Seed pretreatment with the cold plasma and salicylic acid is one of the methods to improve the seed germination and quantitative and qualitative growth of plants. Therefore, an experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of seed pretreatment with the cold plasma (0 and 100 W for 4 min) and seed pretreatment and foliar application of salicylic acid in the micro and nano forms (0 and 1. 5 mM salicylic acid) to improve the growth and production of secondary metabolites in Salvia leriifolia Benth. The results showed that the use of salicylic acid as seed pretreatment and foliar application increased the plant height, chlorophylls a and b, total phenol, and caffeic acid of the leaves significantly. Also, the seed pretreatment with nano salicylic acid form and foliar application of micro salicylic acid form and cold plasma increased the seedlings fresh and dry weight and PHENYLALANINE AMMONIALYASE and tyrosine AMMONIALYASE enzymes by 3. 48, 13. 3, 227. 7, and 277%, respectively compared to the control. The seed pretreatment and application of salicylic acid did not have a positive effect on increasing the amount of rosmarinic and salvianolic acids of the leaves compared to the control. According to the results, increasing the enzymes activity involved in the biosynthesis of phenolic acids could affect the amount of caffeic acid positively. Overall, the findings of the present study showed that the seed pretreatment with salicylic acid and foliar application of nano salicylic acid could improve the growth traits and activity of enzymes involved in the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites in S. leriifolia more than other treatments.

A factorial experiment (based on completely randomized design) with three replications was conducted in greenhouse to investigate the effect of soil Zn deficiency on the expression levels of genes encoding superoxide dismutase (SOD) and PHENYLALANINE ammonia-lyase (PAL) antioxidant enzymes and bZIP33 transcription factor in Zn-efficient and-inefficient bread wheat cultivars. Bayat (Znefficient) and Hirmand (Zn-inefficient) cultivars were grown under soil Zn deficiency and normal conditions. The expression levels of three above-mentioned genes were measured using Real time PCR technique in leaf and root of the cultivars at two growth stages, one month after germination (vegetative) and 30% of heading (reproductive). The results of analysis of variance and mean comparisons of the treatments showed that the increased expression of SOD gene in vegetative and reproductive stages in Zn-efficient (Bayat) cultivar is more than that of Zn-inefficient (Hirmand) cultivar. The highest expression of PAL (50. 56 fold) was observed in root of Zn-efficient (Bayat) cultivar at vegetative stage, but no significant difference was observed for PAL gene expression between Zn-efficient and-inefficient cultivars in both leaf and root tissues. The expression level of bZIP33 in the leaf of Znefficient cultivar (Bayat) under Zn deficiency conditions was more than that of Zn-inefficient cultivar, while no significant difference was found for the expression of this gene between Zn-efficient and inefficient cultivars in root. Therefore, the results of this study demonstrated that SOD, PAL and bZIP33 genes (probably through activation of Zn transporter genes) are involved in tolerance to soil Zn deficiency stress in Zn-efficient bread wheat cultivar.

Euphorbia pulcherrima is one of the most beautiful and popular potted flowers in the world (especially at Christmas) that has recently been able to occupy a special place in global markets. Preservation of anthocyanin pigments is one of the main factors in determining the quality of Euphorbia pulcherrima. Also growth and maintenance along with maintaining high quality and durability is of great importance in the flower growing industry. For this porpose, experiment was performed to investigate the effect of four levels of benzyl adenine (0, 30, 60 and 90 mg/l) on the quantitative and qualitative characteristics of Euphorbia pulcherrima potted flowers of Christmas Eve cultivar. Experiment in a completely randomized design with 3 replications and each repetition contains 3 experimental units it was done in a commercial greenhouse located in Golzar Pakdasht in 2013. Results showed that spraying with different levels of benzyl-adenine significantly increased fresh and dry weight of shoots and roots, plant height, total number of leaves and colored brackets, total leaf chlorophyll, anthocyanin bracket and PHENYLALANINE AMMONIALYASE activity, and the number of color brackets, decreased, but the effect was greater at a concentration of 30 mg/l benzyl adenine. The results of this study suggest that benzyl adenine, in particular at benzyl adenine 30 mg/l, the best effect on the quantitative and qualitative characteristics of Christmas Eve cultivar compared to the control and other treatments.

The effect of hot water treatments [45oC for five minutes, 55oC for 25 seconds and non-treated (control)], salicylic acid in three levels (0, 1 and 2 mM) and calcium chloride in two levels (2% and 4%) on quantitative and qualitative parameters and storage life of pomegranate cv. Meykhosh were investigated. Experiment was conducted as a factorial based on completely randomized design with three replications. Fruits were stored for four months and sampling was performed at the end of storage. Results showed calcium chloride treatment prevents weight loss and fruit softening in comparison with control. Salicylic acid had a significant effect in preventing of TSS content increasing so that Salicylic acid with 2 mM concentration was more effective than 1 mM, also fruits treated with salicylic acid had less reduction in TA content. Fruits treated with hot water had weight loss percentage less than control fruits and hot water treatment at 45oC was more effective than 55oC. Also the use of hot water and salicylic acid treatment increased PAL activity in comparison with the control. Survey of triple treatments interaction showed that hot water treatment at45oC, 2 mM of Salicylic acid and 4% calcium chloride had the best result in pomegranate fruits storage life.

Aim and Background: Salinity is one of the most important stresses that has affected food security. (Chenopodium quinoa) is a plant that is currently considered worldwide as a food substitute for wheat, rice, barley and corn. The aim of this study was to investigate the activity of antioxidants, some osmolites, ions and minerals to identify salinity resistant genotypes that can be grown by cultivating quinoa in hot and dry regions of the country that face temperature, drought and salinity stresses. This plant was used as food for humans and fodder for livestock. Materials and Methods: In this study, physiological responses of 3 genotypes (Q18, Rosada, Sajama) with relatively high yields were investigated at different levels of salinity stress (control (EC=1. 5) and 8, 16, 32 dS/m) in greenhouse conditions and Plants were harvested in the twelfth week for morphophysiological and biochemical measurements and studies were performed on the plant. Results: By studying the results of Na+ content in salinity stress, it seems that Sajama and Rosada have more ability to prevent Na+ transfer from root to shoot and prevent K+ reduction, also the total amount of elements (Cu+2, Mn+2, Ca+2, Zn+2, Fe+2) decreased at salinity 32 dS/m. The results showed that comparing the growth parameters and increasing proline and decreasing the protein content at salinity 32 dS/m can be associated with reduction of chlorophyll, carotenoids, reduced sugars, total carbohydrates, increased oxidative stress and H2O2 content. However, total ascorbate and glutathione content remained constant at salinity 32 dS/m in Q18, but Sajama and Rosada decreased and PHENYLALANINE AMMONIALYASE activity increased in all genotypes and all salinity levels. Phenolic compounds, flavonoids and anthocyanins in genotyp Rosada showed a greater increase in salinity stress than the other two genotypes. Conclusion: The total results showed according to the rate of reduction of growth parameters, genotype Sajama seems to be more tolerant of salt than the other two genotypes and the salinity tolerance of Rosada genotype is lower than the other two genotypes but there is no relationship between increased phenolic compounds, flavonoids and anthocyanins and salinity resistance in this genotype.

Aim: The stinging nettle (Urtica dioica L.) is a very important medicinal plant that is used in the treatment of many diseases. Considering the important medicinal properties (flavonoid compounds and antioxidant enzymes) of nettle and the numerous advantages of using elicitors in plant tissue culture to enhance the production of medicinal compounds, this study investigated the effect of different concentrations of the chitosan elicitor on the production of some secondary metabolites and antioxidant enzyme activities in callus suspension culture of nettle.Material and methods: Nettle seeds were cultured in 1/2MS medium after surface sterilization (with 1% sodium hypochlorite and 70% ethanol). leaf explants were isolated from sterile seedling (at the four-leaf stage). The explants were cultured in MS hormone-containing medium (NAA and BA 2.5 and 1 mg L-1, respectively) and maintained under light conditions of 16 : 8 (light : darkness) hours  at 25 °C. After several stages of subculturing, uniform callus was produced. Eight days after transfer of calli to MS liquid culture medium, calli were treated with chitosan elicitor at concentrations of 0, 50, and 100 mg L-1. Calli were sampled at 24, 48, and 120 hours after treatment. Finally, the production of secondary metabolites (quercetin, kaempferol, and rutin) was determined using HPLC and the standard line equation. Also, the activities of antioxidant enzymes (PHENYLALANINE ammonia-lyase, polyphenol oxidase, and peroxidase) and the total content of phenol, flavonoid and protein were measured and analyzed by spectrophotometry method. The experiment was conducted in completely randomized design with three replications and was analyzed as a split-time statistical design.Results: According to the results of the analysis of variance, the effect of chitosan elicitor concentration, sampling time after elicitor application and the interaction effect of elicitor concentration and sampling time on all measured parameters except for the total flavonoid content (the effect of elicitor concentration was not significant) were significant. The highest PHENYLALANINE ammonia-lyase and polyphenol oxidase enzyme activities were at sampling times of 120 and 24 hours after elicitor application at 100 mg L-1 chitosan concentration, respectively. The peroxidase enzyme activity at the sampling time of 120 hours and a concentration of 50 mg L-1 of chitosan was 2.57 times that of the control sample. The total protein content decreased at concentrations of 50 and 100 mg L-1 chitosan compared with the control. The highest amount of quercetin production was in the treatment of 100 mg L-1 chitosan and sampling time of 48 hours after elicitor application, which increased 25 times compared with the control. Kaempferol and rutin had the highest production at sampling times of 48 and 24 hours and a concentration of 50 mg L-1, respectively, which increased by 72.6 and 51.2 percent compared with the control.Conclusion: Chitosan elicitor is known as a biotic elicitor with a positive effect on medicinal and antioxidant properties in various plants. In this study, chitosan elicitor increased the production of quercetin, kaempferol, and rutin metabolites as well as the activity of antioxidant enzymes in nettle callus culture. So, chitosan elicitor can be introduced as an enhancer of medicinal properties of nettle plant under in vitro culture conditions. Obviously, for the commercial production of medicinal compounds, the conditions for large-scale callus production in bioreactors must be optimized.

Fusarium damping off caused by Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. sesami is one of the most important diseases of sesame, in all areas of sesame production in the world. In this investigation, resistance of 20 sesame germplasms to Fusarium damping off was assayed in greenhouse. Fifteen isolates of the causal agent were isolated from sesame in Yazd region and one isolate with the highest pathogenicity potential selected. Special test showed that the isolate was Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. sesami (FOS). Twenty sesame germplasms were assayed by disease severity index (0-2) and infection percent index (1-5) for their reaction to FOS. Statistical analysis of data showed that there was a considerable difference at about 1% level among the investigated germplasms from the perspective of resistance to disorder facror. By using the achieved findings determined that local Asfige Bahabad germplasm as resistant germplasm and local Kahnouj germplasm as susceptible germplasm. In the next step of study, PAL activity was assayed in resistant and susceptible germplasms 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12 days after inoculation. PAL enzyme activity in resistant germplasm increased rapidly and reached it’s acme in the 4th day after inoculation and then decreased, increased to 12th day again. But this amount was lower as 4th day. In susceptible germplasm PAL activity increased slowly. This investigation showed that the increase of PAL activity can have probable role in the induction of resistance.

Background and Objectives: Grape is one of the most important fruit products globally and has a high nutritional value with strong antioxidant and anti-cancer activity. Today, the use of healthy natural compounds, including organic nitrogen compounds, has become very important to improve the qualitative performance of fruits. The use of amino acids as one of the natural compounds of nitrogen can increase the nutritional values of fruit crops. In the present study, gamma aminobutyric acid was used as a non-protein amino acid to improve the quality characteristics of Qizil-Uzum grape fruit.Materials and Methods: The experiment was performed in two separate orchards located in two regions of Urmia city with different microclimatic conditions in a completely randomized design with GABA foliar application at 4 concentrations (0, 5, 10, 25 mM) in two stages (veraison stage and one week later) with 3 replications on 13-year-old cv. Qızıl Uzum grapevines. Some fruit quality characteristics include titratable acids (TA), total soluble solids (TSS), total antioxidant content, total phenol, total flavonoid, total anthocyanin, the activity of PHENYLALANINE AMMONIALYASE (PAL), catalase enzymes, phenolic compounds of fruit including flavonols, flavan-3-ols and phenolic acids, and also a relative expression of PAL and CHS genes were evaluated.Results: Based on the results, GABA at a concentration of 10 mM, caused the highest content of titratable acids, total soluble solids, total phenol, total flavonoids, total antioxidant and total anthocyanin of fruit. The highest activity of PAL enzyme was also observed at this concentration. Catalase enzyme had the maximum activity at 25 mM. The phenolic compounds that were measured by HPLC in this study included the flavonol compounds: myricetin, quercetin, kaempferol, syringetin; the flavan-3-ols compounds: catechin; and the non-flavonoid compounds: gallic acid, caffeic acid, p-coumaric acid and resveratrol, most of which had the highest level at 10 mM, followed by 5 mM GABA. Also, PAL and CHS genes had the highest expression at both sampling times (48 and 72 hours after foliar application) at the concentration of 10 mM GABA and their lowest expression was at the concentration of 25 mM GABA.Conclusion: This study showed that GABA at the concentration of 10 mM at the veraison stage and one week later had an effect on increasing fruit quality indicators, including total soluble sugars, as a basic substrate for the biosynthetic pathway of effective fruit quality compounds, and with effect on antioxidant content improvement, as well as enhancing the expression of related genes for PAL enzyme activity, as a key enzyme of the biosynthesis of the phenolic compound, can improve fruit quality and marketability of grape fruit of Qızıl Uzum cultivar.

Using stimulants is an efficient way to increase the production of secondary metabolites of medicinal plants under in vivo and in vitro conditions. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of NaCl (0 and 50 mM), salicylic acid, and methyl jasmonate (each in 0 and 100 μ M) in solid and liquid culture media on the biochemical properties and PHENYLALANINE ammonia-lyase (PAL) activity of stevia callus under in vitro conditions. This study was conducted in a completely randomized design with a two-factor factorial arrangement in four replications. The stimuli used, culture medium and their interactions had a significant effect on the measured traits. The highest amount of phenol and flavonoid production was observed in salicylic acid 100 + salinity 50 and salinity 50 treatments in solid culture medium. Treatments including salinity 50, salicylic acid 100 + salinity 50 and methyl jasmonate 100 + salinity 50 in the solid medium increased PAL enzyme activity compared to other treatments. PAL enzyme, phenol and flavonoid were positively correlated each other. The 50 mM salinity treatment also increased proline amino acid content. Therefore, in order to improve the production of secondary compounds such as phenol, flavonoids and also PAL enzyme activity in stevia, a combination of salicylic acid (100 μ M) and salinity (50 mM) is recommended under solid culture medium conditions.

5-aminolevulinic acid is the key precursor of all tetrapyrrole compounds such as heme, chlorophylls, bacteriochlorophyll, phytochrome and vitamin B12. In this study, the effect of 5-aminolevulinic acid, in reduction of salt stress in Lycopersicun esculentum Mill. var. Falcato were studied. Salinity at three levels (0, 50 and 75 mM NaCl) and ALA treatment at three levels (0, 1 and 2 mM) were investigated in this study. Salinity reduced growth parameters, phenolics content and PHENYLALANINE AMMONIALYASE activity, and increased lipid peroxidation, ion leakage and the activity of superoxide dismutase, catalase, ascorbate peroxidase, glutathione reductase and guaiacol peroxidase. 5-aminolevulinic acid application in two levels increased the growth parameters, phenolics content, and the activity of PHENYLALANINE AMMONIALYASE, superoxide dismutase, catalase, ascorbate peroxidase, glutathione reductase and guaiacol peroxidase, and decreased lipid peroxidation and ion leakage. These results show that the application of 5-aminolevulinic acid, via enhancing the activity of enzymatic antioxidant system, is effective in salt tolerance of tomato plants.