 2008 with four replications and eight treatments (F1: control, F2: iron, F3: zinc, F4: iron + zinc in the from of soil utility , F5: iron , F6: zinc, F7: iron+ zinc in the form of solution foliar application, and F8: iron + zinc in the from of soil utility and foliar application) in the RCBD design. Having analyzed the variance of the given traits, it was realized that among the different treatments, regarding the traits like the length of bush, the proportion of seed weight to the cultivar, the protein and oil percentage, the yield of oil, the weight of 1000 seeds, the yield of seed, leaf nitrogen, phosphor, potassium percentage, the amount of leaf zinc, the plate diameters, there was a meaningful difference at the probability level. The highest amount of seed yield, oil yield, oil percentage, the weight of 1000 seeds, the proportion of seed weight to the cultivar and protein percent were obtained from the treatments of soil utility and the solution foliar application utility of iron + zinc. Also, the highest amounts of nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium concentration in leaf was seen in control group which was an indication of non-efficiency of iron and zinc on the absorption rate of these substances in the leaf of the given plant. The correlation among most of the effective traits on the seed yield like, plate diameter, seed rows in capitallum the proportion of seed weight to the capitalism and the weight of 1000 seeds were positive and meaningful. All in all, the utility of foliar application method. Soil utility method had the highest output for use of iron and zinc which increased its yield and components in the given study. The comparison of the methods of solution utility and soil utility showed that solution utility treatment had more impact than the soil utility treatment. Generally, using fertilization treatments with the lower utility of the substances, the concentration of these substances, especially iron and zinc increased in the given leaf. The results of leaf analysis show that the use of solution foliar application in proportion to soil utility has increased the concentration of low–utility substance meaningfully.

In order to study the effect of salinity on yield and physiological traits of SUNFLOWER and genetic analysis of these traits under salinity conditions, a factorial experiment based on completely randomized design with three replications were performed outside the greenhouse in an open air area under natural environmental conditions. The studied factors were included 2 salinity stress levels (normal and 6 dS/m) and SUNFLOWER recombinant inbred lines (102 lines derived from the cross PAC2×RHA266 together with parental lines). Traits such as grain yield per plant, chlorophyll content, net photosynthetic rate, leaf relative water content, Na+ and K+ concentrations were measured after flowering. The effect of salinity was significant on grain yield, leaf relative water content, Na+ and K+ concentrations as well as on Na+/K+ and K+/ Na+ ratios. For all traits, significant differences were observed between the genotypes studied. Genetic analysis of studied traits was done using a linkage map comprising 221 molecular markers (210 SSR/11 SNP) with an average distance of 7.44 cM between markers via composite interval mapping (CIM) procedure. Totally, 10 and 8 QTLs were detected for studied traits under normal and salt stress conditions, respectively. The phenotypic variance explained by QTLs (R2) ranged from 10.4%- 34.4%. The results showed the existence of co-localized QTLs for some of the studied traits under normal and salt stress conditions including Na+.S.4.1 with Na+/K+.S.4.1, Chl.NS.6.1 with K+.S.6.1. Using co-localized QTLs in different environmental conditions and different years could enhance the efficiency of marker-assisted selection in plant breeding programs.